Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report provides an update on the work of the Housing Standards Team, the significant increase in interventions undertaken to ensure private rented properties are of a good standard and the introduction of a revised approach which aims to further increase the team taking tougher action to tackle poor and rogue landlords in the borough and improve property conditions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to note the report and to recommend that a further report is submitted in March 2017 reviewing the targeted approach and to consider whether additional changes are required going forward.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the work of the Housing Standards Team, the significant increase in interventions undertaken to ensure private rented properties are of a good standard and the introduction of a revised approach which aims to further increase the team taking tougher action to tackle poor and rogue landlords in the borough and improve property conditions.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing expressed her view that mandatory registration scheme for private landlords would have the potential to provide the level of necessary level of oversight of the private rented sector to raise housing standards.  The Chair agreed with this statement.

·         The Council currently levied a fee of £300 for serving a Housing Enforcement Notice to improve housing conditions.  It was queried whether this fee was broadly comparable across Greater Manchester.

·         It was commented that there were a large number of private landlords who did a good job in providing high quality housing for Stockport residents.

·         The data in the report relating to the number of complaints, notices served and prosecutions undertaken was not representative of the total number of issues there were in the private rented sector as residents often felt unable to complain due to the risk to their security of tenure.

·         A mandatory registration scheme for private landlords would be welcomed by reputable landlords and would assist in driving rogue landlords from the sector.

·         The lack of security of tenure for tenants could have a highly disruptive effect, in particular on children living in those properties.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration be requested to submit a report to the 26 February 2018 meeting of the Scrutiny Committee reviewing the targeted approach and to consider whether additional changes are required going forward.