FOI request (FOI225520)

Temporary Accommodation

Requested Tue 19 December 2017
Responded Tue 19 December 2017

I’m requesting this information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

1. Who is responsible for carrying out inspections of temporary accommodation which house families in your local authority?

2. How regularly is temporary accommodation which houses families (including that which is privately leased) inspected by you or another body you contract your services to?

3. What measures do they take to ensure that properties are safe and suitable for children?

4. Do you have a safeguarding policy that applies when transferring children from local authority accommodation to private rental temporary accommodation? Yes/No

5. Do you have a safeguarding policy that applies when placing families in B&Bs and/or temporary accommodation? (Please specify which one) Yes/No

6. Do you seek advice from your Local Authority’s safeguarding service when you place families in B&Bs and/or temporary accommodation? (Please specify which one) Yes/No

Response

1 - The statutory responsibility sits with the Housing Renewal Team. A local housing authority must keep the housing conditions in their area under review with a view to identifying any action that may need to be taken (Housing Act 2004).

Housing Officer - Temporary Accommodation (emergency TA) and Housing Management Officer (leased accommodation) also conduct additional inspections twice a year.

2 - As above.

3 - All properties are inspected by a member of staff who is Housing Health & Safety Rating System Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 (HHSRS) trained when the properties are taken on. Any potential hazards identified are checked with a HHSRS trained member of staff in the housing renewal team.

4 - Hastings Borough Council does not have local authority accommodation.

5 - Yes - emergency accommodation. Children's Services are informed in writing of all households with children placed in emergency temporary accommodation.

6 - Yes as above. If any specific safeguarding concerns are identified the team inform Children's Services in addition.