Issue - meetings

The purpose of attached report by the Head of Corporate Assets, Business and Standards is to formally review the current progress of both the mandatory and additional licensing schemes operating for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs); to review the current licence fees for types of licence, including certain 's257' properties.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member for Housing;

approves the new fees for Additional and Mandatory Licensing including the  change to the fee structure for a section 257 property which would require to be licensed under the Additional Licensing scheme.

The Cabinet Member for Housing approved the new fees for Additional and Mandatory Licensing including the change to the fee structure for a section 257 property which would require to be licensed under the Additional Licensing scheme.

(TAKE IN REPORT BY THE HEAD OF CORPORATE ASSETS,
BUSINESS & STANDARDS)

Alan Cufley and Bruce Lomax presented this report which represented a review of the mandatory and additional licensing schemes operating for houses in multiple occupation and included added charges for the mandatory licensing scheme .  The report set out the legal precedents that needed to be adhered to.  The authority has the right to charge but not to make a surplus so this report set out the adjustment of the fee framework.

Councillor Sanders commented that the authority had to undertake this line due to the court cases, he was pleased to see that the authority was ahead of schedule and felt that this gave tenants in the private sector more security so was supportive of this.

Councillor Wemyss as Cabinet Member for Housing reported that he had been contacted by Mr Sillman and Mr Burns, from the Portsmouth & District Private Landlords Association, who had concerns and misgivings as they felt that good landlords were paying for those who were less scrupulous.  He felt that the case law was clear and it was his responsibility to make sure that the city council covered its own costs so he endorsed the report.

DECISION:

The Cabinet Member for Housing approved the new fees for Additional and Mandatory Licensing including the change to the fee structure for a section 257 property which would require to be licensed under the Additional Licensing scheme.