Issue - items at meetings - One year Review on the Implementation of the Additional Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO)

(1)       That the progress with implementation of the Additional Licensing scheme in the five Lewes Road wards since the commencement of designation on 5 November 2012, be noted.

75.1    The Committee considered a report of the Director of Environment, Development & Housing which further updated Members on progress with the implementation of the additional licensing scheme in the five Lewes Road wards since the commencement of designation.   This progress report included applications received; draft and full licences issued; licence conditions applied; current mapping of licensed HMOs in the five wards.  As part of the context for the current review of the City-Wide Housing Strategy the report also updated on growth in the private rented sector across the city, requests for assistance received by the Private Sector Housing Team and spread of Mandatory licensed HMOs across all wards.  The report was presented by the Head of Housing Strategy & Development.

75.2    Councillor Mears thanked the Head of Housing Strategy & Development for the update.   She stressed that she would like to understand the financing of this work and how it would be taken forward over the five year scheme.  She asked if there would be a surplus as a result of this work and if so, how it would be spent.  The Head of Housing Strategy & Development explained that the scheme could not make a surplus.  In September 2012, it had been agreed to place resources into the scheme.  

75.3    The Chair asked the Head of Housing & Development to produce some figures which would be useful for Members.  He commented that the scheme was a good piece of work carried out in a short timescale.  The figures in paragraph 3.6 demonstrated the growth of the private sector. The maps showed how the five wards were affected.  He thanked the Head of Housing Strategy & Development and his colleagues.  

75.4    RESOLVED - (1)      That the progress with implementation of the Additional Licensing scheme in the five Lewes Road wards since the commencement of designation on 5 November 2012, be noted.