Issue - meetings

The Sub-Committee received a presentation on the Houses in Multiple Occupation Additional Licensing Scheme. 

The presentation detailed the consultation process which commenced in May 2017. Following consultation and subsequent Cabinet approval, a designation was made on the 11 October 2017 for an Additional Houses in Multiple Occupation Scheme, covering twelve wards.  The scheme could not go live until at least ninety days had passed from the decision date, therefore no licences would be issued before the 10 January 2018, although applications could be made prior to this date.  Enforcement would start from 1 March 2018 and the scheme would be reviewed regularly.  An explanation as to what properties would be covered by the scheme was provided as outlined in the appendix to the report.

The scheme had been publicised widely, with public notices having been published fortnightly in local press; public notices had been displayed in all borough libraries and main Council Office buildings; direct mailings sent to external organisations; and there was a proposal for extensive publicity and post campaign commencing January 2018.

To ensure the effectiveness of the scheme, robust enforcement against those that try to avoid licensing was paramount.  The introduction of the scheme would create a financial deterrent for criminal landlords and would increase the number of licence applications and subsequently generate income for the Council.  Once licensed, the Council would be in a position whereby it could monitor properties to ensure compliance with licence conditions and could prosecute or issue civil penalty notices for breach of conditions.

Members noted the contents of the presentation and thanked officers for their time.