Bath & North East Somerset Council Accreditation Scheme

Bath & North East Somerset Council operate an accreditation scheme for landlords to sign up to.  It is a voluntary scheme for landlords, which seeks to encourage the upgrade of rented properties, including houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), this includes many student properties.  The scheme ensures that these properties comply with the various requirements of the Housing Act 1985.

Quality Marks in an Accredited Property

• The property is structurally stable
• The property is free from dampness
• That adequate kitchen (cooking, food preparation and storage) and bathroom facilities are provided
• That the maximum number of people being/to be accommodated is feasible for the size of the property and amenities provided
• Satisfactory internal layouts, ie no internal habitable room without a window, no living rooms in hallways or on landings, no subterranean (underground) bedrooms or living rooms and no WC/bathrooms more than one floor distant from a bedroom
• That rooms are big enough in floor plan area for their existing or proposed use in accordance with set out acceptable minimum sizes for rooms
• Check that adequate natural lighting and ventilation is achieved, ie no conservatories up against rear living room windows preventing natural ingress of external air
• That hot and cold water services work
• That the property is in general good repair