Report of the Director of Housing and Residential Growth

The committee had asked for a “Housing” report to include the following themes:

•          Progress on the Selective Licensing schemes (to include data on the number of evictions as a result)

•          Manchester Move;

•          Housing vulnerable people in B&Bs and how B&Bs are inspected;

•          Tackling rogue landlords, and the Rental Charter;

•          Social Housing and new builds across the city; and

•          Northwards ALMO (arms-length management organisation).

This report has been produced collaboratively by officers from Neighbourhood Services (Selective Licensing and Rogue Landlords), Adult Services (Homelessness; Bed and Breakfast accommodation) and Strategic Housing (New house-building and Northwards Housing).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Housing and Residential Growth which provided information on a range of housing related areas.

Officers referred to the main points and themes within the report which included:-

·                Progress on the Selective Licensing schemes and data on the number of evictions as a result of the introduction of these schemes;

·                Manchester Move, the name given to the single point of access and a common application process for social housing in Manchester;

·                Housing vulnerable people in B&Bs and how B&Bs are inspected;

·                Tackling rogue landlords, and the Rental Charter;

·                Social Housing and new builds across the city; and

·                Northwards ALMO (arms-length management organisation).

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:-

·                Welcoming the positive impact Selective Licensing was having in those areas;

·                Welcoming the figures that had shown that evictions had not increased as a result of the introduction of Selective Licensing schemes;

·                Support for rolling out the Selective Licensing schemes and the Rogue Landlord Team to other areas of the city to address rouge landlords and poor property management and requested an analysis of the impact of these schemes;

·                Consideration needed to be given to the duty of rehousing for repeat perpetrators of  anti-social behaviour;

·                Why was the reported number of formal action taken against landlords low;

·                What were the minimum standard that Bed and Breakfasts had to adhere to, how often are they inspected and were there many complaints from tenants of these;

·                Following the regeneration of the Ben Street area of Clayton concern was raised over the reported lack of social housing being offered as part of this scheme;

·                Welcoming the partnership approach to delivering Social Housing and New Builds across the City; and

·                Would Section 106 funding secured from the developments within the city centre be ring fenced to fund affordable housing in the city centre.

The Strategic Lead Compliance, Enforcement and Community Safety said that Bed and Breakfasts that meet the requirements for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing (i.e. 3 or more stories, with 5 or more households sharing amenities such as kitchen and bathroom facilities) are included in the Housing Compliance and Enforcement team’s HMO Licensing programme.  They are granted a licence for a maximum of 2 years. An inspection takes place on receipt of an application with a further planned inspection to check compliance with the licence. A further unannounced inspection is carried out each year. They are subject to HMO standards. She said these are available on the Council’s website and would be circulated to Members for information. She agreed to circulate the numbers of inspections undertaken and informed Members that the number of complaints received from residents of B&Bs was very low which is why the additional unannounced inspection takes place.

With regard to the number of prosecutions of rogue landlords she said that formal enforcement would take place and further information on the figures reported in section 4.3 of the report would be provided to Members. She further confirmed that the Rogue Landlord Team operate city wide. 

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration informed the Committee that a review of the allocations policy would be undertaken and consideration would be given to the issues of rehousing perpetrators of anti-social behaviour and the number of bedrooms a family needed would inform part of this review. She agreed that further information would be provided to the Committee on this activity at an appropriate time. The Head of Housing advised that applicants seeking housing could update their circumstances using the on line system.

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration said that she welcomed the comments regarding the positive impact that selective licensing was having in those areas, and whilst mindful of budgetary restraints consideration would be given to rolling this out into other areas of the city, she said Manchester would also make a submission to the national consultation on selective licensing. In response to the specific question regarding the Ben Street regeneration area she advised that she would discuss this with the Member outside of the meeting. In response to the discussion regarding Section 21 evictions in the private rented sector she said that this was being looked at in consultation with the Manchester Renters Forum. She further commented that she supported the campaign launched by Shelter to support tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit access the private rented sector.   

The Director of Housing and Residential Growth said that he welcomed the positive contribution that selective licensing was having in those areas of the city where it was implemented. He reported that an application for funding specifically to invest in affordable and social housing would be made to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and he commented on the positive commitment, in partnership with local providers working in Manchester to deliver such housing across the city, including the use of contributions for Section 106 monies to deliver affordable housing schemes in the city centre area.

Decisions

The Committee:-

1. Welcomes the Executive Members working in collaboration and across portfolios to address the issue of housing in Manchester;

2. Recognise the proactive action taken to support the most vulnerable residents in the city;

3. Support the review of the Allocations System and request that Members are involved in the review;

4. Recommends that a report on Manchester Move be submitted to the Committee for consideration at an appropriate time;

5. Request that Officers circulate the HMO standards to Members;

6. Welcome the commitment given to delivering more social and affordable housing;

7. Recommends that planning applications needed to consider the housing needs of the local population.