Agenda item

To consider the consultation results for selective licensing in Burnley with Healey Wood and Leyland Road areas and submission to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

The Private Housing Sector Manager reported on the results of the selective licensing consultation in Burnley Wood with Healey Wood and The Leyland Road Area and asked members to consider further selective licensing designation areas in Burnley Wood with Healey Wood and the Leyland Road area for the reasons set out in the Statement of Case (appendix A) along with the fee structure, budget implications and licence conditions.

Copies of the petition that had been received against the proposals was circulated to all members.

Members made the following comments and observations

·         Little acknowledgement that good landlords can get bad tenants

·         Problems experienced in the social housing sector is not reflected in legislation

·         There needs to be equitable treatment of landlords across the borough following complaints made by a tenant

·         Selective licensing does improve housing in an area but doesn’t address the poor conditions in some social housing

·         Who bears the cost regarding p210 item 9 regarding the inventory

·         What was the prospect of expansion of selective licensing into other areas

·         Page 35 S2.3 in respect of tribunals there is no mention of tenants that are in rent arrears

·         Page 39 s3.7 – with regards to fuel poverty were there any plans to extend this out to rural areas and how would houses in conservation areas be affected

The Officer responded as follows

·         It was acknowledged that there were bad tenants and this was taken into consideration before any enforcement action was taken

·         Any registered social housing is subject to legislation regarding housing conditions and if work not done would be inspected in the same way as the private rented sector

• Legislation was applied consistently across the borough with regard to housing conditions, enforcement was a last resort unless there was a  significant risk of harm.  Failure to comply during informal action can then result in enforcement notices such as improvement notices being served which if breached can lead to the service of civil penalties.

·         Any landlord could do an inventory but if done by another agency then  the landlord or managing agent would bear the costs

·         Selective licensing areas were monitored annually and interim reports produced, other areas of the borough can be looked at but they must meet the criteria to be considered for selective licensing

·         With regard to Rent Repayment Orders the local authority can only take action if the tenant receives housing benefit. If the tenant does not receive housing benefit they have the option to pursue a Rent Repayment Order as an individual tenant.

·         There was a separate project on energy efficiency standards which included rural areas, if properties were owner/occupied they were directed to cosy homes, houses in conservation areas could apply for exemption if the cost of improvements was prohibitive or over a certain amount of money.

IT WAS AGREED

That the report be recommended to the Executive for approval.