Squalor & Hoarding Toolkit

COUNCIL

Situations of Squalor and Hoarding should be reported to the relevant council member as their assistance in ensuring appropriate interventions are put into place are essential. Councils have legal rights and responsibilities when it comes to the issue of Squalor and Hoarding, these rights and responsibilities are designed to work alongside those of the tenant or occupant. It is important to note that the intervention process (and parties to be contacted) will be different depending upon the accommodation setting (Public Housing, Private Rental and Private Ownership) of the person in question.

The council should be contacted when situations of Squalor and Hoarding are discovered in privately owned or privately rented properties.

Under the Local Government Act 1993 the council has the power to enforce the removal and disposal of waste that is on any residential premises or to force people to refrain from keeping waste on those premises if the waste is, in the opinion of an environmental health officer (within the meaning of the Public Health Act 1991 ), causing or is likely to cause a threat to public health or the health of any individual.

The council will need to be contacted when a situation of Squalor and Hoarding has been uncovered in a privately owned or rented home. When contacting the council in regards to a situation of Squalor and/or Hoarding you will need to address the issue with the Compliance Section of the council. You will need to provide as much information regarding the situation as you can. It is important to note that processes involved with situations of Squalor and Hoarding often take a long time and that there will be no quick resolution.

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City of Sydney

Illawarra and Shoalhaven

The Hunter

The Southern Highlands

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