Issue - meetings

This report informs the Executive Member about the third, five year cycle ofHouses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing programme.

Resolved:      That option 1 be agreed and it be noted that:

(i)         the council would be starting its new 5 year phase of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing mandatory conditions in 2016, and it be agreed that

(ii)        a new licence condition relating to training be introduced and

(iii)       the licence process be amended as set out in the report including the introduction of penalties and incentives to ensure that licences are issued for the full period.

Reason:         To improve the sector by ensuring that Houses of Multiple Occupation in York meet the necessary physical standards and are well managed.

The Executive Member considered a report which informed him about the third, five year cycle of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing programme, The report asked him to agree to adopt a new license condition to improve the management and competency of the licence holder by ensuring that all licence holders received adequate training and attend a one-day professional development course which had been recognised by the council. The report also asked him to approve amendments to the licence process to ensure that it was better streamlined.

The Housing Standards and Adaptations Manager explained the proposed changes. She advised that the proposed new condition requiring training would address the lack of knowledge of some landlords and ensure all landlords had the required up to date knowledge and skills  needed to operate an HMO. The proposed changes to the licence process, including the introduction of penalties and incentives, would  encourage all landlords to provide all required information and at the correct time so that licences could be issued for the full period. During consultation it had been suggested that online training could be offered as an alternative to attending a training course and this option was being currently being developed.

The Executive Member felt  there had been a reasonable response to the consultation and noted the comments made. He agreed that the proposed training would ensure that all landlords had the required level of knowledge. He expressed his full support for the recommendations presented in the report.

Councillor Boyce, Shadow Executive Member, expressed the view that she would have preferred for this report to have been considered at the same time as the review of the Article 4 Direction and the Private Sector Housing Strategy. She acknowledged that, while some HMOs were well managed, others were not and welcomed the proposed new condition with regard to training which she hoped would ensure that all HMOs were, in future, well managed.

Resolved:      That option 1 be agreed and it be noted:

(i)         that the council would be starting its new 5 year phase of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing mandatory conditions in 2016

(ii)        that a new licence condition relating to training be introduced and

(iii)       that the licence process be amended as set out in the report including the introduction of penalties and incentives to ensure that licences are issued for the full period.

Reason:         To improve the sector by ensuring that Houses of Multiple Occupation in York meet the necessary physical standards and are well managed.