What is overcrowding? Living accommodation is overcrowded when there is not enough room for the number of people living there.

There are different rules for a type of housing called ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation’; this is where unrelated occupants share facilities, such as bedsits.

Why should i be worried about overcrowding?

Health effects of overcrowding can include:

• spread of disease
• greater risk of accidents
• poorer hygiene
• psychological distress
• mental disorders
• increased heart rate and perspiration
• lack of tolerance
• reduced levels of concentration

How do I know if it’s overcrowded?

There is a legal definition of overcrowding, but it is quite old and the Government is looking to update it. The following guidance might help, but to be completely sure you should contact Environmental Health and we will advise you. (01784 446251 or e-mail environmental.health.domestic@spelthorne.gov.uk).

What are the rules?

Adults and children are treated differently for overcrowding purposes:

Age	Number of units
Under 1 yr	0
1 yr - 9 yrs	½
10 yrs and over	1

If two people of the opposite sex have to sleep in the same room, it is overcrowded unless the two people are:

• a married or cohabiting couple, or
• at least one occupant is under 10 years old

The number and type of rooms must be considered. The overcrowding standard includes living rooms and large kitchens as well as bedrooms, and a rough guide is as follows:

Number of room	Maximum occupants
1	2
2	3
3	5
4	7½
Above 5	2 per room

but to be sure, the actual room sizes must also be considered (see below).

The following table shows how many people can occupy a room according to the room size:

Minimum room area	Example room size	Maximum occupants	Examples of allowed occupancy
110 sq.ft. or 10.2 sq.m.	10ft x 11 ft. or 3m x 3.5m	2 people	1 adult and a child 1yr or more, OR 2 adults and a child under 1 yr
90 sq.ft. or 8.4 sq.m.	10ft. x 9ft. or 3m. x 2.8m.	1½ people	1 adult and a child 1-9 yrs old’ OR 2 children 1-9 yrs old
70 sq.ft. or 6.5 sq.m.	8ft. x 8ft.9in. or 2.5m. x 2.6m.	1 person	1 adult, OR 2 children 1-9 yrs old
50 sq. ft. or 4.6 sq.m.	7ft. x 7ft. or 2m. x 2.3m.	½ person	1 child under 10 years old

Other controls on overcrowding

The current controls on general housing standards (called the ‘Housing Health & Safety Rating System’, or ‘HHSRS’) include an assessment of ‘Crowding and Space’ to see whether the accommodation is of a good standard. This must be used in addition to the old rules (see 4 above). It looks at hazards in the home that can cause the health effects mentioned in 2 above.

What can be done about overcrowding?

Sometimes overcrowding is allowed, when it is:

• due to natural growth, such as a child reaching one of the specified ages (see above)
• temporary (e.g. if someone comes to live with you for a short time)
• licensed overcrowding, where the council has given permission.

If it isn’t allowed as mentioned above, then the Council can take legal action against the occupier and the landlord as appropriate. For further details, contact Environmental Health.

Other useful information

Shelter (external website), the housing and homelessness charity, has a web-page giving advice about overcrowding and all other matters to do with housing.