Minutes:
Question from Councillor Wade:
“There has been much talk about people moving from central London to Barking and Dagenham because they are failing to meet housing costs.
Even now, within our Borough, more people are being evicted through no fault of their own.
Regular payers of rent to private landlords are sometimes told by them that their property is being re-possessed because of mortgage payment arrears but not to worry, they can stay there. After a while the tenant receives an eviction notice from the landlord's bank/mortgage lender and a date when the bailiffs will arrive. So, at short notice, the tenant starts looking for somewhere else to rent but a deposit is required. Where does the tenant get that from?
Whilst helping the tenant is paramount, would the Leader tell us whether the Council looks into the landlord's situation, as early help may have prevented an eviction and saved the Council money?”
Response from Councillor R Gill, the Deputy Leader of the Council, in the absence of Councillor Smith:
"We are seeing new types of landlords - Right to Buy and Buy to Let – who are supported by reckless lending by some of the banks. Once that money has been loaned, the individuals find it difficult to pay it back. The tenant then becomes a victim. We have one of the highest rates of re-possessions in the country.
The Private Sector Housing team has now conducted two surveys since December 2010 of local lettings agencies and private landlords in the Borough to take stock of the private rented market in Barking & Dagenham. The current position is that there are very few empty private rented homes and the growing demand for this sector is coming from households who are in employment and not benefit dependent.
Local landlords are encouraged to sign up for the London Landlord Accreditation scheme and to join the Borough’s Landlord Forum to ensure that good practice is followed. The private rented sector comprises over 7,000 homes in the Borough and is important in terms of housing. The Council’s Private Sector Housing team will intervene when there are allegations of illegal eviction or harassment of tenants by landlords.
It should also be noted that the Living & Working Select Committee, as part of its scrutiny role, is looking at the private rented sector in Barking & Dagenham.
Response from Councillor P Waker, Cabinet Member for Housing –
"There are two aspects to this. Private renting in general where a landlord can quite easily evict, i.e. serve the required notice. The other scenario is where the landlord is getting the rent from the tenant but is not paying the mortgage. The tenant then gets all the hassle
If people are evicted through no fault of their own, it becomes a Council responsibility, especially where children are concerned.
Some people might have been in the borough for only six months – this is not fair. As a result we are embarking on a public consultation exercise on possible lengths of residency and local connection rights.
We are trying to move things forward, although due to the complexity of the issue, I cannot offer this meeting a quick fix solution.
On a positive note, the Council has taken the opportunity to secure grants, which have enabled 143 new council house builds. We have also opened up empty buildings as temporary accommodation and are spending £40m on backlog work on decent homes
Finally, officers put in a competitive bid for £25 m and the Council has been awarded £18.3m, which whilst not solving all the issues, will significantly assist in addressing the borough's housing needs."