Changes to environment services due to coronavirus

  • Food safety

    Food hygiene inspections resumed on 18 July. We require all staff to wear face masks during the inspection and keep at a safe distance. We are responding to matters of an urgent nature and focusing our inspections at the highest risk businesses. If you are a new business and waiting for an inspection please note we have a long list due to the original lockdown. We are working hard to contact every business as quickly as possible.

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  • Local land charges search enquiries service 

    This service is still operating but due to the coronavirus our offices are closed to the public and officers are working from home in-line with government guidance. Please do not post or try to hand deliver your application for a search to be made.

    We prefer applications to be submitted online via NLIS, TMGroup or InfoTrack portals.

    But you can also submit your requests by email. You will need to include all relevant documents (forms and location plan) and send to land_charges@lbhf.gov.uk. Please ensure the following wording is used in the subject line of your email: Search Request + Address of search + (your own reference). A member of the team will telephone you to take a card payment for the fee required.

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  • Alcohol, entertainment, gambling, scrap metal and sex establishment licensing

    Many licensed premises are able to remain open in a restricted capacity during the current lockdown and as such we are continuing to accept applications for all licence types online. Find out about applying for a licence online

    In an effort to assist businesses further we are also offering a free pre application advice service for up to one hour. As part of this service we can help businesses understand the limitations of their licences and in some circumstances assist them make valid applications to ensure they can continue to trade in some capacity.

    As well as helping businesses the team is also enforcing the closure, or part closure, of many businesses across the borough. If you have concerns that a premises is open when it shouldn’t be, or is otherwise operating in a manner which is inconsistent with the recent closure regulations, please contact the team as detailed below.

    For any of the above issues the licensing team can be contacted on licensing@lbhf.gov.uk or 020 8753 1081. Please note that our phone line is manned from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. However the email address is also monitored at the weekend for any information relating to premises which are potentially breaching the closure regulations.

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  • Massage and special treatments

    During this period all licenced massage and special treatment premises are subject to certain requirements.

    • You must register for an official NHS QR code and display the official NHS QR poster.
    • Everyone working in close contact services must wear a visor or goggles and a Type II face mask (medical face masks made up of a protective 3-ply construction that prevents large particles from reaching the client or working surfaces).


    If you have any massage and special treatment licence renewal questions, please send an email to mst@lbhf.gov.uk

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  • Noise and nuisance

    During this period, nuisance officers are working from home and are not carrying out routine reactive visits. In the case of emergencies such as the prolonged sounding of car or house alarm systems, officers will respond and take steps to try and abate the nuisance.

    We will continue to investigate complaints concerning excessive noise, dust, odour and light from both residential and commercial premises.

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  • Construction noise

    We realise that construction noise during the day may become more of a problem as residents are forced to stay at home and many are working from home. However local authorities have no legislative powers to close construction sites providing that the sites follow the Public Heath COVID-19 Guidelines.

    The permitted hours for construction site noisy works are as follows:

    • Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
    • Saturday: 8am to 1pm
    • At no time on a Sunday or Bank Holiday.


    Please call the council duty officer on 020 8753 1081 during office hours (Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5pm) or 020 8748 8588 outside office hours for an officer to respond to your complaint. Alternatively, you can make a complaint via email at noise@lbhf.gov.uk. You can also report noise online.

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    If you experience any problems with noise from construction sites outside the permitted hours please report the matter immediately.

  • Trading standards

    We will continue to respond to complaints, but in line with government guidance will minimise direct contact by making increased use of email and phone to approach traders.

    We will use these methods when contacting businesses about enforcing closure. If businesses want to verify that the contact is from us, please email trading.standards@lbhf.gov.uk or phone 020 8753 1081.

    Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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