Issue - meetings

Report of Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy at Appendix iii is approved, to take effect from 1^st May 2026 with transitional arrangements of 6 months to allow the current corporate policy to operate to conclude legacy cases. 

2.    the Head of Public Protection is authorised to take such actions and decisions as are necessary to facilitate the effective implementation and operation of the Authority’s powers referred to in this report.

3.    the Head of Public Protection is authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, to approve minor variations to the policy in line with any revised statutory guidance.

In her introduction, read out by the Leader, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, welcomed the long-awaited Renters’ Rights Act, after many years of campaigning, which creates a mechanism whereby private sector tenants will have the right to complain to the local authority if their landlord does not act properly and responsibly and expect action to sort out problems.  The policy sets out how enforcement policies are aligned to the new legal framework, and how this will build new opportunities to change how things are done, meeting our statutory obligations as a council from 01 May, when the new duties come into force.

A Member welcomed the report and change in legislation, which will make a real difference to people living in below-standard private sector rented housing, with landlords who do not follow due process, who currently do not know where to go to report their concerns.  It will help make sure all tenants have everything they need to be safe and secure.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy at Appendix iii is approved, to take effect from 1^st May 2026 with transitional arrangements of 6 months to allow the current corporate policy to operate to conclude legacy cases. 

2.    the Head of Public Protection is authorised to take such actions and decisions as are necessary to facilitate the effective implementation and operation of the Authority’s powers referred to in this report.

3.    the Head of Public Protection is authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, to approve minor variations to the policy in line with any revised statutory guidance.