HHSRS and floor surfaces

Submitted by SHaigh on 10 March, 2010 - 12:02
in

We have a situation where we have a property on one of our housing schemes which has come up for a Sole Agency Agreement renewal and on inspecting the property to ensure Decent Homes Standard the Grants Officer (Environmental Health Private Housing)

Has said that the tiled kitchen flooring is a cat 2 hazard and will need to be covered with a screed and then non slip lino applied over the screed.  The landlord is objecting to this as he has only recently had the floor tiled (with kitchen tiles) and does not with to have them covered with a substance that will damage the tiles.  he is on the point of leaving the scheme because of this.  has anyone had a similar experience that has been brought to a satisfactory agreement for both parties.  We have suggested non slip matts but were told that these would created a trip hazard.

‹ Section 215 TCPA 1990 RSLs and empty properties ›

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HHSRS & floor surfaces

Submitted by SLi on 11 March, 2010 - 11:00.

Not had this situation and would be difficult to judge without seeing the property.

Could you not negotiate with the Grant's Officer to just serve a hazard awareness notice, rather than require improvement? They will have then discharged their duties and the owner will be appeased.

 

Floor tiles

Submitted by TCunningham on 11 March, 2010 - 15:08.

Our HHSRS inspectors would not expect the owner to cover kitchen floor tiles (if they were indeed floor tiles and not high gloss wall tiles being used as floor tiles).  If in doubt there is an instrument that will check the tiles to determine whether they pose a risk in respect of slipping

HHSRS & floor surfaces

Submitted by ABroadbent on 12 March, 2010 - 16:26.

This does appear a little over the top. I would ask to see the officers scoring and justification. If it is a Cat 2 then this would not affect the property being decent and if it is a low Cat 2 I would wonder how much lower the score would go if the proposed action is taken. As the other response indicates provided they are floor tiles there should be no issue.