Issue - meetings

To consider how the Housing Landlord Service is performing against key statutory compliance measures (report of the Director of Communities enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Communities which consider how the Housing Landlord Service performed against key statutory compliance measures.

The Housing Property and Repairs Manager introduced the report highlighting the following areas:

• This report presented an update on year end performance for Housing Compliance, following a report to the Panel in March.
• All fire safety remedials had either been completed or on track for completion.
• Work regarding electrical safety certificates was ongoing and where properties were difficult to access, work was being undertaken with Housing Officers to encourage tenants to allow access to their property.

Members considered the report, and made the following comments:

• Members asked whether the Council was responsible for ‘capping off’ gas supplies to properties.
  • The Housing Property and Repairs Manager confirmed that a contractor was responsible for gas capping but there were two qualified gas engineers within the Council’s housing repairs team that could do this in urgent cases.
  • This was step was only used in cases as a last resort after multiple attempts to contact the tenant.
• Members were reassured that an internal audit of housing compliance had demonstrated that there were no material issues relating to compliance.
• Members queried whether any targets were required regarding the implementation of the Tenant Engagement and Influence Strategy.
  • The Assistant Director – Housing responded that the strategy had been to Policy Development Panel twice and would be presented to Cabinet for adoption in June 2025.
  • The work detailed within the strategy would commence in July 2025 with the tenant’s forum.
• Members raised concern about the wording of the ‘Crime and Disorder’ section of the report and requested that this be amended to include further information about the Council’s compliance with this.
  • The Housing Property and Repairs Manager confirmed that this related to the statutory requirement for housing providers to carry out fire risk assessments, gas safety checks and legionella safety checks.
• Members were pleased to see that a Vulnerable Persons and Reasonable Adjustments Policy was being drafted and questioned when this would be adopted.
  • The Assistant Director – Housing responded that the document was currently being reviewed by the Legal team and would then be consulted on with the Tenant Forum.
  • Dates for the implementation of the policy would be confirmed in due course.
• Members expressed concerns about the number of no access cases in relation to damp, condensation and mould and the potential deterioration of these properties long-term.

The Panel requested that the following feedback be provided to Cabinet:

• The Panel had concerns about the large number of ‘no access’ cases for damp, condensation and mould and expressed concern about the potential long-term deterioration of properties should no access to the properties be gained.

AGREED:

That the Panel notes the report and provides the above feedback to Cabinet.