Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which gave Members an update on the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the scrutiny review into the private rented sector.

The Board was advised by the Vice Chairman, Councillor Norman Plumpton-Walsh, that a topic group had been formed in response to a number of issues relating to the private rented sector including poor property conditions, anti-social behaviour caused by private tenants and absentee landlords who were reluctant to take action against tenants who caused problems.The group had been chaired by Councillor Pamela Wallace, who was no longer a Member of the Board.

        The Board was further advised that the findings and recommendations of the topic group had been reported to the Board in March 2012.  At the time it was agreed that detailed cost implications associated with the appointment of additional staff to implement the recommendations be presented to a future meeting of the Board.  However, since that time discussions had taken place at officer level regarding the reorganisation of existing staff which would increase the capacity within the enforcement team and negate the need to employ additional staff.  A verbal update regarding the outcome of these discussions was given at the meeting.

        Furthermore, the report highlighted that as a result of the negotiations involved in securing additional capacity, the team progress in implementing some of the recommendations, particularly around targeted work had been slower than originally anticipated.  The Board noted the recommendations outlined in paragraphs 3.2.1 to 3.2.13 of the report.

It was reported that Councillor Wallace had submitted a statement prior to the meeting.  Mr John Tully, Legal Services had also issued legal advice concerning recommendation 3.1.12 (accreditation to the property not the landlord) which could result in a risk to the Council, and as a result of this, the statement was not read out at the meeting. 

The Chairman informed the Board that a statement had been submitted, but that this had been superseded by legal advice.  The Board was given the option of re-considering the item further in respect of paragraph 3.1.12 or to accept a new Officer’s recommendation which was to remain with the current system (the landlord accreditation).  The Officer’s recommendation was agreed unanimously and therefore paragraph 3.1.12 would be changed to reflect this decision before it was submitted to the Executive Board for approval.  The Chairman requested that a copy of the new recommendation and Appendix C to the report be circulated to all Members of the Board.

        The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·       It was noted that the current accreditation scheme had been in operation for six years and to date there had been no issues or problems;

·       It was noted that 41 landlords had been accredited and that robust measures were in place to address rogue landlords.  It was also noted that landlord accreditation was a voluntary scheme and it would not be viable to introduce it as a mandatory scheme as it would involve introducing licensing and this has not previously proved to be successful;

·       Concern was raised that there appeared to be no control over failing private landlords and this was blighting neighbourhoods.  In response, it was reported that the Environmental Health Team dealt with such matters and would take enforcement action, when appropriate, against rogue landlords.

The Chairman reported that a progress report would be presented to the 15 January 2013 meeting.  He also requested that Officers identify money to undertake a poster campaign on the landlord accreditation scheme.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the progress made to date and the comments raised be noted; and

(2)        paragraph 3.2.12 to be amended and recorded as:-

the existing Landlord Accreditation Scheme be retained; and

(3)        funding be identified to undertake a campaign on the Landlords Accreditation Scheme.