Agenda item

S&ELCP Private Sector Housing Strategy

To set the context as to how the Council intends to meet the private sector housing challenges and opportunities confronting the service and to set out the key priorities for action and delivery (report of the Assistant Director for Wellbeing & Community Leadership enclosed).

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director for Wellbeing and Community Leadership, which set out the context as to how the Council intended to meet the private sector housing challenges and opportunities confronting the service and to set out the key priorities for action and delivery.

 

The Portfolio Holder – Strategic and Operational Housing presented the report which introduced the first South and East Lincolnshire Council Private Sector Housing Strategy. The strategy ensured a point of reference, accountability and governance for how it was intended to work with the Private Sector to review housing conditions, tackle rogue landlords and improve standards.

To develop this strategy, several key areas in the private housing sector were considered, on both a national and local scale. From this analysis, four out-come based commitments had been developed. These included commitments around tackling poor conditions, ensuring homes met the required standards, that there was a focus on work around empty homes and that unlicensed HMOs were tackled.

Following approval of the Strategy, further operational policies and procedures to support the strategies delivery would be completed. These included an Empty Homes policy, and HMO Licensing Policy.

The strategy was discussed at Performance Development Panel in November 2024, with support being given to the document.

Consideration was given to the report and the following issues were raised:

 

·       Were there any gaps in knowledge, particularly with regard to private sector landlords (i.e. were any being missed)?

  • The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership responded that the team had a good grasp of the private landlord situation in South Holland but more could always be done, and the Strategy set this tone.

 

·       With regard to the Stock Condition Survey, what had been the percentage of returns?

  • The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership explained that with regard to the building research establishment, much of this was desktop with a lot of data from across the housing standards framework being drawn in. It was not necessarily a specific survey. It was hoped that the results would be available soon and the data could then be analysed and any gaps identified.

 

·       What was the definition of the Decent Homes Standard, and what was defined as a reasonable standard?

  • Members were advised that there was a document that laid this out and it was lengthy and involved. Essentially it looked at areas such as whether the home was safe and habitable.
  • The Assistant Director – Wellbeing and Community Leadership advised that at page 5 of the Strategy was a brief summary of what constituted Decent Homes and what the minimum standards were. She stated that she would be happy to provide further information if required.

 

DECISION:

 

That the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership Private Sector Housing Strategy be adopted, and to commit to supporting the delivery of the vision, priorities and commitments set out within it.

 

(Other options considered:

·       To continue with individual strategies for each Council;

Reasons for decision:

·       The Strategy is an overarching document which gives a framework and objectives to use to further develop consistent approach to private sector housing across the Partnership.  It demonstrates a clear commitment to shared objectives to improving housing standards for residents).

Supporting documents: