Agenda item

The Panel will consider a report providing information on the support offered to the private rented sector by the Council’s Housing Solutions Service as a result of and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Contacts:

Helen Geldart, Head of Housing Services
Stephen Cale, Operations Manager, Housing Solutions Service
Sarah Holmes, Operations Manager, Housing Solutions

The Panel considered the Private Rented Housing Sector (Support as a result of Covid-19) report which was presented by Helen Geldart, Head of Housing Services.

The report set out the ways in which Councils Housing Solutions Service supported and continued to support, the private rented sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. Helen Geldart summarised the information in the report and highlighted the following key points:

·       In response to the Covid-19 pandemic most staff worked from home and services were adapted to be delivered either online or over the phone.

·       During the national lockdown in March, all non-essential home visits/inspections in the private rented sector were suspended.

·       This was except any emergency visits which were carried out in accordance with safe working guidelines and bespoke Covid-19 risk assessments.

·       Throughout the pandemic new and safe ways of working continued to be developed within the Housing Solutions Service and the approach to complaints and queries had been revised in line with national and Corporate guidance. 

·       There had been a reduction in the number of ‘disrepair enquires’ and enquires related to tenancy issues received from the proceeding 12-month period.

·       The ban on evictions, which was implemented during the pandemic, had been extended to the 31st of March.

·       It was predicated that once the ban was lifted that there may be an increase in the number of residents and landlords from the private rented sector who would approach Housing Solutions due to difficulties in paying rent and the risk of repossession.

·       Targeted bespoke communications were used to make sure that messages around Covid-19 and keeping safe were being heard, understood and to support residents to access the national Covid-19 vaccination programme.

·       Private rented sector turnover had been a lot lower than in the social rented sector, but Housing Solutions expected to receive more enquires as Covid -19 restrictions begin to lift.

The Panel requested to understand the property inspection process during the pandemic, and the subsequent action taken in instances where disrepair was found.

In response Stephen Cale, Operations Manager (Quality Homes), provided the panel with an overview of the process and advised that:

·       During the pandemic any home visits were carried out following a risk-based assessment.

·       All inspections were carried out in accordance with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

·       The inspection usually facilitated the action required to rectify any hazards or disrepair identified.

·       In cases where the responsible party, usually the landlord, failed to rectify any issues following inspection, a notice would be issued, under the relevant legislation which would stipulate a timescale for the hazard/disrepair to rectified.

·       Failure to rectify hazards within the issued timeframe would result in the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice or possible prosecution in court.

·       Where hazards were not rectified by the responsible party Housing Solutions would commission Property Services to carry out the relevant repairs to keep residents safe.

A question was asked by the Panel in relation to a particular issue within the Newsome Ward,  where the Landlord of a privately rented property had passed away, but the property required repair work. The Panel wanted to know what the process was to keep residents safe under such circumstances.

Stephen Cale advised that in such circumstances there is usually an executor or solicitor involved who would be responsible for any repairs. He explained he was aware of the case described by the Panel and offered to inform the Panel of the outcome.

The issue of the Selective Licencing Scheme was raised by the Panel. Helen Geldart explained that there were strict criteria that Local Authority’s must meet to qualify application for the scheme. During the discussion, the Panel identified that it would be useful for Kirklees current position to be reviewed against the qualifying criteria for the scheme. 

RESOLVED –

1-    The Panel noted the Private Rented Housing Sector (Support as a result of Covid-19) report.

2-    The Panel thanked Joanne Bartholomew, Chief Operating Officer, Helen Geldart and Stephen Cale for attending the meeting and for their work during the pandemic.

3-    It was agreed that the Panel would be informed of the outcome of the situation with the property in Newsome Ward.

4-    It was agreed that Kirklees current position would be reviewed against the required criteria to qualify application for the Selective Licencing Scheme.