Issue - meetings

To seek approval for the adoption of a Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy.

(Report attached)

The Committee considered a report regarding a draft Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy which set out the legal responsibilities, principles and priorities that the Private Sector Housing Service would follow when enforcing legislation to demonstrate compliance with national regulatory requirements.

Members welcomed the Policy, recognising that it would enable the Council to assist those in private sector accommodation, both owner-occupiers and those in private rented accommodation, in part through the support it would provide to responsible private landlords. Officers stated that, as with any new Policy, the Council would periodically review the provisions put in place to demonstrate that they were operating effectively.

There was some surprise expressed at the numbers of properties within the Borough which had failed to reach the Decent Homes standard as measured by the Building Research Establishment. Officers confirmed that the numbers were correct, but that the proportion was in line with, and even slightly better than, the national average.

RESOLVED that

the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved and adopted.