Agenda item

Private Sector Housing Enforcement Scheme 2: to Consult on Proposals to Expand Private Sector Housing Landlord Licensing in the Borough

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

  1. Noted the progress report on the Additional Licensing Scheme for HMOs introduced in March 2018.

 

  1. Authorised commencement of a consultation on extending the coverage of the Additional Licensing Scheme for HMOs (approved by Cabinet on 11th October 2017) to cover the remaining six wards in the Borough, which are Cranham, Emerson Park, Hacton, Hylands, St Andrews and Upminster.

 

  1. Authorised commencement of a consultation on a Selective Licensing Scheme for Romford Town and Brooklands wards.

 

  1. Noted that, if it is agreed to proceed with the consultation, the results of the consultation will be presented to Cabinet in autumn 2019.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Viddy Persaud, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Protection and Safety, introduced the report to Cabinet. 

The report provides an update of the Additional Licensing Scheme for Housing of Multiple Occupation (HMO), which was agreed in October 2017 and has been in operation since 1 March 2018.

It presents a proposal for extending discretionary licensing in the Borough, the legal evidential test required to be met and a recommendation to proceed with a statutory consultation.

The scheme proposed to be consulted on has been determined from a Housing Stock Condition and Stressors Report which is contained within Appendix 1 and provides information about the number of privately rented properties by ward, stock condition, anti-social behaviour linked to rental properties and other housing stressors. The option recommended to Cabinet meets the evidential criteria set out by legislation.

Agreement was sought to conduct a statutory consultation exercise on extending the discretionary licensing scheme to cover the remaining six wards in the Borough.  This consultation will be for a period of ten weeks with the results to be brought back to Cabinet for further consideration in the autumn.

 

Cabinet:

 

  1. Noted the progress report on the Additional Licensing Scheme for HMOs introduced in March 2018.

 

  1. Authorised commencement of a consultation on extending the coverage of the Additional Licensing Scheme for HMOs (approved by Cabinet on 11th October 2017) to cover the remaining six wards in the Borough, which are Cranham, Emerson Park, Hacton, Hylands, St Andrews and Upminster.

 

  1. Authorised commencement of a consultation on a Selective Licensing Scheme for Romford Town and Brooklands wards.

 

  1. Noted that, if it is agreed to proceed with the consultation, the results of the consultation will be presented to Cabinet in autumn 2019.

 

Supporting documents: