Agenda item

Lisa Ball, Strategic Planning & Performance Consultant

Lorraine Raynor, Chief Environmental Health and Safer Housing Officer, gave a presentation and introduced a report on the Proposal for a Scheme of Selective Licensing for Privately Rented Houses and highlighted the following points:

(a)  the Council currently runs a mandatory licensing scheme for Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) with three or more storeys or, 5 or more occupiers, and a discretionary scheme of additional licencing which covers HMO’s of 2 storeys or more, or, 3 or more occupiers;

(b)  the Council is currently consulting on a proposal to introduce a citywide selective licensing scheme that will cover all of the Private Rented Sector (PRS), it is thought that this will bring over 40,000 properties into the licensing scheme within Nottingham City. The consultation runs until the end of March and feedback can be given here: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/consultation-engagement-and-surveys/#housing ;

(c)   this scheme aims to drive up standards of homes, improve living conditions and reduce levels of deprivation for residents and contribute to reducing levels of antisocial and criminal  behaviour by tackling Rogue Landlords and working with landlords and tenants to provide advice and assistance;

(d)  the Dales, Mapperley and St Anns have a high proportion of PRS properties which falls short of acceptable standards.

Following questions and comments from the Committee the following points were made;

(e)  Should the consultation be a success and the Council agree with the proposal and agree to a selective licencing scheme for all PRS properties in the city, the decision would then need to be approved by the Department of Communities and Local Government. If permission is then granted for a citywide scheme would likely start in  early 2018;

(f)  the fee for a 5 year license will be £600 per property. If the landlord is accredited through Decent and Safe Homes (DASH) or Unipol then there will be a £140 discount;

(g)  the same standards will apply to properties and to fees if a lettings agent is involved, properties will have to meet certain standards and the same fee of £600 per property will be charged and it will be the duty of the landlord to sign up to the scheme;

(h)  the proposed selective licensing scheme would run the same model of enforcements as currently runs for the mandatory and additional licencing. Advice will be offered to landlords and instructions on what needs to be done to improve the property, if no action is taken this will then lead to enforcement and ultimately to prosecution. If there is a pattern of poor behaviour then licenses will not be granted or will be granted only if a suitable management agent is put in place;

(i)  a high proportion of properties within the private rented sector will require improvement if this scheme is approved. It will ensure a basic minimum of standard for all housing and will improve outcomes for tenants;

(j)  the scheme will offer advice and support to landlords who are having issues with tenants such as housing benefits not being used to pay for rent. 

RESOLVED to

(1)  thank Lorraine Raynor for her attendance and for her presentation and note the content;

(2)  encourage community reps to feed this back into the community and engage with the consultation process.