Issue - meetings

N Beresford outlined the Private Sector Housing Strategy and offered Committee the opportunity to ask questions.

Cllr Hollinghurst was very pleased with how the Council is working on this and wanted to say very well done and that he supports this project.

Cllr Mahmood asked if landlords paid a fee for HMO’s and how this could be re-invested.  Cllr Mahmood asked if we could look at selective licensing.  N Beresford said that they do have to pay for licences, there is a part 1 and part 2 fee and also an ongoing management fee, plus an enforcement fee (if landlord doesn’t freely apply for licence).  All fees are re-invested into private sector housing as fees are ring-fenced.  We could look at selective licensing in the future but we are not currently able to commit to this as we have a very small team who do not have the capacity and have to focus on the mandatory licencing and bringing empty homes back into use.

Cllr Mahmood commented that it was a very good report.

The Chairman echoed that it was a very comprehensive report that is easy to follow and clearly sets out our intentions.