Data on statutory overcrowding

The request was partially successful.

To whom it may regard,

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 - related to council houses that are in breach of statutory overcrowding rules.

This request refers to statutory overcrowding by both the ‘space standard’ (determining how many people may occupy a dwelling with regard to the number of sleeping accommodation rooms in the dwelling and floor area of the rooms) and the ‘room standard’ (determining how many non-cohabiting people aged 10 and over of the opposite sex may share sleeping accommodation) as defined by the Housing Act 1985.

For the calendar years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (separately), please tell me:

1) How many statutory overcrowding breaches did the council record for households housed by the council in each year? Please provide a breakdown of breaches by a) space standard and b) room standard, and specify whether households may be captured as both a room and a space standard breach.
2) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than two people have lived in a home with one room
3) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than three people have lived in a home with two rooms
4) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than five people have lived in a home with three rooms
5) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 7.5 people have lived in a home with four rooms
6) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 10 people have lived in a home with five rooms
7) For breaches of the room standard, the maximum number of people sleeping in one room as recorded by the council
8) How many households who have applied for council housing are living in temporary accommodation
9) Please list all the types of temporary accommodation the council has placed households in (including but not limited to: shipping containers, caravans, B&Bs, converted office buildings, and any other kind of accomodation).

Please provide the requested data in a spreadsheet format.

If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters.

I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.

For clarity - I am using a Whatdotheyknow account created by my colleagues Claire Wilde and Harriet Clugston - but my name is Carly Roberts.

Thanks,
Carly Roberts.

freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Wilde,

Oxford City Council – Reference: 10246

Thank you for your email. Your request was received on 8th July 2021 and you will be sent a response within 20 working days (of receipt) in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000/ Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR), subject to the information not being exempt or containing reference to a third party.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recognises the unprecedented challenges all are facing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In particular they understand that resources, whether they are finances or people, may be diverted away from usual compliance or information rights work. Whilst the ICO can’t extend statutory timescales, they will not be penalising public authorities for prioritising other areas or adapting their usual approach during this extraordinary period.

Therefore while the Council will make every effort to comply with the Statutory Requirements you may experience understandable delays when making information rights requests during the pandemic.

Yours sincerely

Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer

Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS | Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance. Get tested if you have symptoms.

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freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Wilde,
 
Oxford City Council – Reference: 10246
 
Further to the email below, I am writing to let you know that the
Authority requires further information. . Section 1. (3) (a) of the FOIA
provides that
 
“Where a public authority -
 
(a) reasonably requires further information in order to identify and
locate the information requested, and
(b) has informed the applicant of that requirement,
 
the authority is not obliged to comply with subsection (1) unless it is
supplied with that further information.”
 
You have requested information regarding:
 
1) How many statutory overcrowding breaches did the council record for
households housed by the council in each year? Please provide a breakdown
of breaches by a) space standard and b) room standard, and specify whether
households may be captured as both a room and a space standard breach.
 
2) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than two people
have lived in a home with one room
 
3) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than three
people have lived in a home with two rooms
 
4) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than five
people have lived in a home with three rooms
 
5) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 7.5 people
have lived in a home with four rooms
 
6) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 10 people
have lived in a home with five rooms
 
7) For breaches of the room standard, the maximum number of people
sleeping in one room as recorded by the council
 
 
Are you questions above for Qs1-7 in relation to Council Housing only and
not private housing?
 
Are you able to clarify what information it is that you wish to receive
please?
 
It would be helpful if you could be more specific in describing the
information you require.
 
The 20 working days timeframe for responding to questions 1-7 of your
request will be paused  from 3rd August date 2021 until the Authority has
been supplied with further information. Should the Council not receive a
response to this email by 16th August 2021, this part of your request will
be closed accordingly.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer
 
Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City
Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
 
Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.
 
 
 
 

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freedomofinformation, Oxford City Council

Dear Ms Roberts,
 
Oxford City Council – Reference: 10246
 
Further to the acknowledgement below, I can respond to your Freedom of
Information Act 2000 request received on 8th July 2021 and the
clarification requested on 3^rd August 2021 as follows:
 
I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to
which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 - related to
council houses that are in breach of statutory overcrowding rules.
 
This request refers to statutory overcrowding by both the ‘space standard’
(determining how many people may occupy a dwelling with regard to the
number of sleeping accommodation rooms in the dwelling and floor area of
the rooms) and the ‘room standard’ (determining how many non-cohabiting
people aged 10 and over of the opposite sex may share sleeping
accommodation) as defined by the Housing Act 1985.
 
For the calendar years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (separately),
please tell me:
 
1) How many statutory overcrowding breaches did the council record for
households housed by the council in each year? Please provide a breakdown
of breaches by a) space standard and b) room standard, and specify whether
households may be captured as both a room and a space standard breach.
 
2) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than two people
have lived in a home with one room
 
3) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than three
people have lived in a home with two rooms
 
4) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than five
people have lived in a home with three rooms
 
5) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 7.5 people
have lived in a home with four rooms
 
6) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 10 people
have lived in a home with five rooms
 
7) For breaches of the room standard, the maximum number of people
sleeping in one room as recorded by the council
 
We would not be able to answer questions 1 - 7  because not all tenants
tell us about additional members of the household and so we would not know
if they are statutorily overcrowded. Therefore, we do not hold the
information required in order to answer these questions.
 
 
8) How many households who have applied for council housing are living in
temporary accommodation
 
31 March 2016 – 120
31 March 2017 – 102
31 March 2018 – 107
31 March 2019 – 93
31 March 2020 – 98
 
 
9) Please list all the types of temporary accommodation the council has
placed households in (including but not limited to: shipping containers,
caravans, B&Bs, converted office buildings, and any other kind of
accommodation).
 
Flats
Houses
B&B
 
If you disagree with any part of the response to your request, you are
entitled to ask the Council for an internal review of the decision(s)
made.  You may do this by writing to the Monitoring Officer, by either
email – [1][email address] – or by post to Monitoring Officer, Oxford
City Council, St Aldate’s Chambers, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DS.  After
the result of the internal review, if you remain dissatisfied, you may ask
the Information Commissioner to intervene on your behalf.  You may do this
by writing to the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Kathryn Winfield
Information Governance Requests Officer
 
Kathryn Winfield | Information Governance Requests Officer | Oxford City
Council | Law and Governance | St. Aldate's Chambers | Oxford | OX1 1DS |
Email: [2][email address] | T: 01865 252007
My working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
 
Stop the virus from spreading. Keep Oxford safe.
Follow the guidance: Clean hands. Wear a face mask. Keep your distance.
Get tested if you have symptoms.
 
 
 
 
_____________________________________________

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