Data on statutory overcrowding

The request was refused by Bolsover District Council.

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.

Alison Sipson, Bolsover District Council

Please Ask For:  Alison Sipson
Direct Line:  01246 242383
E-mail:  [1][Bolsover District Council request email]
Date: 9th July 2021
 
Carly Roberts
[FOI #772141 email]
 
 
Dear Carly
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST
 
Your reference number – F/138/2122
 
Thank you for your email of 8th July 2021 requesting information about
data on statutory overcrowding.
 
Your request is being considered under the Freedom of Information Act
2000. We aim to answer your request within 20 working days from the date
we received it, as prescribed under the Act.  
 
For your information, the Act gives you the right to be told whether we
hold the information (subject to absolute exemptions). The Act also
defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of the
information you have requested. You will be informed if this is the case,
together with your rights of appeal.
 
If the information you request contains reference to a third party then
they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to
release the information to you. You will be informed if we need more time
to do this.
 
A fee may be charged for disbursements. If a fee is to be charged you will
be notified in writing.
 
If you have any queries about this letter please do not hesitate to
contact us on the above contact details. Please remember to quote the
reference number above in any future communications.
 
Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner
at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF 
Telephone:   0303 123 1113
[2]www.ico.org.uk
 
Yours sincerely
 
Alison Sipson
Information Support Officer
Corporate Resources (Performance)
Bolsover District Council
The Arc
High Street
Clowne
Derbyshire
S43 4JY
Telephone: 01246 242383
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Disclaimer

This email is confidential, may be legally privileged and contain personal views that are not the views of Bolsover District Council.
It is intended solely for the addressee. If this email was sent in error please notify the sender, delete the email and do not disclose, copy, distribute, or rely on it. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the contents of this email may be disclosed.
This message and attached files have been virus scanned. Attachments are opened at your own risk.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Bolsover District Council request email]
2. http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/

Alison Sipson, Bolsover District Council

Please Ask For:  Alison Sipson
Direct Line:  01246 242383
E-mail:   [Bolsover District Council request email]
Date: 28th July 2021
 
Carly Roberts
[FOI #772141 email]
 
 
Dear Carly
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST
 
Reference F/138/2122
 
Your request for information has been considered and, to the best of our
knowledge, the information we hold which relates to your request is 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.
 
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, this acts as a
Refusal Notice (Section 12). The information requested is not held in the
form specified and would need to be extracted. This would exceed the
‘appropriate limit’ of £450 as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees
and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
 
This information could only be obtained by manually accessing and then
cross checking 5000 tenancies to ascertain occupant details. It would take
at least 5 minutes to check each record and would take well in excess of
18 hours of officer time (the appropriate limit when converted to hours).
 
This is for all years specified.
 
2) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than two people
have lived in a home with one room
 
As above
 
3) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than three
people have lived in a home with two rooms
 
As above
 
4) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than five
people have lived in a home with three rooms
 
As above
 
5) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 7.5 people
have lived in a home with four rooms
 
As above
 
6) The number of breaches of the space standard where more than 10 people
have lived in a home with five rooms
 
As above
 
7) For breaches of the room standard, the maximum number of people
sleeping in one room as recorded by the council
 
As above
 
8) How many households who have applied for council housing are living in
temporary accommodation
 
No information held
 
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).
 
No information held
 
Please provide the requested data in a spreadsheet format.
 
 
I hope that you are satisfied with our response. However, if you are
dissatisfied in any way with the handling of your information request your
next step would be to clearly state in writing why you are dissatisfied
and the Council will treat this as a formal complaint in accordance with
our Compliments, Comments and Complaints policy. The policy together with
information on how to make a complaint is available on the Council’s
website [1]www.bolsover.gov.uk or by emailing CCCAdmin[2]@bolsover.gov.uk.
 
 
I also have a duty to make you aware of the Information Commissioner's
Office, which is an independent body who monitors the Data Protection Act,
the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations,
and make sure organisations fulfil their legal obligations under the
Acts.  They can be contacted at:
 
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF 
Telephone:   0303 123 1113
[3]www.ico.org.uk
 
Yours sincerely
 
Alison Sipson
Information Support Officer
Corporate Resources (Performance)
Bolsover District Council
Ext 2383
Hours of work Monday to Friday 6:45am to 12:45pm
 
 
 
 
 

Disclaimer

This email is confidential, may be legally privileged and contain personal views that are not the views of Bolsover District Council.
It is intended solely for the addressee. If this email was sent in error please notify the sender, delete the email and do not disclose, copy, distribute, or rely on it. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the contents of this email may be disclosed.
This message and attached files have been virus scanned. Attachments are opened at your own risk.

References

Visible links
1. http://www.bolsover.gov.uk/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.ico.gov.uk/