Housing Condition Survey

A survey company called Opinion Research Services (ORS) are carrying out a survey to provide us with information about the condition of housing in Hastings. This survey will look at issues, including whether there are any defects in the property that pose health and safety risks and occupancy levels.

Random streets across the borough are being chosen and surveyors will be externally surveying these, knocking on doors and potentially, if permission is provided, carrying out internal surveys.

Why is the council carrying out this survey?

We have a duty under the Housing Act to review local housing periodically and this study will allow us to get a wider snapshot of our borough's housing. This study will assess the condition of the  properties that local people live in to help us understand the current quality and standard of the borough's housing.

The community regularly ask questions about what we are doing about local housing conditions. This survey is one way of showing our commitment to taking action, as from it we will have a more in-depth view of the borough's housing condition.

Why am I being asked to take part?

By surveying a random sample of housing in the borough the results can be used to understand all housing conditions. The more people that take part the more accurate the data will be.

My house is in good condition, why should I take part?

The survey needs to include information about all properties, not just housing in poor condition. It is important that the survey includes private tenants and homeowners living in all types of properties to make sure that the results provide information that is representative of the whole area.

What will the surveyor do and what information will they want?

The surveyor will choose a street at random, usually with 20 or more houses and carry out an external survey of these properties. The surveyor will then knock on some doors to try to speak to occupiers to ask questions that include if a property is rented or owned, age, gender, number of people in the household, and some basic questions about the property.

They may also ask to enter the property for an internal survey, this is so they can better understand occupants concerns about things that include damp, poor heating, energy efficiency, and kitchen and bathroom facilities.

Do I have to take part?

No - taking part in the internal survey and questionnaire is completely optional. Just tell the interviewer when they call that you do not want to take part. However, we hope you will take part as the more people who can the better informed we will be.

What will happen to the information I give?

The information provided will be analysed by ORS to get an overview of the general condition of a range of property types across the survey area. It will only be shared with Hastings Borough Council to provide us with accurate, up-to-date information about local housing.

ORS is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and all data will be handled in accordance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) legislation, the privacy policy can be found at www.ors.org.uk/privacy. Hastings Borough Council's privacy policy can be viewed at www.hastings.gov.uk/privacy/ and is also available to view at the council offices.

How do I know that ORS is a genuine research company?

Hastings Borough Council has used a formal process to commission this work and have checked ORS's credentials. If you would like to confirm that ORS is a genuine research practice, you can contact the Market Research Society on Freephone 0500 396 999.

How do I know that the interviewer / surveyor is genuine?

If you want to check the surveyor is who they say they are, you can phone our Contact Centre on 01424 451066 between 8.30am to 4.45pm Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 10am to 4.45pm Wednesday, and  8.30am to 4.15pm on Friday or email us at housingadmin@hastings.gov.uk. We have a list of the surveyors carrying out the survey, which we can check when you call or email. 

All ORS staff will have a photo identification card and a letter from Hastings Borough Council, which they will show when they arrive. If you have any queries or concerns about the surveyor, you can also phone ORS on 0800 107 7890 or email surveys@ors.org.uk.

Why are you doing this survey through an external company when you have a housing team?

ORS are experts in the research field and will be able to dedicate the time needed to provide accurate, up-to-date information about local housing. The information gathered from the survey is important as it will help with housing resources in the future. While this survey is taking place the council's housing team will continue to dedicate their time to carrying out inspections across the borough and ensuring residents and landlords are fully supported.

Why is this survey not looking at affordable rent?

The local council have no legislative ability to intervene or affect rental charges in the area, this is a matter for national government policy. This survey has specifically been designed to assist the team who work to ensure housing is free from serious hazards .