Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

(NOTE: Pursuant to Part 3e, Paragraph 19, of the City Council's Constitution, Councillor T Khan, the Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, has been invited to attend for the consideration of this matter and to agree the need for urgency such that call-in arrangements will not apply. The reason for urgency being, due to the breadth of the consultation required, the need for the consultation to commence at the earliest opportunity so as not to delay the proposed timetable for implementation.)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) on proposals for an Additional Licensing Scheme in Coventry. Appendices to the report provided: Additional Licensing Feasibility Report 2018; HMO Licensing Policy 2018; RICS Private Rented Sector Code of Practice; Timeline for Additional Licensing; HMO Licence Fees and Charges; and Equalities Impact Assessment.

Due to the timescale for this matter, in accordance with Paragraph 19 of the City Council’s Constitution, Councillor T Khan, the Chair of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, had been invited to attend the meeting for the consideration of this matter to agree the need for urgency such that call-in arrangements would not apply. The reason for the urgency was that due to the breadth of the consultation required, there was a need for it to commence at the earliest opportunity so as not to delay the proposed timetable for implementation. The Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee agreed the need for urgency such that call-in arrangements would not apply.

The provision of good quality housing for Coventry residents was a key priority for the City Council. Privately rented property was a key part of this provision although Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) could be a major concern in Coventry. With around 6,800 HMOs or 26% of the total Private Rented Sector (PRS) stock. Coventry was one of the top ten of authorities in England and Wales.

It was recognised that there were many good quality landlords operating in the City, but unfortunately there were also those who did not maintain their properties leaving tenants at risk and giving potential problems to neighbouring properties.

Under the Housing Act 2004 Government had legislated to provide local authorities with powers to tackle poor quality HMOs in the PRS through Mandatory Licensing, however this only related to those HMOs that had 5 or more occupants from two or more households.

Although planning policy had been developed to create and sustain as appropriate ‘mixed and balanced communities’, by encouraging the spread of sustainable and viable options for accommodation, the City does had large areas where HMOs within the PRS were substantial in number.

HMOs with 3 or 4 occupants from 2 or more households formed an unusually high percentage of houses in the City (approx. 63%) and provided much needed accommodation for residents, particularly students who would typically live in this type of accommodation following their first year at university. The designation of a Citywide Additional Licensing scheme would therefore enable the Council to regulate all HMOs.

Accreditation would be given to those landlords and agents who were experienced, knowledgeable in their profession and were committed to following the good practice principles set out in the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Private Rented Sector Code of Practice, which was endorsed by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning in July 2015.

The proposed fees and charges had been developed in order to reach an appropriate fee to consult on the proposed structure of the scheme. In arriving at the proposed fees the Council had attempted to provide incentives for compliant landlords whilst providing sufficient resources to ensure that the scheme could be effectively delivered and every property couldan be inspected before a licence was issued.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Having considered the Additional Licensing Feasibility Report 2018, resolves that there is a need for a Citywide Additional Licensing Scheme.

2)  Authorises a Citywide statutory 10 week consultation beginning on the 9th January 2019 and ending on the 20th March 2019.

3)  Requests a future report to the Cabinet following the conclusion of the consultation for a decision to be made regarding the structure of the Additional Licensing Scheme and designate the Scheme under the General Consent Order.