Issue - meetings

To approve the South and East Lincolnshire Housing Standards Policies (report of the Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services enclosed).

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Strategic Housing introduced three comprehensive housing standards policies for consideration and adoption.

These policies related to Empty Homes, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing, and Enforcement. It was explained that the policies enabled housing standards officers to apply their work confidently and robustly across the three councils, and ensured readiness for the forthcoming requirements of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force later in the year.

Members were advised that the policies could be delivered within existing resources, unless there was a specific decision to expand activity beyond the outlined approach. Key elements were highlighted, including the introduction of a scoring matrix within the Empty Homes Policy to prioritise properties of greatest concern, with each council utilising existing powers and tools without the need for additional resources.

The HMO Licensing Policy introduced a consistent fee structure across the partnership.

The Enforcement Policy included updated fixed penalty notice amounts, aligned with the Renters’ Rights Act.

The Portfolio Holder confirmed that all policies had been robustly reviewed and supported by the Policy Development Panel in November.

DECISION:

That the draft Empty Homes Policy at Appendix 1, the draft HMO Policy at Appendix 2, and the draft Housing Standards Enforcement Policy at Appendix 3 be approved.

Other Options Considered:

·         Keep current policies – not recommended

Reasons for Recommendations:

·         To ensure the Council has suitable policies and procedures in place for responding to and dealing with housing standards issues.

·         These polices enable and ensure our Housing Standards Officers apply their work confidently and robustly across the three councils of the partnership and ensure we are ready for any changes that need to be applied as part of the Renters' Rights Act which comes into force this year.

·         For empty homes the main focus is introducing a scoring matrix to prioritise properties at greatest concern with each council of the Partnership enabling their tools available to them without committing to specific resources. For HMO licensing the policy introduces a new fee structure that is consistent across the Partnership and the Enforcement policy includes the revision of fixed penalty notice amounts reflected in the Renters' Rights Act.

To consider the review and update of Housing Standards Policies prior to alignment of respective Polices across the Partnership (report of the Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Communities and Housing Services which asked that members to consider the update of the Housing Standards Policies prior to alignment of respective Policies across the Partnership.

The Group Manager, Safer Communities introduced the three draft Housing Standards Policies.

• Empty Homes Policy
• Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing Policy
• Enforcement Policy

The strategic objective of all 3 policies was to update and regularise existing policies across East Lindsey, South Holland, and Boston so that working practices and approaches were aligned.

These policies would be delivered within the partnerships existing resources.

The Group Manager, Safer Communities noted that the Councils current policies were fit for purpose and took into consideration the recently published “Private Sector Housing Strategy” previously discussed at PDP.

Empty Homes Policy

• The Group Manager, Safer Communities explained that the Empty Homes Policy would introduce a scoring and rating matrix to prioritise the properties of greatest concern to the Council. The policy would enable each individual council to utilise the powers and tools available to them, without committing all 3 Councils to the same activity, certain activities, such as compulsory purchase, could require a large resource commitment.

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing Policy

• The Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing Policy would move away from a flat fee structure and would introduce a new fee structure separated in to 2 parts:

• • Part A for the application,
  • Part B would generate a fee per individual room.
• The policy would see the alignment of amenities and standard conditions and would introduce a risk rating for generating periodic inspections.
• The 3 appendices that accompanied this policy were:

Enforcement Policy

• The Enforcement Policy had been updated to reflect new schemes such as “Homes for Ukraine.”

• Accommodation inspections, along with the revision of fixed penalty amounts, would reflect the national model which was being steered by the Renters’ Rights Act that had just gained royal assent.
• The policy had revised the fee structure, by introducing a set fee for the service of a notice, followed by an additional fee for each hazard.
• The policy brought in an increase of fees attached to the service of Civil Penalty Notices which steered away from a matrix approach, by introducing set fees per offence this would align with the Justice for Tenants national model.

Members considered the report and made the following comments:

• Members expressed their frustration regarding the number of empty homes and the negative impact on neighbourhoods and stressed the importance of bringing those properties back into use to maximise the Councils housing stock.
  • The Group Manager, Safer Communities confirmed that the scoring matrix would prioritise properties causing the greatest concern or located in areas of high demand.
  • Properties that were likely to return to use naturally (e.g., probate cases) would not be prioritised.
  • Enforcement options would be considered where intervention was necessary.

• Members raised concerns about the size of this report (327 pages)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55