Q&As

What duties does an environmental health officer have in relation to the housing health and safety rating system? What powers of enforcement do they have?

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Produced in partnership with Alexander Campbell of Cornerstone Barristers
Published on: 04 January 2018
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Duties of an environmental health officer

The housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) was introduced by the Housing Act 2004 (HA 2004). It provides a framework enabling local authorities to take action in respect of problems with housing accommodation.

HA 2004, s 2 imposes a duty on local authorities to keep housing conditions in their area under review with a view to identifying any action which may be needed under HA 2004. In Compliance with that duty, the Local authority must comply with any directions given by the Secretary of State (or, in Wales, the National Assembly for Wales) and must keep such records as required by the Secretary of State (or National Assembly for Wales): HA 2004, s 3(3).

Where a local authority becomes aware of a potential hazard in particular premises, HA 2004, s 4 requires the authority to carry out an inspection to determine whether a hazard in fact

Alexander Campbell
Alexander Campbell

Barrister, Cornerstone Barristers

Alex is a skilful and experienced barrister whose practice primarily spans issues of public law and property law. Alex’s experience of complex public law issues including human rights, equality issues makes him extremely well-placed to assist clients in litigation across the many fields of law in which these issues arise.

Alex has been praised by judges as an 'excellent’ advocate, for his ‘forensic precision’ in approaching cases and has been described as ‘an expert’ in his fields of practice. He is well-liked by clients for his approachable manner and for his ability to bring clarity to complex cases. He is ranked in Chambers and Partners 2018 and is described as a ‘rising junior with a growing reputation’.

Alex was called to the Bar after an exceptionally strong academic background. Alex holds a law degree from Trinity College, Cambridge and was awarded multiple prizes for his academic performance whilst there. He holds a Master’s degree in French Law from France’s most prestigious law school, l’Université de Paris II – Panthéon-Assas, and a Master’s degree with distinction in public law and human rights from University College London. Alex has been the recipient of a prestigious Pegasus Scholarship under which he spent time working as a barrister in Paris.

Alex writes regularly in legal publications in his areas of practice online, in journals and books.

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
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Key definition:
Enforcement definition
What does Enforcement mean?

The action of compelling a party to comply with a judgment where it has not been complied with voluntarily and the time ordered for compliance has expired.

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