Prohibition Orders
Information for tenants
Newcastle City Council are pleased to be
working in partnership with the following
organisations:
What is a Prohibition Order?
Prohibition Orders are formal notices saying that a
property or part of a property cannot be occupied. This
is because the conditions in the building are so dangerous
that there is a serious safety risk for people living in the
house or flat. Your landlord must carry out repairs to make
it safe, before the house or flat (or the specified rooms) can
be used once more.
Prohibition Orders may be served by either an Environmental Health Officer (for the Council), or by the Fire Officer.
What does this mean for people living in the
property?
You will be asked to leave the building or not to use
part of it. If you have no other place to stay, you can ask
your landlord if he or she can find you (and the family you
usually live with) somewhere else to stay whilst repairs are
done. If nowhere else can be found for you, you can ask
the Housing Advice Centre for advice (their address is on
the next page).
May 2009
A person’s immigration status affects their right to seek Council accommodation. If your right to remain in the UK is based
upon “no recourse to public funds”, it means that the Council
will not have any duty to provide you with somewhere else to
live. But they will give you advice about where else to try.
because you are an asylum seeker, you should contact
your support worker or your accommodation provider.
Useful contacts
Housing Advice Centre
If you are a student at either of the city’s universities, the accommodation office or student advice service may be able to
help you to find other accommodation.
Emergency Homeless Service
What happens to the tenancy?
Newcastle Tenancy Relations
Service
Your tenancy is not ended by the Prohibition Order. You
do not lose your tenancy when the Order is served, and you
should normally expect to be able to go back to the property
once the repairs are done and the property becomes safe. If
your landlord wants you to leave permanently, he or she must
take action to bring the tenancy to an end in the proper manner. If you do not think this has happened, please ask the
Tenancy Relations Service for advice (their address is on the
next page).
Your landlord is in breach of the contract (the tenancy)
agreed with you as he or she has failed to keep the property
in good order. You may be able to ask him or her to repay
any money that you have paid in advance for rent or other
items.
Newcastle University Student
Advice Centre
Newcastle University Accommodation Office
Northumbria University
Accommodation Office
Northumbria University Student
Law Office
Newcastle College
Shelter North East Advice
Service
If you paid a deposit or bond, and the landlord has not protected it in a Government approved scheme, you may also be
able to apply to the County Court for a penalty payment – a
payment for ending the tenancy before the agreed date. You
may be entitled to free help to make a claim against your
landlord.
Shelter Multi-Lingual Project
Your immigration status does not affect your right to apply for
a penalty payment. If your accommodation has been provided
Citizens Advice Bureau
Newcastle Law Centre
David Gray Solicitors
112 Pilgrim Street
Tel: 277 1711
Civic Centre
Tel: 232 8520
112 Pilgrim Street
Tel: 277 1720 or 277
1724
The Union Society,
Kings Walk
Tel: 239 3979
19/20 Windsor Terrace
Tel: 222 6360
1 Ellison Terrace
Tel: 227 4209
School of Law
Tel: 227 3909
Rye Hill Campus
Tel: 200 4552
1-2 Blackfriars Court,
Dispensary Lane
Tel: 0844 515 1601
41 Tamworth Road
Tel: 0844 515 2252
1 Charlotte Square
Tel: 230 4777
56 Westgate Road
Tel: 232 9547
35 Nelson Street
Tel: 08701 264015