Agenda item

1.    That the update on the work of the Private Rented Sector Team be noted.

2.    That the Private Sector Enforcement Policy update be approved.

3.    That the Houses in Multiple Occupation Policy be approved.

Decision

1.    That the update on the work of the Private Rented Sector Team be noted.

2.    That the Private Sector Enforcement Policy update be approved.

3.    That the Houses in Multiple Occupation Policy be approved.

Corporate objectives

The Strategic Housing Service’s responsibilities and activity in relation to the Private Rented Sector contributes to the following corporate objectives:

Clean, safe and enjoyable environment

Building Strong and vibrant communities

Monitoring Officer:

Local housing authorities are under a duty to review housing conditions in their districts under Part I of the Housing Act 2004 which includes private sector housing,

The attached policy documents set out how the Council meets its obligations under the Housing Act 2004.

S.151 Officer

The private sector housing service has an approved budget for 2019/20 that reflects the financial needs of the service to deliver the policies outlined in this report.

The fees and charges in relation to HMO licencing, highlighted in appendix 5, were introduced in 2019 and will monitored to ensure they fairly reflect the costs incurred in providing and enforcing these licences.

Advice

N Beresford introduced the report and said it provides an update on the development within the private sector team after key legislation changes within the last six months including the introduction of the tenant fees act and the fitness for habitation act. Last year, Cabinet approved the enforcement policy as well as the draft format of the HMO policy. The final version of the policy outlines the approach to regulating HMOs and there have been good levels of income from the licence fees.

Councillor Williams asked how a HMO was defined.

N Beresford said it was previously three storey but is longer defined by that. The current definition is five members or more in a property made up of different households.

Councillor Anderson said that HMOs often get a bad reputation and hoped that enforcement would help people and would also promote HMOs a good form of housing.

N Beresford said the department works closely with private sector landlords and are focussing on education not enforcement. We have received positive feedback from landlords and many licenses have been done through compliance. One licence has been introduced for the need to serve a regulation notice. HMOs are used by the council for temporary accommodation and these are managed effectively. They are a good option for managing pressures on the housing service.

Councillor Tindall asked if the department uses the electoral register to see if more than five adults live at one property.

N Beresford said they have 51 applications pending assessment where the landlord has made themselves known to the council. 75 properties have been identified through evidence whether that be complaints, councillors or the electoral register.

The recommendations were agreed.