Independent · not part of Dorset Council
Environmental Health in Dorset: reporting a housing problem
Who Dorset Council’s housing standards service helps, how to contact it, and what to do instead if you rent from a housing association.
By Ben Miller, housing disrepair specialistChecked 12 October 2026 · How we checkSource: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Who is your landlord?
A housing associationReported it and still not fixed? Check if you can claim A private landlordContact the council’s housing standards serviceFree to check · About 2 minutes
Who it helps
Who Environmental Health in Dorset helps
Dorset Council deals with poor conditions in rented homes through its housing standards service. Its pages are for private tenants and don’t cover housing association homes.
Tell your landlord first, then contact the council. How.
Housing association tenants should contact their landlord first, and the council will normally raise concerns with the association. What to do.
From dorsetcouncil.gov.uk, checked 12 October 2026.
Private tenants
Contacting the council’s housing standards service
- 01Tell your landlord first. Dorset Council says: talk to your landlord or letting agent about your concerns first, in writing if you cannot speak face to face.
- 02If it isn’t fixed, contact the council. The council’s housing standards service’s details are below.
The council will only visit a tenant's home if the tenant wants it to.
From dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing/advice-for-tenants/report-po…, checked 12 October 2026.
Housing association tenants
If you rent from a housing association in Dorset
Housing association tenants should contact their landlord first, and the council will normally raise concerns with the association. Start with your housing association’s repairs and complaints process.
Housing associations in Dorset
46 housing associations own 23,923 social homes in Dorset. The largest:
- Synergy Housing7,360 homes
- Magna Housing repairs5,936 homes
- Sovereign Network Group repairs4,965 homes
- Stonewater repairs1,262 homes
- Aster Group repairs951 homes
- Abri repairs785 homes
- East Boro Housing Trust394 homes
- Hastoe repairs282 homes
From the Regulator of Social Housing’s statistical data return: social homes each housing association owned in Dorset on 31 March 2025.
Housing associations in the South of England: repair contacts
Reported it and still not fixed? You could claim compensation.
Check if you can claimYour options
Your options in Dorset
In Dorset, Environmental Health is for private tenants. It can make a landlord do repairs, but it doesn’t get you compensation. Housing association tenants can complain and then go to the Housing Ombudsman, or make a disrepair claim. Compare the options.
Free to check, and we don’t charge you. If a solicitor takes your claim on, they work on a no win, no fee basis and must explain their fee in writing before you agree to anything. See fees
Questions
Environmental Health in Dorset: questions
How do I report a housing problem to environmental health in Dorset?
Use report poor private rented housing conditions (online form) at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. Its pages are for private tenants and don’t cover housing association homes.
Can housing association tenants in Dorset contact environmental health?
Housing association tenants should contact their landlord first, and the council will normally raise concerns with the association.
Do I have to tell my landlord before contacting environmental health in Dorset?
Yes. Dorset Council says: talk to your landlord or letting agent about your concerns first, in writing if you cannot speak face to face.
Which housing associations own homes in Dorset?
46 housing associations own 23,923 social homes in Dorset, according to the Regulator of Social Housing (March 2025). The largest are Synergy Housing (7,360), Magna Housing (5,936), Sovereign Network Group (4,965), Stonewater (1,262) and Aster Group (951).
Is Report Repair part of Dorset Council?
No. Report Repair is independent and not part of Dorset Council. The contact details here are from Dorset Council’s own website.
Not in Dorset?
Environmental Health in the South of England
- Environmental Health in BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire Council
- Environmental Health in CornwallCornwall Council
- Environmental Health in DoverDover District Council
- Environmental Health in East CambridgeshireEast Cambridgeshire District Council
- Environmental Health in East DevonEast Devon District Council
- Environmental Health in East HampshireEast Hampshire District Council
- Environmental Health in SomersetSomerset Council
- Environmental Health in WiltshireWiltshire Council
Council or housing association repair still not fixed?
About 2 minutes. No documents. Free to check.