Hi, I’m Andy Cope, with over 25 years of housing standards enforcement experience working for local authorities, I am perfectly placed to help landlords, letting agents, developers, architects and surveyors comply with housing standards legislation. My mission to is to provide high quality confidential advice and guidance to those involved with residential letting through a range of inspection and advice services. These are designed to minimize the potential financial and reputational costs associated with failing to understand or implement the myriad of health and safety regulations that now govern the industry.
I qualified as an Environmental Health Officer in 1996 with a master’s degree from The University of Birmingham, and have worked for both small rural Councils and large city Council’s enforcing housing standards legislation ever since. This work included all aspects of regulation relating to the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS), student and professional let Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s), HMO Licencing and Management, Fire Safety and Risk Assessment. These key roles included taking enforcement action against landlords, as well as the training and recruiting enforcement staff in both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
I spent the last 11 years employed by Derby City Council, with lead responsibility for HMO’s and HMO Licencing. I am a ‘known quantity’ to landlords and agents across Derby, who value my advice. My professional credentials include Membership of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, with Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner status. This requires significant Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Currently my work includes Consultancy and Accreditation inspections for ‘DASH Services’ based at Derby City Councils, auditing Student, Professional Let and Semi-Independent Living Accommodation against the Accreditation Scheme requirements.
So, if you need help interpreting and applying housing standards legislation or Accreditation Scheme requirements to your rental property or HMO, or as a developer or architect, need advice about housing standards compliance for your latest project, please don’t ‘guess’ what’s required ! contact me to get it right.
If you’re a lettings agent or landlord, think of all the time, money and liability you might risk, letting a property that fails to meet the appropriate standards. Rent Repayment Orders, Fixed Penalty Fines, unlimited Compensation Claims (made by the tenants under the new ‘Home Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018) are all now very real treats as both Councils and Fire Authorities step up their enforcement activities. There is also a block on you regaining possession of your rented property from a tenant, if an authority has commenced enforcement proceedings. A pre-let inspection undertaken by me can help you avoid all these potential problems.
Please remember, when choosing a Housing Standards Consultant, ask them about their Housing Standards Enforcement Experience working within Local Government. Those who are not ‘time served’ are unlikely to be able to judge to the ‘actual’ risks Councils and Fire Authorities pose to your business.