Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Environment and Resident Experience.  To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning.

The Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning introduced the report which sought approval for consultation to commence in relation to the designation of the whole of the area of the London Borough of Haringey to be subject to Additional HMO licensing for the period from 27 May 2024 up to no later than 26 May 2029, licensing fees and licensing conditions.

RESOLVED to

1.            Agree that officers consult on the following:

a)    designation of the whole of the area of the London Borough of Haringey to be subject to Additional HMO licensing for the period from 27 May 2024 up to no later than 26 May 2029.

b)    licensing fees and charges detailed at Appendix 2.

c)    licensing conditions detailed at Appendix 3.

Reasons for decision

The Government sees the private rented sector as having an important and long-term role in meeting the housing needs of the nation. One of the key powers available to local authorities to improve property standards and management practices in this sector is through the utilisation of discretionary licensing powers bestowed on local authorities through the Housing Act 2004.

A third of Haringey’s population live in homes rented from a private landlord. More than one home in every four rented from a private landlord in Haringey is in such poor condition that it presents a risk of harm to the health or safety of its tenants¹. The Council’s vision through the current Corporate Delivery Plan 2023-24 is for a borough where everyone has a safe, sustainable, stable, and affordable home. One of the fundamental principles of property licensing is to ensure that residents who live in the private rented sector have access to this. Although HMO accommodation makes up only a small percentage of the overall private rented sector, it is a part of the sector that poses the greatest risk to tenants. Through the HMO Licensing scheme, we will be able to contribute towards addressing these issues and achieving this vision.

[¹ Haringey Corporate delivery Plan 2023-2024]

The Corporate Delivery Plan highlights the correlation that improving housing has with our ability as a council to respond to:

·           our climate emergency,

·           supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis,

·           addressing inequality and

·           building strong communities.

The existing additional HMO licensing scheme has contributed towards achieving these commitments and specifically towards achieving the Council’s pledge to ‘Deliver homes for the future;’ by improving the quality of the private rented sector and supporting the reduction in households presenting as homeless.’

It is anticipated that a further scheme of this type will continue to contribute towards this pledge.

We will also through the scheme, work with and educate landlords, encouraging them to improve the quality of their housing stock voluntarily including enhancing the energy efficiency of their properties.

The Council’s existing Housing Strategy 2017-2022 and proposed Housing Strategy 2022-2027 (which was recently consulted upon from September to December 2022 and is due to be adopted by about November 2023) both endorse the use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17