Agenda item

[Chris Hale, Head of City Housing/ Lesley Williams, Service Manager - Private Sector Housing, to provide an update on progress since the previous scrutiny review and an outline of next steps and proposed way forward.]

Lesley Williams, Service Manager Private Sector Housing and Nick Edwards, Service Director City Assets were in attendance to provide a report and an update on the progress on ‘Rent with Confidence’ (RwC) proposals to date and to seek the Panels views on the proposals for progressing and implementing the initiative across the City.

Cllr Keith Inston indicated that this was an excellent idea.  In response to questions from Cllr Caroline Siarkewicz relating to the star rating, the Service Manager advised that the star rating is about a benchmarking and accreditation process.  She advised that the scheme incentivises maintenance of standards and by doing so a high star rating. Good landlords would not be penalised but must maintain standards to keep the higher star rating.

In response to Cllr Lynne Moran the Service Manager advised that there were currently approximately 18,000 lets in Wolverhampton, all private rented, which is about 13% of the total stock. She clarified that Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) need a licence if there are three or more storeys and there are five or more people in occupancy.

Cllr John Rowley indicated there are probably a substantial number of landlords in Blakenhall that are not interested in accreditation, he referred to a recent surge in fly tipping in areas of rented accommodation and some areas are in an appalling state.  He indicated many landlords are disinterested in the tenants and he could not see how RwC would relate to these types of landlords.  The Service Director assured the Panel that RwC is part of a number of measures relating to the private rented sector (PRS) landlords to work with them to ‘educate, encourage and enforce’.

The Service Director also advised it gives good landlords recognition which is not something that is currently possible.

Cllr Phil Bateman welcomed the approach; in particular that Wolverhampton will be the first Authority to do this.  There were some concerns voiced about the resources ring fenced for this programme, some councillors questioned if these monies could be better utilised in public health services and wanted to know more about the detail of costs relating to RwC scheme. The Service manager explained the Public Health (PH) funding would fund a range of initiatives to improve PRS including ‘Additional Licensing’ of all HMOs, RwC scheme and an enforcement review, the aim of the overall package will be to improve health outcomes of residents living in PRS accommodation across the city.

In response to further questions the Service Manager advised all funding sources, existing provision, the PH and that from ‘Additional Licensing’ will be utilised to address standards on the PR sector including the RwC scheme.  Councillors requested further clarification on the resourcing and implementation proposals for the RwC be circulated to the Panel. Cllr Andrew Wynne suggested an element of caution should be observed when taking on a large sphere of activity.

The Service Director clarified that the Public Health funding has been identified to help in part introduce the package of initiatives to improve the standard of the PRS, the environment and the health and wellbeing of residents in Wolverhampton.

Cllr Ian Angus, the Chair of the Panel, requested a briefing paper relating to the cost against impact be prepared to be shared with the Panel.

The Chair of the Panel questioned whether ‘letting agents’ would be included in the RwC scheme and was informed that as of March 2015 letting agents must display their fees and some of the better letting agents would be participating.  Cllr Phil Bateman supported the RwC proposals and especially the way Wolverhampton is taking the initiative and being the first to implement this scheme for landlords and letting agents, he said the scheme needs to be progressed as quickly as possible.

The Chair of the Panel thanked the witnesses and agreed the following recommendations:

Resolved

1.            That Panel recognise the existing and potential future role of the private rented sector (PRS) in delivering on the housing offer in the City

2.            That Panel note the rent with confidence (RwC) proposals and timescales to develop and deliver the resulting strategies and progress made to date

3.            That Panel endorse a cross Council approach to the development, support and use of Private Rented Sector (PRS) accommodation

4.            That Panel note the public health outcomes and wider impact that a vibrant and appropriately managed Private Rented Sector (PRS) can bring to the City

5.            That Panel receive a briefing paper relating to the cost against impact of the rent with confidence (RwC) proposals and other initiatives to improve the City’s housing offer