Public health housing issues

Environmental Health can investigate a range of public health housing conditions. Below is an overview of the most common issues and how they are handled.

Disrepair: tolerable standard and work notices

The tolerable standard is the legal minimum level a home must meet to ensure basic public health, comfort, and safety.

Environmental Health Officers can issue work notices requiring essential repairs to bring a property up to this standard. These may include:

• roof or building fabric repairs
• fixing downpipes or addressing dry rot
• installing essential services (for example hot and cold water, a bath or shower)

Grant funding is available for certain types of work. Some types of notices may affect the amount of grant funding available.

For more information or help, contact Environmental Services.

Dampness

Dampness can arise from several causes, including:

• condensation
• rising damp
• rainwater penetration
• defective plumbing

Many issues can be resolved with advice, but Environmental Health Officers can issue statutory notices requiring repairs to be carried out.

Smells

We investigate a wide range of odour complaints, such as:

• cooking smells
• broken or blocked drains
• dead animals

We can help identify the source and advise on the steps needed to resolve the issue.

Drainage

Problems with the main sewer system in the street are handled by Scottish Water.

If a property has broken or defective drains, we can issue a statutory notice requiring the owner(s) to carry out repairs.

Dirty or sub‑standard houses

We may inspect a property if it is reported as being in poor or unsafe condition. If the home is found to be sub‑standard, you may be required to clean or repair it within a set timeframe. If this is not done, the council may carry out the work and charge the cost to you.

We may engage social services and other organisations where additional support might be needed.