Housing, bedrooms and overcrowding

[mumblejumble]

Could someone please tell me if a downstairs room without a window can be considered a bedroom, when it comes to overcrowding?
TIA

Are we talking in a social housing situation? I'm pretty sure it can't be used as one (officially) because of ventilation and fire safety. However, lots of landlords/councils will have differing criteria about overcrowding so it's best to speak directly to your landlord to know exactly where you stand.

?Yes social housing, a friend feels she has to accept the offer because she may lose her priority if she doesn't.
She is desperate though

If she accepts it, will she have good reason to apply for transfer later

She needs to ask the housing officer dealing with the property/her case what will happen if she refuses the property, they may not move her down the list. It will depend very much on what her needs are and what demand there is for the type of property in the area she is in.

Again reasons for transfer and where she will placed in terms of priority will depend on what the landlord's criteria are. She needs to speak to someone who can tell her categorically what her options are.

mumblejumble, under the Housing Act 2004, Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) Hazard 13, any internal room without an external window to provide natural lighting deemed to be unsuitable for sleeping purpose, which mean it can't be used as a bedroom as such and disregard if the other parts of the house become overcrowded or not.

Your housing officer should have the qaulification to carry out the assessment and tell you that's the case.

For overcrowding, it will depend on how many people, their age & genders, also the number of living room, bedrooms and their sizes. These are use to determine if the house is overcrowded or not. (Some simple reference here for you: www.rotherham.gov.uk/info/200069/multiple_occupancy_homes/1371/overcrowding-statutory_overcrowding_housing_act_1985/1 )

All local housing authorities in England and Wales are using this unique space and room standards under the Housing Act 1985 to determine if the house is overcrowding or not.

If you have any further problem, contact your local council's environmental health department.