There are acknowledged risks to health & wellbeing from living in overcrowded conditions.  Certain diseases can spread more easily, adequate hygiene is more difficult to achieve, and mental health can suffer in overcrowded properties.  The Housing Act 1985 lays down certain limits on the occupation of rooms for sleeping.  We carry out Overcrowding Inspections in response to requests from our own or other agencies' Housing Departments, generally in relation to requests for re-housing.  

There are different standards relating to overcrowding in Houses in Multiple Occupation and in Single Family Occupied Dwellings.

Overcrowding in Family Homes

A dwelling house is deemed to be overcrowded when either:

a)    the number of persons sleeping there is such that any 2 persons, 10 years old or more, of opposite sexes must sleep in the same room.   This is called 'Sexual Overcrowding';    or

b)    the 'Room Standard' is exceeded (in respect of the whole dwelling);
1 sleeping room        - 2 persons
2 sleeping rooms      - 3 persons
3 sleeping rooms      - 5 persons
4 sleeping rooms      - 7.5 persons
5 sleeping rooms      - 10 persons
for more than 5 sleeping rooms, allow 2 persons per room;     or

c)    the 'Space Standard' is exceeded (for the whole dwelling);
110 sq. feet + ........................................2 persons
90 - 110 sq. feet ....................................1.5 persons
70 - 90 sq. feet ......................................1 person
50 - 70 sq. feet ......................................0.5 persons
less than 50 sq. feet ..not suitable as sleeping room

In the above standards b) & c), infants under 1 year of age are not counted, and children between 1 year and less than 10 years of age are counted as half a unit for the purposes of the calculation.  Living Rooms, Dining Rooms and Bedrooms are all deemed generally suitable as sleeping rooms.

Overcrowding in Houses in Multiple Occupation

Overcrowding in Houses in Multiple Occupation is a more complicated issue, and is dealt with in Swindon via our Adopted Standards for Houses in Multiple Occupation.  Please use the following link to view our pages on HMO Standards.  HMO Standards

Please download the following Service Request Form (in pdf format) if you would like us to contact you, to notify us of an issue you are concerned about, or to request a service from us: SERVICE REQUEST FORM DOWNLOAD