Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities presented a report on the proposed introduction of new schemes which would mean that all private rented sector housing in the Borough was covered by compulsory licensing. 

Borough-wide Selective Licensing and Additional Licensing schemes would provide for much greater interaction between the Council and landlords and seek to increase the responsibility of landlords to deal with issues such as anti-social behaviour through conditions attached to a license, as well as to improve the conditions for private tenants.  The Cabinet Member advised that many local residents lived in poor quality private rented accommodation, particularly those in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), and suggested that it was important that the Council led by example and required private landlords to register and maintain at least minimum standards.

It was noted that Newham Council had recently received approval to introduce similar arrangements and the evidence base to support the introduction of the schemes in Barking and Dagenham was equally as strong.  With regard to publicity and registration issues, officers explained that all private tenants and landlords on the Council’s records would be written to in the lead up to the implementation of the new schemes and tenant and landlord packs would be produced.  It was confirmed that the packs would be made available to letting agents in the Borough to ensure that new tenants were aware of what standards they should expect and that there would also be flexibility in the registration process to encourage landlords to take advantage of the early application discount.

Cabinet resolved:

(i)  To note the representations received in response to the consultation on the proposed introduction of additional licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and selective licensing of other private rented property;

(ii)  To recommend the Assembly to resolve:

(a)  To designate a selective licensing area of the district of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as delineated and edged red on the map at Appendix 1(a) to the report;

(b)  To designate an additional licensing area of the district of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as delineated and edged red on the map at Appendix 1(b) to the report;

(c)  That the selective licensing scheme shall be cited as the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Designation for an Area for Selective Licensing No 1, 2014;

(d)  That the selective licensing designation shall come into force on 1 September 2014;

(e)  That the additional licensing scheme shall be cited as the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Designation for an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation No 2, 2014;

(f)  That the additional licensing designation shall come into force on 1 September 2014;

(g)  That the schemes shall be known collectively as the Barking and Dagenham Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme;

(h)  To adopt the Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme Conditions as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

(i)  That the fees and charges set out in Appendix 3 to the report be applied to the Private Rented Property Licensing scheme;

(j)  To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing and Environment to make changes to the proposed implementation where necessary and ensure that all statutory notifications are carried out in the prescribed manner for each designation; and

(k)  To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing and Environment to grant licences under the Council’s Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme.