Issue - meetings

1. That the revisions to the Council’s housing enforcement policy be approved.

2. That the adoption of the use of Civil Penalties in respect of certain breaches of

statutory housing responsibilities be approved.

3. That the discount to be applied to the fee in respect of housing licence applications for landlords/agents achieving a Three Star and above rating under the Council’s Rent with Confidence (RwC) programme be approved.

4. That it be approved to delegate the issuing of Civil Penalties to the relevant Head of Service/Director in consultation with the Director of Governance.

5. That it be approved to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the relevant Director to approve the matrix for the amount of the Civil Penalties, and any subsequent amendments.

6. That it be approved to delegate authority to the Service Manager Private Sector Housing to make the reduction in enforcement charges where landlords/agents sign up to the Rent with Confidence scheme.

7. That it be noted that the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme is proposed to be revised by the Department for Communities and Local Government to include a wider range of properties. The licence fees including any discounts for all properties will be refreshed at the time that the revisions are enacted.

Councillor Peter Bilson presented the Housing Enforcement and Charging Policy report for approval. The revisions to the Council’s Housing Enforcement Policy included the use of Civil Penalties and discounts to be applied to housing licensing fees in respect of Rent with Confidence Three Star and above rated landlords. This was the introduction of an additional tool to the policy for private sector properties. It gave the Council the ability to take action quicker and to provide tenants with a better quality of service.

Resolved:

1. That the revisions to the Council’s housing enforcement policy be approved.

2. That the adoption of the use of Civil Penalties in respect of certain breaches of

statutory housing responsibilities be approved.

3. That the discount to be applied to the fee in respect of housing licence applications for landlords/agents achieving a Three Star and above rating under the Council’s Rent with Confidence (RwC) programme be approved.

4. That it be approved to delegate the issuing of Civil Penalties to the relevant Head of Service/Director in consultation with the Director of Governance.

5. That it be approved to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for City Assets and Housing in consultation with the relevant Director to approve the matrix for the amount of the Civil Penalties, and any subsequent amendments.

6. That it be approved to delegate authority to the Service Manager Private Sector Housing to make the reduction in enforcement charges where landlords/agents sign up to the Rent with Confidence scheme.

7. That it be noted that the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme was proposed to be revised by the Department for Communities and Local Government to include a wider range of properties. The licence fees including any discounts for all properties would be refreshed at the time that the revisions were enacted.