This report updates the Committee on the progress made in delivering the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Charter and action plan.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report that updated the Committee on the progress made in delivering the Private Rented Section (PRS) Charter and action plan.  The updated focussed on the following four key areas: Rogue Landlord Enforcement Grant awarded by The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHCLG); Reading Rent with Confidence Scheme; HMO Licensing; and Enforcement

The report explained that the PRS Charter aimed to build a common understanding of values, standards and requirements in the private rented sector.  It further demonstrated the Council’s and partners’ commitment to improving the sector.

The report stated that the Council had been successful in a bid for funding from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to tackle rogue landlords.  The Council had been awarded £100,000, and the funding had to be spent by 31 March 2019.  The report provided details of the projects that would be funded with this award of money, which included a stock conditions survey, HMO licensing application system, Reading Rent with Confidence Scheme, raising awareness and a Prevention Fund.  

The report provided an update on the Reading Rent with Confidence Scheme, which following stakeholder consultation had been moved to a property based approval scheme.  The report also provided an update on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing.  The extension of Mandatory Licensing had come into force on 1 October 2018 but to date only 8% of the estimated number of properties which should have submitted applications had been received, despite regular and targeted communications.

The report also provided an update on enforcement, stating that the Private Sector Housing Team dealt with in excess of 1500 service requests a year, some of which had required formal enforcement action to be taken.  The report detailed the work that had taken place over the past year, including that 68 statutory notices had been served, including two Emergency Prohibition Notices and three Prohibition notices giving a set timescale, four prosecutions had been taken with total fines of £32,152 and two formal cautions had been issued, and five Civil Penalty Notices had been issued, two of which had been Final Notices with fines totalling £1,429 and three Notices of Intention.  The report provided case studies that highlighted recent prosecutions.

The report set out the proposed actions for officers over the next 12 months as part of the Council’s plan to ensure the safety and quality of the private rented sector.

Resolved –

That the progress made against the action of the Private Rented Sector Charter and the next steps outlined in the report, be noted.