Prescribed Accommodation
The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 requires Prescribed Accommodation premises to be registered with Council.
Prescribed accommodation premises includes:
- Residential Accommodation
- Student Dormitory
- Holiday Camps
- Hotel/Motel
- Hostel
- Rooming Houses
The Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009 prescribe the following standards for prescribed accommodation that must be met by the proprietor:
- Overcrowding
- Maintenance
- Cleanliness
- Water supplied
- Drinking water
- Discharge of sewage and waste water
- Refuse receptacles
- Refuse disposal
- Toilet and bathing facilities
- Register of occupants
- Advertising
New business or registration transfer
The process is as follows for all businesses:
- Complete and submit an Application to Register or Transfer a Health Premises and provide all requested documentation.
- An Environmental Health Officer will contact you to request further information and organise an inspection(s).
- Once the officer is satisfied that all of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act requirements have been met, an invoice will be issued and must be paid.
- Once paid, a certificate of registration is issued and trade may commence.
Annual renewal of registration
Once you have been registered, you will be required to renew your registration each calendar year (1 January to 31 December). You will be issued two items: A request to update your contact and business details, and your renewal fee for the following year, and the fee must be paid prior to the expiration of your current registration. You may pay online, in-person or over the phone. Ensure that you have your debtor number (present at the top of the invoice) to be able to pay in-person or over the phone.
You may submit the renewal form online, or in person.
Transfer of registration
If you are purchasing an existing premise you will need a Transfer Inspection conducted to ensure that the premise complies with the Regulations. Council requires a written request for a Transfer inspection from the new proprietor. Please see the following link to download the Transfer of Registration.
Sale and/or purchase of an existing business
In the case of a purchase of an existing business, the outgoing proprietor must submit to Council in writing of their intention of closure and the settlement date.
The incoming proprietor must follow the steps above as per new businesses.
Rooming houses
Recent changes have led to greater focus on rooming houses with a lot of work going into ensuring that rooming houses are registered and comply. A recent guide has been created to support owners of rooming houses and to describe the minimum requirements for a rooming house.
You can access the rooming house guide here. Rooming houses are required to be registered with Council.
Still unsure of what you need for an Environmental Health permit?
Please contact us via email at environmentalhealth@hrcc.vic.gov.au or by phone on 5382 9777 for further information.
Unsure of what else you need other than registration permits from Environmental Health?
We're here to help. The Horsham Rural City Council Economic Development team is available to you through the process to obtain the right permits and provide insight on what grants may be available for your business.
Visit their page for more information on starting, expanding or buying a business.