If you think that you may be overcrowded, please contact the Council Housing Service.
We may be able to offer you advice and support to find alternative accommodation.
Contact us on 0114 293 0000.
Legal definition of overcrowding
The legal definition of overcrowding is very strict.
Your home may be overcrowded if:
- it is much too small for your household
- there are not enough rooms or space for the number of people who live there
- 2 people of the opposite sex have to share a room (except if the 2 people are married or co-habiting as though they are married; if 1 person is a child under ten years old)
Rooms for same sex
The number of people of the same sex (unless they are a same sex couple) who can sleep in 1 room is restricted by the size of room.
Rooms that are counted include living rooms, bedrooms and large kitchens. For the space and floor area calculations:
- children under 1 year old are ignored
- children between 1 and 10 years old count as half
- rooms under 50 square feet are not included