Issue - meetings

[Report of the Director for Environment and Neighbourhoods. To be introduced  by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal.]

Report to recommend that Cabinet designate a borough wide licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and a smaller selective licensing scheme in 29 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA) for non HMO property. The report will also be recommending outlining the proposals for selective Licensing for non-HMO property.

 The Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal introduced this report which sought Cabinet to designate a borough wide licensing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and a smaller selective licensing scheme in 29 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA) for non HMO properties.

The Cabinet Member noted current estimates were that some 33% of households in Haringey were privately rented (equating to 35,000) exceeding by 14% the national average of 19%. Between 2001 and 2011, Haringey’s private rented sector had grown by 45.6%, an upward trend which was likely to continue given the huge need and the current lack of affordable public sector housing. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) were a significant component of the private rented sector and provided accommodation for a wide range of individuals and families. It was vital that those properties were well and effectively regulated, to ensure they were safe and compliant with environmental and other regulations. The landlord licensing scheme proposed in the report provided the regulatory framework to support the many good landlords in Haringey, whilst also providing the powers for officers to tackle the rogue landlords who did not comply.

The Cabinet Member advised that the scheme would also enable the Council to know who owned and managed those properties through the issuing of licenses to operate. The additional (HMO) scheme had been developed following wide research, evidence gathering and public consultation.

Following questions from Cllr Dennison, the following was noted:

• A dedicated officer dealt with empty properties in the private rented sector. It was encouraged that a relationship be built with empty homeowners and advice and guidance provided to them on bringing homes back into use before any enforcement action was taken.
• The use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders was an expensive process and counter cost effective for the Council to pursue.
• The Council did not have grants in this area but could explore schemes that financially assisted individuals into bringing empty properties back into usage that could then be provided for temporary accommodation for homelessness families, as had been done previously by the Council.

RESOLVED

1. To consider the consultation results and representations received in response to the consultation on the Additional HMO Licensing Scheme. (Appendix 4).

2. To designate pursuant to s56 (1) (a) of the Housing Act 2004 the whole area of the Borough as subject to additional licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMO’s) as set out in the draft designation at Appendix 1, the designation to be cited as the “London Borough of Haringey Designation for an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation, No 3, 2019” coming into force on 27 May 2019. (Appendix 1).

3. To approve the scale of fees and charges (Appendix 5).

4. To delegate to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods in consultation with the lead Cabinet Member for Housing and Estate Renewal, the authority to agree minor changes to the proposed implementation and delivery, including administration, fees and conditions and give all necessary statutory notifications.

5. To approve the policy on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83