Agenda item

The Director of Housing, Economy and Regeneration to present a report which analyses the results of two consultations on proposed additional licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation and asks Executive to consider recommendations to implement the proposals within identified designated areas of the city.

Resolved:  (i)      That a designation be made of the following wards in the City of York Council as subject to Additional Licensing under Section 56(1)(a) of the Housing Act 2004 for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), subject to the exemptions specified in Appendix 1 and Appendix 3 to the report, irrespective of the number of storeys, that contain three or four occupiers in two or more households within the following wards:

·        Hull Road

·        Guildhall

·        Fishergate

·        Clifton

·        Heworth

·        Micklegate

·        Osbaldwick and Derwent

·        Fulford and Heslington.

(ii)      That the designation set out in Resolution (i) above shall come into force on 1 April 2023 for a period of 5 years.

(iii)     That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to sign the ‘Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation 2022’ in accordance with the provisions set out in the Scheme of Delegations in the Council’s Constitution.

(iv)    That upon signature of the designation the council will given public notice in accordance with the designation, a current draft of which notice is attached as Appendix 3 to the report.

(v)     That the proposed amended fees and charges structure, as set out in Appendix 4, be adopted, and that those fees be reviewed annually to ensure they remain reasonable and proportionate and address any issues relating to surpluses or deficits in accordance with case law and the EU Services Directive.

(vi)    That the amended HMO Licensing Policy 2020 at Appendix 5 be adopted, and that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to authorise amendments to the standards and conditions contained in the policy where necessary to ensure they remain reasonable and proportionate and in accordance with any relevant legislative changes.

(vii)    That the creation of a stakeholders group to work collaboratively on driving up standards in the wider Private Rented Sector be supported - the composition of the group shall include representatives of organisations who have actively taken part in the consultation.

Reason:     The proposal is consistent with the Council’s ambition to improve management standards and housing conditions in private rented accommodation in the city and reflects the broad support for this approach identified through stakeholder consultation.

The Head of Housing Delivery & Asset Management presented a report which analysed the results of two consultations on proposed additional licensing for Houses in Multiple Occupation and asked Executive to consider recommendations to implement the proposals within identified designated areas of the city.

The consultations had been carried in respect of the council’s discretionary power under the Housing Act 2004 to licence smaller HMOs within a designated area, with the intention of ensuring minimum standards were met.  The results, as set out in the report, clearly identified broad support for additional licensing within identified designated areas of the city.  In total, 1032 responses had been received and this was considered a strong response rate, sufficient to support the recommendations.

The Executive Member for Housing & Safer Neighbourhoods welcomed the proposals as an important step forward in improving the standards of private rental stock.  Having noted the comments made on this item under Public Participation, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That a designation be made of the following wards in the City of York Council as subject to Additional Licensing under Section 56(1)(a) of the Housing Act 2004 for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), subject to the exemptions specified in Appendix 1 and Appendix 3 to the report, irrespective of the number of storeys, that contain three or four occupiers in two or more households within the following wards:

·        Hull Road

·        Guildhall

·        Fishergate

·        Clifton

·        Heworth

·        Micklegate

·        Osbaldwick and Derwent

·        Fulford and Heslington.

(ii)      That the designation set out in Resolution (i) above shall come into force on 1 April 2023 for a period of 5 years.

(iii)     That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to sign the ‘Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation 2022’ in accordance with the provisions set out in the Scheme of Delegations in the Council’s Constitution.

(iv)    That upon signature of the designation the council will given public notice in accordance with the designation, a current draft of which notice is attached as Appendix 3 to the report.

(v)     That the proposed amended fees and charges structure, as set out in Appendix 4, be adopted, and that those fees be reviewed annually to ensure they remain reasonable and proportionate and address any issues relating to surpluses or deficits in accordance with case law and the EU Services Directive.

(vi)    That the amended HMO Licensing Policy 2020 at Appendix 5 be adopted, and that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to authorise amendments to the standards and conditions contained in the policy where necessary to ensure they remain reasonable and proportionate and in accordance with any relevant legislative changes.

(vii)    That the creation of a stakeholders group to work collaboratively on driving up standards in the wider Private Rented Sector be supported - the composition of the group shall include representatives of organisations who have actively taken part in the consultation.

Reason:     The proposal is consistent with the Council’s ambition to improve management standards and housing conditions in private rented accommodation in the city and reflects the broad support for this approach identified through stakeholder consultation.