Councils have more powers than the police when it comes to inspecting properties – Special Report
3 years ago | 20 comments
Can the council force tenant inspections and demand evictions for smoking?
12:01 AM, 18th March 2025, 1 year ago
22
Hi, I have recently applied for and been granted licences for some flats I own in Birmingham.
Now the council are conducting assessments on all flats wishing to spend half an hour with each tenant. Firstly, they expect me to organise all my tenants to be home on the same day but not offering a weekend option.
They have terrified one of my very vulnerable tenants yesterday and demanded that he does let them in, not sure how this stacks up against my tenant’s human right to a quiet and peaceful home life. Finally, I have had one house done and was surprised that the only thing pointed out was that a tenant was smoking in his own flat. I spoke to a landlord yesterday that told me Birmingham council told him he should evict a tenant for smoking in his own flat.
How can this be legal?
Thanks,
Noel
Tags:
Birmingham landlord licensing, council property inspections, eviction laws, housing regulations, Landlord Responsibilities UK, Landlord rights, tenant privacy laws, Tenant Rights UK
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Member Since September 2022 - Comments: 59
7:32 AM, 22nd March 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Paul at 18/03/2025 – 10:06
If it is illegal substance, then the council should bring in the law enforcement just like they do when they find a premises full of tenants in multi let situation.
Oh hang on, there’s no money in it for them.
Member Since June 2021 - Comments: 80
10:06 AM, 23rd March 2025, About 1 year ago
Never heard of this before ever in my 25 years as a landlord with private tenants in council properties, or council tenants. HMO inspections do take place, but never has a demand been made to interview tenants. Whats the point, what happens when they move out in a few months time. Sounds fishy to me. I would write back and ask explicitly why do they need 30 mins with each tenant – what for