This Week at theEHP: 11 July

Welcome to This Week at theEHP, a summary of the articles that appeared on the site over the previous week.

This week at theEHP we report on Shelter’s analysis of overcrowding in London, the UK Government breaching air pollution limits in London and the Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics 2011.

Along with their analysis of overcrowding, Shelter have produced a short film, ‘A Question for Mr Johnson’. The film features children talking about the devastating impact overcrowding is having on their education. You can watch the film in the post.

The popular Foundations in Law Series has been updated with Part 9: The basic rules of tenancies – before the codes and Part 10: Regulations on repairs and eviction rights.

Don’t forget to share this newsletter with a friend. You can use the ‘Forward to a Friend’ option at the bottom of the newsletter or share articles through Twitter and Facebook.

And finally, with gas and electric prices rising, this is a great time to check out uSwitch for your home or business. Switching to a cheaper gas & electricity supplier could save you up to £458.

Looking forward to seeing you at theEHP.

theEHP

Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection: UK avoids legal action for air pollution breaches
The UK Government has been ‘third time lucky’ with the European Commission (EC) in terms of EU legal limits on dangerous airborne particles (PM10) in London, avoiding legal action for breaches of the pollutant from 2005-2011, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

Food Safety

Food Safety: EFSA provides up-to-date information on food-borne viruses
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has today published a review of the latest scientific knowledge on these viruses providing advice on possible measures to control and prevent their spread in the EU.

Health & Safety

Health & Safety: HSE prosecutions in brief 11 July – 15 July
Welcome to HSE prosecutions in brief. An overview of this weeks prosecutions by the HSE.

Health & Safety: HSE prosecutions in brief 4 July – 8 July (Updated 8-7-11)
Welcome to HSE prosecutions in brief. An overview of this weeks prosecutions by the HSE.

Housing

Housing: NLA Accreditation Scheme used by 28 local authorities
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has reported that the NLA Accreditation Scheme for private landlords is now being used by 28 local authorities, just one year on from its launch.

Housing: 1 in 4 London children overcrowded
One in four London children are living in overcrowded homes, new figures reveal, as Shelter calls on the Mayor to do more to tackle the problem.

Housing: DECC publishes fuel poverty statistics
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today (14th July) published the latest Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics 2011. The headline figures refer to fuel poverty levels in the UK and England in 2009.

Housing: Landlord fined £15,000 for operating unlicensed HMO
A landlord whose property was taken over by Peterborough City Council because of its appalling condition and lack of management has been fined £15,000 for operating an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Public Health

Public Health: HPA issues advice on management of E. coli cases in children
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has published new guidelines to assist healthcare professionals in the management and treatment of acute bloody diarrhoea in children, with particular reference to those cases linked to vero-cytotoxin producing E. coli infection (VTEC).

Public Health: Private sewers to transfer to water companies
Surprise bills, which can run into tens of thousands of pounds, to repair broken, blocked or damaged sewers will no longer catch out water customers after changes being introduced by Environment Minister Richard Benyon.