Issue - meetings

To seek approval for the revised Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement presented a report, which sought the approval of Cabinet for (1) the revised Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy (attached at Appendix G to this report), which had been updated to reflect the changes introduced by the Act; (2) an updated fee scale to reflect those changes; (3) the designation of a borough-wide Additional Licensing Scheme of all small HMOs comprising 3-4 occupants (which were not currently covered by the existing mandatory licensing regime) under the Housing Act 2004, and which included those buildings which fell within the definition of s.257 of the Housing Act 2004; and (4) the fees set out in Appendix F associated with the proposed scheme as well as updated fees in respect of the mandatory licensing regime. </AI6>

Councillor Overton said that over recent years, the better homes for all programme had taken a clear and determined approach to improving housing standards across Telford and Wrekin since 2018 from building a strong track record tackling rogue landlords, to carrying out inspections and improving the quality of private rented homes for the borough’s residents.

The Council had also to recognise that the borough had changed, was growing and with its population having increased significantly in recent years, demand for housing continued to rise.  As a result, more people were turning to the private rented sector and with that, the borough was seeing a rapid increase in houses of multiple occupation (HMO).  Historically, a higher concentration of HMOs had been seen in areas such as Sutton Hill, Brookside, Woodside, Hollinswood and Randlay, however, what was different now and what the report clearly highlighted was that this growth was no longer confined to those areas.

HMOs were expanding to parts of the north of the borough, including areas such as Wellington and Hadley, and an increase in mixed communities and emerging in neighbourhoods that would not previously have experienced this type of housing at scale.

This mattered since while HMOs were a vital part of the borough’s housing solution, when these were unlicensed, unmanaged or poorly run, the consequences of this could be clearly seen.  These consequences were being felt by tenants who lived in poor or unsafe conditions and by residents who experienced the impact on their communities. The evidence in the report showed clear links between HMOs and higher levels of antisocial behaviour and crime near those properties.

Through consultation engagement, residents had raised concerns about increasing antisocial behaviour, noise issues, litter, waste and untidiness, and the wider impact on the feel and cohesion of their communities. In some areas, particularly where HMOs had grown rapidly, there was also a perception and a stigma that neighbourhoods were changing ways that were not always positive.  At the same time, the Council knew that many tenants living in these properties were among the most vulnerable in its borough and often felt unable to raise concerns directly, because they feared the consequences of speaking up.

Therefore, what was in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64