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Agenda item

Consultation on proposals to renew private sector housing Selective Licensing Scheme in Croydon

Officer: Shifa Mustafa

Key decision: Yes

Decision:

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

 

RESOLVED: To

 

1.    Authorise the Executive Director of Place to commence statutory consultation and engagement with key stakeholders on proposals to introduce a new Selective Licensing Scheme in Croydon in 2020;

 

2.    Authorise the Executive Director Place to recommend an approach to renewal or otherwise of selective licensing in Croydon, based on the evidence presented and feedback from the consultation process;

 

3.    Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Homes and Gateway Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Place to make the final decision on the form of the Selective Licensing Scheme; and

 

4.    Authorise the Executive Director of Place to seek designation approval from the Secretary of State in 2020, where necessary.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Homes & Gateway Services informed Members that in 2014 the Administration made a commitment to launch a Selective Licensing Scheme which was introduced shortly afterwards. The report sought the authority to start statutory consultation to introduce a new scheme in 2020, when the current scheme ran out. It was noted, by the Cabinet Member, that following the introduction of the original scheme Selective Licensing Schemes required approval from the Secretary of State and so this had been included within the timeline for the introduction of a new scheme.

 

Members were informed that the private rented sector represented around 35% of all housing in the borough, and while there was a number of excellent landlords there were too many who were not and there were a number of residents living in poverty due to high rents. Additionally, a number of residents raised concerns regarding private landlords due to issues of inappropriate refuse provisions, fly tipping, and fire safety concerns.

 

The Cabinet Member stated the scheme was about protecting residents’ most basic human rights to have a safe and secure home.

 

Members were informed that three options were being consulted upon, which were detailed within the report, and were in line with the statutory requirements for the Selective Licensing Scheme. Additionally, the Cabinet Member stated that the proposed fee structure would not see the licence fee being increased.

 

Members welcomed the consultation on the proposed new scheme and stated that it would be important to listen to responses so the scheme could be informed by residents and landlords. It was noted by Members that the consultation options, as set out in the report, were not easily comprehensible and it was hoped that the consultation document would be clearer as to what the different options were.

 

Members welcomed the report being taken to Scrutiny, however requested that it return to Cabinet for a final decision ahead of submission to the Secretary of State to ensure a full discussion.

 

Concerns were raised, that while Members wanted bad landlords to improve, that the proposed requirements would costs landlords more to fulfil and that those costs could be passed onto the tenants.

 

In response to Member questions the Cabinet Member stated that the complexity in relation to the options set out in the report had arisen due to the requirements set out by central government. It was, however, anticipated that most residents would respond in terms of whether they supported the principle of the scheme and it would not be necessary for responses to include which option was preferred. The Cabinet Member invited all councillors to respond to the consultation as it would be important to hear their views also.

 

In terms of the requirements of the Scheme on landlords, the Cabinet Member stated that many of the requirements were set out in legislation and the Scheme clearly outlined what was necessary to rent out a property as some landlords were not clear on their responsibilities. The Cabinet Member stated that the requirements were not onerous, especially when considering renting a property was a serious business and a large responsibility. Furthermore, the Cabinet Member noted that most landlords paid the lower licence fee which equated to £1.34 per week which was at a level which should not be passed onto tenants.

 

The Selective Licensing and Housing Team Manager thanked Members for their responses and confirmed that the council undertook property based interventions where required. In terms of the responsibilities of council in terms of the Selective Licensing Scheme, the council was reviewing a court ruling and ensuring the proposed and current scheme were compliant with the ruling.

 

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

 

RESOLVED: To

 

1.     Authorise the Executive Director of Place to commence statutory consultation and engagement with key stakeholders on proposals to introduce a new Selective Licensing Scheme in Croydon in 2020;

 

2.     Authorise the Executive Director Place to recommend an approach to renewal or otherwise of selective licensing in Croydon, based on the evidence presented and feedback from the consultation process;

 

3.     Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Homes and Gateway Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Place to make the final decision on the form of the Selective Licensing Scheme; and

 

4.     Authorise the Executive Director of Place to seek designation approval from the Secretary of State in 2020, where necessary.

Supporting documents: