Agenda item

MOTION: 'HEALTHY HOMES' AND THE CASE FOR SELECTIVE LICENSING OF THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR

Meeting of Council, Monday, 11th February 2013 6.15 p.m. (Item 118.)

Minutes:

Councillor Geoffrey Watt, having declared his disclosable pecuniary interest in this matter left the Chamber during its consideration.

Proposed by Councillor Stuart Kelly

Seconded by Councillor Alan Brighouse

(1) Council notes that The Wirral JSNA¹ estimates that ‘33.9% of private rented dwellings (5,929) have at least one category 1 hazard’ which include excess cold, tripping hazards, and electrical hazards (section 2.2 refers); that The Wirral Housing Strategy² highlights the sector as containing many vulnerable households where ‘housing conditions are around three times worse than owner occupied homes’ (page 13 refers); and that the last Private Sector Stock Condition Survey showed that 59.3% of properties in the private rented sector were non-decent. Council believes this has a negative effect on the health of those living in such circumstances.

(2) Council notes and supports The Healthy Homes Scheme which began with a pilot project in the Victoria Parade Area in New Brighton and notes that 836 Healthy Homes assessments have been completed, resulting in 966 referrals to partner organisations. Council notes that most referrals to the scheme are from health & social care professionals and that the scheme is contributing to key Public Health priorities such as reducing health inequalities.

(3) Council notes with concern that, despite the number of privately rented properties increasing by 80% between 2001 – 2011, only 16% (2,761) of private rented properties are included in Wirral’s own voluntary Accreditation Scheme and thanks the 28 landlords and agents who are members for their commitment to the aims of the Scheme on behalf of their tenants³.

(4) Council notes the selective licensing powers available to local authorities and their use in tackling landlord failure in other parts of the country, notably Newcastle CC and Newham LBC, and that Liverpool CC has begun its own consultation on the issue⁴.

(5) Council acknowledges the Housing Strategy’s aspiration to ‘see a healthy private rented sector with good quality properties and management standards’ by 2026. (page 13 refers)

(6) Council believes people looking to rent privately have no means of establishing whether their prospective landlord is good or bad and that if they are accredited they will have had to demonstrate that they have satisfactory management arrangements in place and their properties meet a defined standard.

(7) Council believes that licensing offers the opportunity for prospective tenants to make informed choices and also protect communities who have suffered from neighbouring properties being bought by landlords and let indiscriminately to unsuitable tenants.

(8) Council notes an increase in the use of statutory enforcement powers under Housing Act 2004 nationally and in Wirral and Council agrees to sign a statement of support for Shelter’s national campaign by pledging to do everything within its power to stamp out rogue landlords⁵.

(9) Council calls upon the cabinet members responsible for Housing/Community Safety and Public Health to work together to re-examine the case for using selective licensing as part of the tool kit available in tackling sub standard housing and poorly managed private rented accommodation and to use those powers as part of a roll out of the New Brighton Healthy Homes scheme to other areas of Wirral where LSOA information suggests public health problems are linked to the lack of decent homes.

Web Link References

1. Wirral Joint Strategic Needs Assessment –

http://info.wirral.nhs.uk/document_uploads/jsna/JSNA%20Housing%20Section%20Final%20Dec%202011_44746.pdf

2. Wirral Housing Strategy (2011-2026) –

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/downloads/3857

3. Property Accreditation Scheme – List of Accredited Landlords and Agents

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/downloads/3336

4. Liverpool City Council Cabinet Report 21/12/12 –

http://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/documents/s112943/H7%20-%20Introduction%20of%20Licensing%20for%20Private%20Rented%20Property.pdf

5. Shelter Campaign Site – Evict Rogue Landlords

http://england.shelter.org.uk/campaigns/evict_rogue_landlords

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor George Davies

Seconded by Councillor Chris Jones

Add new paragraph (10)

(10) Council calls upon the Cabinet members responsible for Housing/Community Safety and Public Health to work together to re-examine the case for using selective licensing in conjunction with other tools available such as landlord accreditation, statutory enforcement, Healthy Homes and Empty Property Assistance in tackling poor quality private rented accommodation in some of our poorest neighbourhoods in the Borough.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

Councillor Kelly agreed to accept the amendment proposed by Councillor Davies.

The Motion, as amended, was put and carried (61:0) (One abstention)

Resolved (61:0) (One Abstention) –

(1) Council notes that The Wirral JSNA¹ estimates that ‘33.9% of private rented dwellings (5,929) have at least one category 1 hazard’ which include excess cold, tripping hazards, and electrical hazards (section 2.2 refers); that The Wirral Housing Strategy² highlights the sector as containing many vulnerable households where ‘housing conditions are around three times worse than owner occupied homes’ (page 13 refers); and that the last Private Sector Stock Condition Survey showed that 59.3% of properties in the private rented sector were non-decent. Council believes this has a negative effect on the health of those living in such circumstances.

(2) Council notes and supports The Healthy Homes Scheme which began with a pilot project in the Victoria Parade Area in New Brighton and notes that 836 Healthy Homes assessments have been completed, resulting in 966 referrals to partner organisations. Council notes that most referrals to the scheme are from health & social care professionals and that the scheme is contributing to key Public Health priorities such as reducing health inequalities.

(3) Council notes with concern that, despite the number of privately rented properties increasing by 80% between 2001 – 2011, only 16% (2,761) of private rented properties are included in Wirral’s own voluntary Accreditation Scheme and thanks the 28 landlords and agents who are members for their commitment to the aims of the Scheme on behalf of their tenants³.

(4) Council notes the selective licensing powers available to local authorities and their use in tackling landlord failure in other parts of the country, notably Newcastle CC and Newham LBC, and that Liverpool CC has begun its own consultation on the issue⁴.

(5) Council acknowledges the Housing Strategy’s aspiration to ‘see a healthy private rented sector with good quality properties and management standards’ by 2026. (page 13 refers)

(6) Council believes people looking to rent privately have no means of establishing whether their prospective landlord is good or bad and that if they are accredited they will have had to demonstrate that they have satisfactory management arrangements in place and their properties meet a defined standard.

(7) Council believes that licensing offers the opportunity for prospective tenants to make informed choices and also protect communities who have suffered from neighbouring properties being bought by landlords and let indiscriminately to unsuitable tenants.

(8) Council notes an increase in the use of statutory enforcement powers under Housing Act 2004 nationally and in Wirral and Council agrees to sign a statement of support for Shelter’s national campaign by pledging to do everything within its power to stamp out rogue landlords⁵.

(9) Council calls upon the cabinet members responsible for Housing/Community Safety and Public Health to work together to re-examine the case for using selective licensing as part of the tool kit available in tackling sub standard housing and poorly managed private rented accommodation and to use those powers as part of a roll out of the New Brighton Healthy Homes scheme to other areas of Wirral where LSOA information suggests public health problems are linked to the lack of decent homes.

(10) Council calls upon the Cabinet members responsible for Housing/Community Safety and Public Health to work together to re-examine the case for using selective licensing in conjunction with other tools available such as landlord accreditation, statutory enforcement, Healthy Homes and Empty Property Assistance in tackling poor quality private rented accommodation in some of our poorest neighbourhoods in the Borough.