Issue - items at meetings - Private Sector Housing update

Resolved:

2.1       Housing Committee note the updates on progress against key elements of the

Housing Committee Work Plan objectives to improve the quality and management of homes in the private rented sector as set out in this report.

2.2       Housing Committee restates its commitment in the joint housing and homelessness programme to work towards introducing selective licensing in the City of Brighton and Hove as soon as possible and to seek resources to support this.

2.3       Housing Committee note the expansion of the existing Private Sector Housing enforcement team, as outlined in paragraph 3.1, and that the service will assess the impact of the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and new legislation in this area. 2.4 Housing Committee note that, as outlined in paragraph 5.1, officers will seek to support renters to understand what legal remedies are available to them under the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Strategy, including any provided by new legislation in this area.

2.5       Housing Committee request a review of the current national position with regard to selective licensing designations to better understand the current context within which any approvals are being given. Identifying the resources that are required to undertake this work to be considered.

2.6       That Housing Committee agrees the re-purposing and expansion of the Direct Lets scheme as an ethical letting agency incorporating Good Landlord standards. Any additional costs arising as a result of these changes will be brought back to committee for approval.

2.7       That Housing Committee notes the funding required to explore and scope the feasibility of a broader based ethical letting agency proposal. This will require an estimated budget of £0.100m.

2.8       That officers urgently develop options for sustaining tenancies where a tenant with arrears faces eviction and could become homeless.

24.1    The Head of Housing Needs introduced the report to the committee.

          Questions

24.2    Councillor Williams was informed that the council were looking at the Local Government association advice programme.

24.3    Councillor Meadows was informed that the council are looking at resources to achieve the legal advice required for an ethical lettings agency by a review group. It was noted that the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) is not relevant when engaging with groups as no personal information is shared. The report has been produced to make people aware of what the housing team can do. Resources will be needed to set up a review group. The councillor was further informed that the council are engaging with landlord groups to help with energy certificates. It is not considered that the council would be unfair competition to the rest of the market, however, competition issues will be checked. It was stated that the £100,000 needed will need to be identified after the review. This information will be brought back to committee.

24.4    Councillor Mears expressed concerns regarding the council will be reviewing of houses of multiple occupancy (HMO), and the running of a business by the council. HMO figures should be seen by councillors. The proposed recommendation amendment is not required, and the housing stock does not meet criteria, nothing has changed. The councillor did not support the report or the proposed amendment.

24.5    Councillor Gibson was informed that the information supplied by the voluntary sector was of some assistance (it identified approximately 80 complaints across the city around disrepair), but the legal advice is that it would be subject to challenge as further detail is required to ensure it is robust if used to support consent for a selective licensing scheme and so has limited weight. The councillor was also informed that the evidence base is complex, and the evidence needs to be robust.

24.6    Councillor Williams proposed the amendment to the recommendations and stated that the council needs to commit to introducing selective licensing. The Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) can help the council with information and resources have been found, the landlords of the city will benefit.

24.7    Councillor Osborne seconded the amendment and stated that the amendment would make clear the way for selective licensing, bring groups together and work jointly.

24.8    Councillor Meadows expressed concerns regarding the finances and was informed by Councillor Gibson that the funds would be reviewed by the budget review group.

24.9    Councillor Mears expressed concerns stating that selective licensing has been around for a long time and it is a sensitive issue. It considered that officers will need resources to got to landlords who aren’t behaving, and the timing is off, making the issues very difficult. The conservatives are aware of issues in the city and note the work not yet done.

24.10  The Chair stated that the amendment was to make clear what can and cannot be done.

24.11  Councillor Gibson stated that the review equals an improvement in conditions.

Vote

24.12  A vote was taken on the amendment and by a vote of 7, with 3 abstentions, the amendment was agreed.

24.13  A vote was taken, and by a vote of 7, with 3 abstentions, the recommendations as amended were agreed.

RESOLVED:

2.1      Housing Committee note the updates on progress against key elements of the Housing Committee Work Plan objectives to improve the quality and management of homes in the private rented sector as set out in this report.

2.2      Housing Committee restates its commitment in the joint housing and homelessness programme to work towards introducing selective licensing in the City of Brighton and Hove as soon as possible and to seek resources to support this.

2.3      Housing Committee note the expansion of the existing Private Sector Housing enforcement team, as outlined in paragraph 3.1, and that the service will assess the impact of the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and new legislation in this area. 2.4 Housing Committee note that, as outlined in paragraph 5.1, officers will seek to support renters to understand what legal remedies are available to them under the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Strategy, including any provided by new legislation in this area.

2.5      Housing Committee request a review of the current national position with regard to selective licensing designations to better understand the current context within which any approvals are being given. Identifying the resources that are required to undertake this work to be considered.

2.6      That Housing Committee agrees the re-purposing and expansion of the Direct Lets scheme as an ethical letting agency incorporating Good Landlord standards. Any additional costs arising as a result of these changes will be brought back to committee for approval.

2.7      That Housing Committee notes the funding required to explore and scope the feasibility of a broader based ethical letting agency proposal. This will require an estimated budget of £0.100m.

2.8      That officers urgently develop options for sustaining tenancies where a tenant with arrears faces eviction and could become homeless.