The City of London looks after more
than 2,700 properties across six London boroughs - Hackney,
Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets. It
also has two housing estates - Golden Lane and Middlesex
Street - within the City itself.
We work closely with other social landlords to improve housing
conditions and provide a wide range of services for our tenants,
including: day to day repairs, tackling anti-social behaviour,
dealing with empty homes and letting them, collecting rent,
processing claims for housing benefit, help for the homeless, right
to buy and leasehold services.
All properties go through rigorous checks and any necessary
works are carried out prior to making the property available for
new tenants.
This section has been designed to give you an overview of the
housing services provided by the Department of Community and
Children's Services. You will also find links to many useful sites
which may give advice and assistance in finding a solution to your
housing problem, or give you general advice about the housing
situation in London.
The Housing Department has recently
undergone reorganisation during which it was decided that all
staff who do not work on a housing estate should be based
together in one building. Construction of this new office
began in January 2008.
However, our previous office has been sold so we had to vacate
the premises by 19 January 2008. This means that from 19 January
the Housing Options Team have moved to a temporary office on the
Golden Lane Estate.
As we are sharing this space with other people there will not be
a lot of private space for interviewing. Therefore, from 19
January we would be grateful if you would call for an appointment
before coming to see us, as we do not want you to make a
wasted journey.
Our contact numbers are:
- 0207 332 1237
- 0207 332 1654
- 0207 332 1804
- 0207 332 3934
If there is an emergency a team member will arrange to see
you immediately.
Alternatively, please email us at
housing.advice@cityoflondon.gov.uk if
you have any comments,
feedback or questions.
To help us make this section as helpful and useful as possible
we welcome your comments. Please let us know about any problems you
may experience finding the pages that interest you, or, suggestions
about things that are missing that you think could be useful.
-
Accommodation
certificates - fitness for human habitation
- The aim of this service is to identify properties which fail to
meet the fitness for habitation or tolerable standard requirement
and determine the most satisfactory course of action to be taken
with that property.
-
Anti
social behaviour and nuisance
- The local authority will provide support and assistance to
local residents who are victims of harassment, anti-social
behaviour and noise and nuisances and where necessary take
appropriate actions in conjunction with other agencies (police
etc.).
-
Council housing
- current garage arrears
- The local authority may decide to automatically repossess the
garage where rent arrears rise to an unacceptable level or an
account is in arrears for too long.
-
Council
housing - home insurance
- Local authorities manage and maintain tenants homes but do not
insure tenants personal belongings, household goods and contents.
However, they offer comprehensive insurance cover for contents
which is exclusively available to its tenants. Tenants are advised
to take out home contents insurance.
-
Council
lettings - garages
- Garages may be available for rent to council tenants,
leaseholders and private tenants and a waiting list is usually
maintained for these. The authority will process applications and
issue rental agreements which usually include restrictions on the
use of the garage.
-
Housing -
improvement and repairs loans
- Local authorities may provide financial assistance (in the form
of a mortgage or secured loan) to existing or prospective
homeowners to enable them to carry out improvements and repairs on
their property.
-
Housing
- information and advice
- Advice to tenants and landlords in the private sector on
housing related matters such as tenancies, welfare benefits, rent,
repairs etc.
-
Housing -
public health advice
- Providing advice and information to the public on all aspects
of public health relating to housing. Enforcement of public health
and housing regulations.
-
Housing
register
-
Private property
compulsory acquisition
- The council can be granted the power to buy or take rights over
private property if it falls within a public or private
construction project such as housing regeneration or a
redevelopment area / project. Prior to issue of CPOs there should
be a consultation and may be a public enquiry.
-
Sheltered
housing - homeless
- Homeless people who fit eligibility criteria (age and needs)
for council run sheltered accommodation can apply for a place and
will be assessed for suitability. Where they do not fit eligibility
for sheltered accommodation they will be considered for other
council run housing in the standard way.