Issue - items at meetings - Houses in Multiple Occupation consultation on additional licensing & amendment of Standards

Report of Strategic Director Place (copy attached).

(1)       That the update on the progress of consultation on the proposal to introduce additional licensing for smaller HMOs in the wards identified, be noted.

(2)       That it be noted that there is authority under the existing scheme of delegation for the Strategic Director Place to extend consultation on additional HMO licensing of HMOs of two or more storeys and three or more occupiers in the wards identified and on proposed changes to the Brighton & Hove City Council Standards for Licensable HMOs between January 2012 and March 2012.

(3)               That it be noted that the fees for existing mandatory HMO licences remain unchanged for 2012/13.

72.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Strategic Director Place which gave an update on the progress of consultation on the proposal to introduce additional licensing for smaller HMOs in the wards identified.  This included information & feedback gathered to date as part of the initial evidence gathering stage.

72.2    Councillor Farrow thanked the Head of Housing Strategy and his colleagues for the helpful briefing for councillors on this issue.  He stressed that there was an expanding problem with HMO’s.  Councillor Farrow stressed that there had been a resistance from some landlords and letting agents to improving their properties.  There were now all kinds of people living in multi-occupancy and some landlords were allowing stock to fall into poor condition.  He welcomed the work that was going ahead. 

72.3    Councillor Peltzer Dunn asked questions relating to the consultation.    He referred to paragraph 3.16 on page 34 of the agenda and asked why the initial evidence gathered was not considered fit for purpose.  The Head of Housing Strategy replied that there was new guidance for Local Authorities on how to carry out peer reviews.  As a result, it was thought that it would be an improvement to carry out visits to the same people to gather more evidence. 

72.4    Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to paragraph 3.17 of the report.  He questioned the wording of the second bullet point, which appeared to exclude people who were opposed to additional licensing.  It was agreed that the wording should be appropriately altered.

72.5    Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to paragraph 3.15 bullet point 5.  “Many (private tenants) cited concerns that the costs would be past to them.”   He stressed that information should be passed to them.  He was concerned with the new consultation document and stated that it would have been helpful to have sight of it before it was sent out.   Councillor Peltzer Dunn referred to paragraph 3.18 (Action 2 – Evidence Analysis).  He asked why this did not state that the process would be based on the final consultation findings.  The Head of Housing Strategy replied that this section would be made clearer.  

72.6    Councillor Peltzer Dunn asked about the definition of an HMO. The Head of Housing Strategy replied that there were many definitions of HMO’s but for the purpose of the report it was based on occupiers of the property concerned.  He would send further information on this matter to Councillor Peltzer Dunn.

72.7    RESOLVED - (1)      That the update on the progress of consultation on the proposal to introduce additional licensing for smaller HMOs in the wards identified be noted.

(2)       That it be noted that there is authority under the existing scheme of delegation for the Strategic Director Place to extend consultation on additional HMO licensing of HMOs of two or more storeys and three or more occupiers in the wards identified and on proposed changes to the Brighton & Hove City Council Standards for Licensable HMOs between January 2012 and March 2012.

(3)               That it be noted that the fees for existing mandatory HMO licences remain unchanged for 2012/13.