Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Environment and Housing covering particular areas of housing policy/activity as requested by the Scrutiny Board.

The Director of Environment and Housing submitted a report which presented a further update surrounding areas of housing policy/activity identified by the Board during its June meeting. 

These included:

·  Implications and progress relating to the 2016 Housing and Planning Act;

·  The quality of private rented sector housing;

·  Issues with Right to Buy properties after completion;

·  Turnaround times for filling void council properties; and

·  Tenant Scrutiny Board and the wider tenant involvement framework.

The report also provided clarification regarding the role of the Tenant Scrutiny Board and its support and governance arrangements.  It also reflected the role of the Tenant Scrutiny Board within the wider Tenant Involvement Framework.

The following information was appended to the report:

·  Tenant Involvement within Housing Leeds – Voice of Involved Tenants Across Leeds (VITAL)

·  Tenant Scrutiny Board – Terms of Reference.

The following were in attendance:

·  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

·  Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Housing

·  Jill Wildman, Chief Officer, Housing Management

·  Simon Costigan, Chief Officer, Property and Contracts

·  Mandy Sawyer, Head of Neighbourhood Services

·  Sharon Guy, Housing Manager, Tenant Scrutiny

·  John Gittos, Chair of Tenant Scrutiny Board.

The key areas of discussion were:

Implications and progress relating to the 2016 Housing and Planning Act

·  An update that the Housing and Planning seminar for Elected Members was to be re-scheduled as the Council is still awaiting further clarity from Government surrounding a number of issues within the Act.  Further details to be provided in due course.

The quality of private rented sector housing

·  Clarification regarding the rights of tenants, particularly in relation to housing standards and the role of the Housing Options team.

·  Greater education needed in ensuring that landlords are made aware of their responsibilities. 

·  Government proposals to widen the scope of mandatory HMO licensing.  However, the Council is still awaiting further details on this.

·  The importance of addressing standards in the sector, particularly in terms of poor quality homes and returning empty homes back into occupation. Linked to this, particular reference was made to the targeted use of resources such as the Leeds Neighbourhood Approach in Holbeck.

·  Issues associated with rogue landlords.

·  The Board agreed to undertake more detailed scrutiny of the quality of Private Rented Sector Housing as part of its next housing themed meeting.

Issues with Right to Buy (RTB) properties after completion

·  An update regarding the role of the Tenancy Fraud Team.

Turnaround times for filling void council properties

·  Concern about break-ins and damage to void council properties.  The Board was advised that valuable items were fitted around the needs of tenants.

·  Acknowledgement regarding the positive work undertaken by LCC in relation to reducing the level of void council properties in Leeds.

Tenant Scrutiny Board and the wider tenant involvement framework

·  The Board discussed and acknowledged the statutory role of the Tenant Scrutiny Board and also received an overview of its key achievements by the Chair of the Tenant Scrutiny Board.

·  In acknowledgement of the existing wider tenant involvement framework, the Board identified the need to ensure a more co-ordinated approach to wider tenant involvement.

·  A suggestion that a working group be established to review the role of wider tenant involvement groups.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)  That the Board undertakes more detailed scrutiny of the quality of Private Rented Sector Housing as part of its next housing themed meeting.

(c)  That a working group be established to review the role of wider tenant involvement groups.

(Councillor K Bruce joined the meeting at 10.10am during the consideration of this item.)

(Councillor J Bentley left the meeting at 11.10am at the conclusion of this item.)