Focus - Private Rented Property
Derbyshire Dales, Erewash and Amber Valley District and Borough Councils (the councils), are working with Ridge & Partners to undertake a survey of private rented housing stock in their areas. We are writing to tell you that we will be carrying out surveys of properties in your area from the beginning of June until the end of August. The information gathered will be used to help the councils understand the standard of your accommodation and the work required to maintain the property.
Ridge & Partners are a specialist surveying company and have been employed to do the surveys on behalf of the three councils. You will receive a visit from Ridge normally on Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm, the survey should take no more than an hour and will include an inspection inside and outside. Appointments in the evening or weekend can be arranged, if necessary. Some photographs may be taken to help support our findings.
The purpose of the survey is to collect information about the condition of the property. Any personal information is for the purpose of contact and progressing the survey programme only and will be managed as per our Data Protection Policy (https://ridge.co.uk/privacy statement).
We will do our best to work around you. If you are not at home when a surveyor calls, they will leave a calling card asking you to make an appointment. There is no need to call us, or Ridge, now.
The surveyors will be carrying a Ridge photo identification card and an authorisation document.
If you have any queries regarding the survey, please contact
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Condition Survey?
A condition survey is a visual inspection of the fixtures and fittings, such as kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, windows, doors etc.
Do I need to let the surveyor in?
Ridge’s surveyors can only come into your home if you let them. The council would appreciate your help in agreeing to the building survey. Ridge staff are trained to minimise any disruption to you and will be polite and respectful of you and your home.
Do I need to call anyone now, or to make an appointment?
No, Ridge will call at your home and, if you are not in, they will leave a card with contact details.
Will I know when the surveyor is calling?
Our surveyors will be carrying out many surveys in your area and will normally visit within 2 months of this letter, advance appointments are not available and there is no need to make contact in advance of the surveyor’s first visit.
What happens if I am not home when the surveyor calls?
Our surveyors will knock to see if you are at home. If you are not at home they will leave a card with their contact details inviting you to make a follow-up appointment if you wish; they will visit again anyway on up to two further occasions.
Where will the surveyor need access to?
The surveyor will need access to all rooms – downstairs and upstairs, cellars (if you have one), roof spaces, gardens and external boundaries. They’re looking at the condition of the property, not at how clean or tidy it is.
How long will the survey take?
The length of inspection will vary depending on the size of your property, in most instances the survey will take less than one hour (up to half an hour inside).
Will you take photographs?
We may take photographs to help support our findings.
Can I report repairs and housing issues to the surveyor?
These should be notified to your landlord as per your tenancy agreement.
Does my landlord know about the survey?
Your landlord has not been contacted separately about the survey so you may wish to notify them directly and share the attached letter. The three Councils are also raising awareness of this Housing, Health & Safety Survey through social media channels.
How is the survey information used?
An individual survey will tell us if the property has any failures under the Housing Health & Safety Rating Scheme and Decent Homes Standard (currently applied to Social Housing). The report will identify any actions needed and be shared with you, your landlord and the Council in whose area you live i.e. the Council you pay your Council Tax to. The surveys will also allow higher level reporting of housing standards and key themes in the sampled private rented sector for each individual Council and across the three Councils to help shape future work.
What if improvement work is needed and my landlord doesn’t do anything about it, what can I do?
This will depend on the work. The survey report will state works that are recommended or necessary. Recommended works are good to do and may avoid more significant problems and expense at a later date for the landlord. Necessary works will be brought to the Councils’ attention in whose area you live for follow-up.
Where can I find out more about the Housing Health & Safety Rating Scheme and Decent Homes Standard?
Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Decent Homes Standard: review - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Thank you, we look forward to meeting you and surveying your home
