Issue - meetings

The report by the Interim Director of Property & Housing is to provide an update on the current work being undertaken to provide assistance  to property owners in the private housing market concerning fire safety in high rise buildings.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Housing notes the work being undertaken with property owners and the support being provided by the Private Sector Housing Team.

The Cabinet Member for Housing noted the work being undertaken with property owners and the support being provided by the Private Sector Housing Team.

(NB as this was an information update report it is not subject to call-in)

James Hill, Director of Property & Housing, introduced the report which set out the local authority's shared duty to undertake joint inspections (with Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service and the owners) of private sector housing, although Portsmouth City Council is not the owner and the private owners are responsible for fire safety in these buildings.  This had resulted in a hugely increased work-load for Bruce Lomax's Private Sector Housing team.  James Hill stressed that the report did not contain details of the individual inspection reports as this information was for the building owners.  There had been a broadly positive response, with owners engaging in the process of inspection, and no evacuations had been required.

Councillor Jennie Brent, thanked the officers for their hard work and swift response.  In answer to her questions regarding the extent of the inspection works, Bruce Lomax, Private Sector Housing Manager, reported that 102 inspections had been undertaken over 8 weeks, with only 7 outstanding (which should be completed within the month).  Follow-up reports would be sent out over the next few weeks.  The inspections could take 5 hours each and a further 2 hours of officer time for the report on each property.  The city council's findings and those of Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service were sent to the property owners.  There were then discussions with the owners and technical information was sent out, and where action was taken a re-inspection would be required. At the time of the meeting 8 re-inspections had taken place.

The Cabinet Member for Housing noted the work being undertaken with property owners and the support being provided by the Private Sector Housing Team.