Definition of "overcrowding" please?

L

LoveTrees

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I am doing my best with certain noisy neighbours but is the Housing Act allowing 3 people in a one bedroom apartment? (2 parents and a child)
Your guindance so welcome! Thank you!
 
It's defined in s. 63 of the Act. A house is overcrowded if:

(a) two or more persons, who are over 10 and who are of opposite sexes, and who are not conjugal partners, ordinarily have to share a bedroom; or

(b) if any room which has to be used as a bedroom has less than 400 sq. ft. of airspace.

The situation you describe does not suggest overcrowding under paragraph (a). Obviously without knowing the room dimensions its impossible to be categorical about para (b), but if this property was built as a one-bedroomed apartment then it will certainly include a bedroom with the required airspace, so it's very unlikely that it is overcrowded under para (b).
 
TomEdison said:
It's defined in s. 63 of the Act. A house is overcrowded if:

(a) two or more persons, who are over 10 and who are of opposite sexes, and who are not conjugal partners, ordinarily have to share a bedroom; or

(b) if any room which has to be used as a bedroom has less than 400 sq. ft. of airspace.

The situation you describe does not suggest overcrowding under paragraph (a). Obviously without knowing the room dimensions its impossible to be categorical about para (b), but if this property was built as a one-bedroomed apartment then it will certainly include a bedroom with the required airspace, so it's very unlikely that it is overcrowded under para (b).
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I always thought that para (b) was per person. Otherwise what's stopping filling a room with bunks and packing it out with same sex occupants?
 
Dr Strangelove said:
Surely cubic feet?
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Yes — my error. Sorry!

But, in fact, in reality there is a square footage measurement (literally) at the bottom of it. If the ceiling is more than 8 ft high (and nearly all ceilings are, except in some cellars or under-the-stairs closets, then the cubic footage is a notional figure, calculate as if the ceiling were 8 ft high. Which means that in reality we are talking about a room with a floor are of more than (400/8 =) 50 sq feet.
 
TomEdison said:
If the ceiling is more than 8 ft high (and nearly all ceilings are, except in some cellars or under-the-stairs closets, then the cubic footage is a notional figure, calculate as if the ceiling were 8 ft high.
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~8ft is still very common. The regs require 2.4m (through DCC require 2.7 for ground floor apartments.
 
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