Overcrowding assessments are typically used for the purposes of immigration and we provide a specific report for this purpose. We also perform overcrowding assessments for social housing, if you are statutorily overcrowded living in a council house you may be able to gain preference on the social housing register.

 

The Housing Act 1985 Part X states a dwelling is overcrowded for the purposes of this part when the number of persons sleeping in the dwelling is such as to contravene:

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(a) The standard specified in section 325 (the room standard), or

(b) The standard specified in section 326 (the space standard

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The space standard

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The space standard is contravened when the number of persons sleeping in a dwelling is in excess of the permitted number, having regard to the number and floor area of the rooms of the dwelling available as sleeping accommodation. 

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The housing calculator we have developed is based on the space standard and can be used as a pre-screening tool before booking an inspection. The calculator determines how many people can possibly live in the property. The property inspection report can ascertain whether the dwelling will be statutorily overcrowded as the surveyor will also take into consideration the room standard and sleeping arrangements. When using the calculator if you make a mistake enter 0 to delete the cell. The calculator is not mobile-friendly and a desktop is required.

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When calculating the number of people occupying your property, please note the following:

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- Children under 12 months are discounted

- Children 1-9 years of age are counted as 0.5 persons

- Anyone aged 10 and over is counted as 1 person

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The room standard

The room standard is contravened when the number of persons sleeping in a dwelling and the number of rooms available as sleeping accommodation is such that two persons of opposite sexes who are not living together as [married couple or civil partners] must sleep in the same room.

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The exceptions to this rule are:

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• cohabiting or married couples, who can live in the same room without causing overcrowding

• children under the age of ten, who are completely ignored in the calculation

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