Issue - meetings
Additional Staffing to deal with changed in Mandatory Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing
Meeting: 09/10/2018 - Executive (Item 100)
PDF 90 KBTo consider the report of the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager
Decision:
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Agreed |
That it is recommended that Council:-
(1) note the proposals for the implementation of the extension to mandatory HMO licensing, effective from 1 October 2018;
(2) approves pump-priming funding of £77,879 per annum for the recruitment of one permanent Environmental Health Officer and one temporary Environmental Health Technician; and the cost of this proposal would be funded from the licence fees levied;
(3) That early investigations take place with regards to the possibility of extending the scheme so that it covers all HMOs in the City.
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Reason for Decision:
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As set out in the report. |
Minutes:
The Director (JY) presented the report on Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description) (England) Order 2018 extending mandatory licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to cover all properties with five or more occupiers living in two or more households and sharing amenities, regardless of the number of storeys. The revised regulations came into effect from 1 October 2018. This change in legislation will bring smaller, privately rented properties into the HMO licensing regime e.g. two storey shared terraced housing, as well as some purpose built flats. It is estimated that this will increase the number of properties requiring a HMO licence from the current figure of 900 to approximately 1,600. Additional resources are required to administer the scheme and it was noted that the required additional staffing would be funded on a cost recovery basis through the HMO licence fee.
Councillor Mitchell, having given notice under Standing Order No.44, spoke on this item. He raised the following points:-
· He welcomed the extension of HMO licensing to smaller properties, but requested the Executive to further extend the regime to cover all HMO’s irrespective of size. This, he suggested, had been successfully introduced into other cities.
During discussion, which welcomed the introduction of the increased licensing regime, Members supported early investigations into further extending the scheme as described by Councillor Mitchell.
RECOMMENDED that Council;
(1) note the proposals for the implementation of the extension to mandatory HMO licensing, effective from 1 October 2018;
(2) approves pump-priming funding of £77,879 per annum for the recruitment of one permanent Environmental Health Officer and one temporary Environmental Health Technician;
(3) the cost of this proposal would be funded from the licence fees levied; and
(4) that early investigations be undertaken regarding the possible further expansion of the licensing scheme to include all HMO’s regardless of their size.