Issue - meetings

The Assistant Director of Housing & Community Safety to present a report which responds to a motion approved at Full Council on 26 October 2017, outlining the latest government thinking on this subject and presenting options for an approach to extending the licensing of HMOs.

Resolved:  That the update be noted and that the approach outlined in Option 3, in paragraph 14 of the report, be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that standards are raised in the worst performing sector in a programmed way, focusing on the larger HMOs first, and keeping under review whether there is a need to extend licensing through the introduction of a local additional scheme for smaller HMOs.

The Assistant Director of Housing & Community Safety presented a report which responded to a motion approved at Full Council on 26 October 2017, by outlining the latest government thinking on this subject and presenting options for an approach to extending the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

The following options were considered:

Option 1 – extend the current mandatory licensing scheme for HMOs, in line with government proposals.  This would do no more than fulfil statutory requirements.

Option 2 – simultaneously implement the government proposals and look at introducing a local Additional Licensing Scheme for smaller HMOs occupied by four or fewer unrelated people.  This would stretch resources thinly, and risk being unable effectively to support compliance by those in the sector.

Option 3 – focus on extending the current mandatory scheme but look at whether there is sufficient evidence to come back to Members within three years to consider the need for a local scheme.  This was the recommended option.

During their debate, Members highlighted the need to ensure enforcement of the scheme and to establish the location of HMOs in York.

Resolved:  That the update be noted and that the approach outlined in Option 3, in paragraph 14 of the report, be approved.

Reason:     To ensure that standards are raised in the worst performing sector in a programmed way, focusing on the larger HMOs first, and keeping under review whether there is a need to extend licensing through the introduction of a local additional scheme for smaller HMOs.

Note:          The above decision was called in for consideration by the Customer & Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee at their meeting on 4 April, when a decision was taken not to refer the matter back to Executive.