How We Regulate

The Regulators' Code

The Regulators' Code provides a framework for how regulators should engage with those they regulate. 

We aim to provide our regulated customers with an efficient and professional service to meet the requirements of the Regulators' Code.

We are responsible for carrying out the regulations and standards set by government for a wide range of legislation and regulation, principally in relation to housing standards but also some related matters of public health and safety.

As part of our wider commitment to transparency our Service Delivery Plan sets down our activities and main priorities for the year. It also highlights our performance measures for our main regulatory areas.

How we work with landlords and property owners and agents

We carry out our activities in a way that supports our regulated customers. Our corporate and departmental enforcement guides set out our approach to regulation in the context of current and future challenges. It indicates the ways in which we will operate as a fair and proportionate regulator that works to protect people and the environment, and the occupants of a range of residential premises across the City.

Our approach to engaging with those we regulate helps us to ensure decision making is accountable and transparent.

Help to get it right

We provide advice that supports compliance that can be relied on. We are always looking for ways to improve the way our advice and guidance is written, making it easier for landlords and tenants to find what they need.

Inspections, interventions and other compliance checks

Across the range of our activity, we use different ways to assess how well our customers are complying with the law.

These may include, but are not limited to:

• targeted interventions and inspections
• the follow up and investigation of incidents, complaints and service requests
• the issuing of licences and their assessment of compliance

We adopt a risk-based approach to all our activities. This means that we apply more regulatory scrutiny to those whose activities, or the properties they operate, pose a greater risk to the public.

Landlords and property owners who perform well will see less of us unless they need us.

Response to non-compliance

The services response to non-compliance is contained within our own enforcement policy.

Underlying our commitment to firm but fair regulation is the principle of proportionality in securing compliance and targeting of enforcement action.

Have your say

We are always willing to discuss our regulatory decisions and actions.

We investigate complaints about any area of our work or challenges to our regulatory actions and to do this you can use our formal Compliments and complaints process.

We value your feedback to help us make sure our services meet your needs. We use customer satisfaction surveys from time to time but welcome feedback at any time.

To provide feedback about how we regulate contact us at info@preston.gov.uk