Support for Tenants

Report overcrowding to your council

When to use this
  • There are too many people living in your home for its size.
  • Overcrowding is affecting health, sleep or wellbeing.
The template (copy or print)
[Your full name]
[Your address, including postcode]
[Today's date]

[Council housing or environmental health team]

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: Report of overcrowding at [your address]

I am writing to report that my home is overcrowded and to ask you to assess it.

[Give the details: how many people live there, their ages, how many bedrooms there are, and how the rooms are used.]

[Explain the effect. For example: children of different ages or sexes sharing a room, no space to sleep properly, or it is making a health condition worse.]

Please assess whether my home is overcrowded, tell me what can be done, and whether this affects my priority for rehousing.

Yours faithfully,
[Your full name]
[Your phone number]
[Your email address]
After you send it

Your council can assess overcrowding and it may add to your priority for rehousing. If you rent privately or from a housing association, you can report it to the council's environmental health team. For free advice, contact Shelter or Citizens Advice.

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