Agenda item

Resolved: the committee noted the report.

Madeleine Jeffery (Private Sector Housing Agency Manager) introduced the report. The following points were noted:

6.1       The private rented sector (PRS) is increasing in size and importance. It’s becoming a long-term solution for an increasing number of people. Over half of renters are aged 35 or older. More than a third are families with children. And around a quarter have lived in the PRS for more than 10 years. There are currently around 33,000 in the PRS in Lewisham.

6.2       The conditions in the PRS can be worse than any other sector. More than a quarter didn’t meet the Government’s Decent Homes standard in 2015 – this compares with 3% in the social sector and 18% of owner occupiers. Most PRS tenants are, however, satisfied with their home, with over 70% describing the condition of their homes as good or very good.

6.3       A small proportion of private landlords treat their tenants badly. In such cases the council has the power to serve an improvement notice or, in the worst cases, a prohibition notice. The council have taken two landlords to court in the last two years. Since July this year, six cases have been referred to the legal team by the new Rogue Landlord Team.

6.4       Officers discussed the potential for using civil penalty notices (under the Housing and Planning Act 2016) as a new tool for tackling rogue landlords, as an alternative to prosecuting offences under the Housing Act 2004, which can be expensive and take a long time. The civil penalty notice process could be managed by the council, would be faster and would allow the council to retain financial penalties.

6.5       The Government also plans to extend mandatory licensing for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) under three stories in April 2018. This would lead to around 500 additional licensable HMOs in Lewisham.

6.6       Officers are aware that some tenants of rogue landlords can be suspicious of people in authority. This is why the Council carries out street surveys and has set up an anonymous rogue landlord helpline.  Where they can, officers try to avoid getting the tenant involved in a rogue landlord case.

6.7       In the six month from April to October 2017, officers have increased the number of licensed properties by 43%. Of the 1,900 visits during July and August, officers found 118 potential HMOs – 99 of these are being disputed by the landlord.

6.8       Officers are looking into the business case for a “selective” licensing scheme in specific areas in Lewisham. This would mean that nearly all PRS homes in a specified area would be subject to a licence. But would need to show that an areas is experiencing persistent ASB and nuisance problems associated with PRS homes in the area.

6.9       Officers noted that hostels are exempt from licensing because they are not considered to be their residents’ principle home.

6.10    The committee agreed to support the recommendations to Mayor and Cabinet.

6.11    The committee was supportive of officers’ proposals to prepare a business case for a selective licensing scheme in the borough.

6.12    The committee also asked officers to look into way to raise awareness of the council’s work in the PRS and suggested providing information that is accessible to all, which councillors could refer to during their surgeries.

6.13    The committee also suggested that officers need to do more to raise awareness of successful rogue landlord prosecutions too.

Resolved: the committee noted the report.