Private housing

Information for private housing tenants, homeowners and landlords. How to report an empty property or bring one back into use.

Private tenants

Contact us about your private rented housing

Contact us if you need help with a private housing problem, or if you have a question about our private housing services.

Carry out work on your home

Make sure you're following building rules and check if you need planning permission before starting work on your home

Changes to your home

If you have a disability or a long term illness or health condition, you might benefit from making some changes to your home, adapting it to better meet your needs.

How to find a home to rent

Get advice on the kind of property you should look for and how to find rented properties.

Get help to keep up with your rent

Get help and advice if you're having difficulty paying your rent for private housing.

Get help to buy a home

The government runs a Help to Buy scheme, which has affordable ways for you to buy your first home or move up the property ladder.

Join the register to build your own home

Apply to be on our self build and custom housebuilding register to let us know you want to build your own home.

Property safety and legal advice for tenants

Understand your rights and find out what your landlord's legal obligations are.
More about Private tenants

Private landlords

Contact us about a property you're renting out

Contact us if you're a private landlord, letting your property through the council, or have a question about HMO licensing

Rent out your property through the council

Provide a home to local families who need housing by renting out your property through the council

Houses in Multiple Occupation

You may need a licence for a House in Multiple Occupation if you're renting out to several tenants who aren't members of the same family.

Tenant advice for landlords

Understand your rights find and out what your landlords legal obligations are.

Property safety advice for landlords

Find out what your responsibilities are and learn how to make your propery safe and free from health hazards.
More about Private landlords

Empty properties

Report an empty or derelict property

Tell us if a property you live near has become empty or derelict.

Update us on an empty property you own

Tell us about a change to your empty property, such as someone moving in or work being done.

How to find and buy an empty property

Where to look for empty properties in Brighton & Hove.

Bring your empty property back into use

If you own an empty property and are not sure what to do with it, here are some of the options available to you.

How we make sure empty properties are reused

Find out what powers we can use to make sure empty properties are brought back into use.

Home energy efficiency

Help with fuel bills

Get advice on how to save energy and check if you can get a discount on your fuel bills

How to save energy in your home

Get advice on smart meters, looking after your boiler and other ways to make your home more energy efficient

How to keep your home warm

Get advice about staying warm in your home to reduce the risk of health problems

Help to save energy for private tenants and property owners

If you own your property or get permission from your landlord, energy suppliers can help to make your home more energy efficient.
More about Home energy efficiency

Local land charges