Agenda item

TheChairmanintroducedthereportwhich requested the committee agree to an expansion to licensing for rented properties to include additional and selective licensing requirements covering a number of areas of the Borough.

Members noted that the brough had a number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) due to the proximity to transport hubs and the large number of transient workers and single people.  The proposals were welcome but it was highlighted that it would be important to raise awareness, both for existing landlords and those submitting planning applications.

Officers confirmed that they worked closely with the planning services to ensure that the appropriate permissions were completed.  Although the legislation was not linked the services worked in tandem

Members noted that there was some support for widening the selective licensing area, although it was recognised that it was not possible to be borough wide.  Where boroughs had made it almost borough wide, this appeared to have been successful.  People had taken a while to adjust with anecdotally it proving more popular with landlords than tenants.

The committee was keen to recognise that the scheme was designed to raise housing standards to maintain safe levels rather than raise revenue.  Landlords also benefitted from support which helped to inform them of legislative requirements, thus protecting and preventing against potential liabilities.

RESOLVED that the Committee unanimously:

1.    Note:

·         the consultation activity and coverage in Appendix 1,

·         the consultation report in Appendix 2,

·         the council’s response to comments received in Appendix 3,

·         the final report on the additional licensing scheme 2016-2020 in Appendix 4,

·         the Equalities Impact Assessment in Appendix 9,

·         the updated property condition data based upon new wards and boundaries and resultant conclusions and proposals in Appendix 10.

·         the objectives, targets, and reporting timetable in Appendix 11,

·         the communications plan in Appendix 14.

2.    Approve:

·         the proposed amendments to the schemes in Appendix 5,

·         the adoption of the standards for licenced properties in Appendix 6,

·         the conditions for licenced properties in Appendix 7,

·         the fees for property licensing in Appendix 8,

·         the updated Enforcement Policy in Appendix 15

3.    Approve:

a. the making of the designations for:

·         a borough-wide additional licensing scheme in Appendix 12,

·         a selective licensing scheme in the new wards of Burnt Oak, Colindale North and Colindale South as detailed in Appendix 13

b. for the Deputy Chief Executive to be delegated to sign each designation on an appropriate date in the future, as discussed in paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3, to bring those schemes into force, no sooner than three months from the date of designation.