Minimum Standards for Public Sector Landlords

Summary

The requester asked for the minimum standards applied to public sector landlords, and the Department of Infrastructure disclosed its specific compliance checks and operational policies for its own housing stock while noting it could not provide data for other providers.

Key Facts

• The Department of Infrastructure adheres to annual gas boiler servicing under The Gas Safety (installation and use) Regulations 1998.
• Annual oil boiler servicing is conducted in accordance with OFTEC recommendations.
• Electrical checks are performed every five years in line with BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations 2018.
• Operational standards include void and re-let policies and property audits, which are best practice rather than statutory requirements.
• The Department cannot provide information regarding properties owned by Local Authorities or other housing providers.

Data Disclosed

• 1601049
• 2020-12-14
• 2021-02-01
• 1998
• 2018
• Five year
• Annual

Original Request

This letter is to support the request for information on the minimum standards that public sector landlords are held to. If it is possible please can you provide a copy of the standards or a link to them.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 1601049 1 February 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 14 December 2020 and which states (sic):

"This letter is to support the request for information on the minimum standards that public sector landlords are held to. If it is possible please can you provide a copy of the standards or a link to them." The Department has processes ensuring that it meets its obligations to provide a safe living environment for tenants and also maintains its stock in good order. Below are details of how the Department of Infrastructure adheres to the various standards and best practice which apply: Compliance checks • Annual gas boiler servicing in accordance with The Gas Safety (installation and use) Regulations 1998 which apply to Gas Safe registered Engineers operating in the Island https://gassaferegister.oc.uk. • Annual oil boiler servicing in accordance with OFTEC recommendations by qualified OFTEC registered engineers operating in the Island https://www.oftec.org.uk/consumers/off-gas-grid-heating-guides/liquid-fuel • Five year electrical checks in accordance with BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations 2018 by registered electricians operating in the Island https//www.theiet.org Operational standards The Department also operates within operational polices, shared across all housing providers, which are not statutory requirements, but are considered to be best practice. They include void and re let standards and planned and ad-hoc property audits and inspections. The above information relates specifically to public sector housing belonging to the Department of Infrastructure. The Department cannot provide information about properties owned by other housing providers such as Local Authorities- this would need to be requested directly from those Local Authorities.

Please quote the reference number 1601049 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

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In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. We will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

FOI Response Team