Green Group Amendment
Protect renters this Winter: Stop
revenge evictions!
That the relevant changes are made
to the recommendations as shown below in strikethrough
and bold italics:
Council notes:
1. This Winter’s cost-of-living emergency and dangers to tenants in properties with health hazards i.e. damp, mould, excess cold;
2. The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from prolonged exposure to mould;
3. Mould, damp and serious disrepair in the social and private housing sectors needs addressing;
4. Action the council can take to prevent revenge evictions, raise standards and deter landlords from breaking the law;
5. The council has legal powers to preempt revenge evictions by issuing ‘improvement notices ahead of any s21 notice;
6. The 2019 High Court ruling in favour of Hull City Council
7. The high levels of rent in Brighton & Hove [1]
8. The leader of the council wrote to DHLUC last week demanding the government take action to support renters in the city, by calling for an increase to the benefits and their cap, a reintroduction on temporary ban of evictions until at least March 2024 and an introduction of a rent-freeze as per the measures introduced by the Scottish Government
Council therefore:
a) requests officers to bring a report to Housing Committee
· Reviewing the council’s private sector housing enforcement policy to
reduce tenants’ risk of ‘revenge evictions’ by serving ‘improvement
notices’ and ‘emergency remedial action notices’ at the soonest
opportunity.
· outlining plans to display on the council website steps private renters can
take regarding repairs requests and revenge eviction notice
b) requests the Chief Executive write to Michael Gove
· Urging him to bring forward primary legislation banning revenge evictions or devolving the power to do so in Brighton & Hove to the local authority
· Requesting the phasing out of short-term tenancy agreements of six months
· Encouraging him to follow the example set by the Welsh Senedd and adopt legislation protecting renters from eviction for the first 12 months of their tenancy
· urging the provision of powers for local authorities to control rents in areas, like Brighton and Hove, where they have become unaffordable.
Proposed by: Cllr Gibson Seconded by: Cllr Osborne
Recommendations to read if carried:
Council notes:
1. This Winter’s cost-of-living emergency and dangers to tenants in properties with health hazards i.e. damp, mould, excess cold;
2. The tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak from prolonged exposure to mould;
3. Mould, damp and serious disrepair in the social and private housing sectors needs addressing;
4. Action the council can take to prevent revenge evictions, raise standards and deter landlords from breaking the law;
5. The council has legal powers to preempt revenge evictions by issuing ‘improvement notices ahead of any s21 notice;
6. The 2019 High Court ruling in favour of Hull City Council
7. The high levels of rent in Brighton & Hove [1]
8. The leader of the council wrote to DHLUC last week demanding the government take action to support renters in the city, by calling for an increase to the benefits and their cap, a reintroduction on temporary ban of evictions until at least March 2024 and an introduction of a rent-freeze as per the measures introduced by the Scottish Government
Council therefore:
a) requests officers to bring a report to Housing Committee
· Reviewing the council’s private sector housing enforcement policy to
reduce tenants’ risk of ‘revenge evictions’ by serving ‘improvement
notices’ and ‘emergency remedial action notices’ at the soonest
opportunity.
· outlining plans to display on the council website steps private renters can
take regarding repairs requests and revenge eviction notice
b) requests the Chief Executive write to Michael Gove
· Urging him to bring forward primary legislation banning revenge evictions or devolving the power to do so in Brighton & Hove to the local authority
· Requesting the phasing out of short-term tenancy agreements of six months
· Encouraging him to follow the example set by the Welsh Senedd and adopt legislation protecting renters from eviction for the first 12 months of their tenancy
· urging the provision of powers for local authorities to control rents in areas, like Brighton and Hove, where they have become unaffordable.