§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what records local authorities are required to keep on the environmental standard of multi-occupied houses and, specifically, on whether such accommodation has adequate cooking facilities.
§ Sir George YoungThere is no general requirement for local authorities to keep such records. However, a local authority must maintain a register of all notices served under section 352 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. An authority may serve a notice under this section where it considers that the facilities in a house in multiple occupation—HMO—render the house unfit for occupation. The requirement includes adequate facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food.
Local authorities have the power under section 346 of the Act to set up a registration scheme for the HMOs in their area. The Department's model scheme suggests that the register should contain details about each house, including the number of rooms in the house used exclusively as kitchens or sculleries and bathrooms, and the number of sanitary and washing facilities.