Joint Labour & Green Group Amendment

Private Sector Housing Update Report

That changes are made as shown in strikethrough and in bold italicsbelow.

2.1       Housing Committee note the updates on progress against key elements of the

            Housing Committee Work Plan objectives to improve the quality and

            management of homes in the private rented sector as set out in this report.

2.2       Housing Committee restates its commitment in the joint housing and             homelessness programme to work towards introducing selective licensing in             the City of Brighton and Hove as soon as possible and to seek resources to             support this.

2.23    Housing Committee note the expansion of the existing Private Sector Housing

            enforcement team, as outlined in paragraph 3.1, and that the service will assess

            the impact of the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and new legislation

            in this area.

2.34    Housing Committee note that, as outlined in paragraph 5.1, officers will seek to

            support renters to understand what legal remedies are available to them under

            the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Strategy, including any provided by new

            legislation in this area.

2.45    Housing Committee request a review of the current national position with regard to             selective licensing designations to better understand the current context within             which any approvals are being given. Identifying the resources that are required to             undertake this work to be considered.

2.56    That Housing Committee agrees the re-purposing and expansion of the Direct

            Lets scheme as an ethical letting agency incorporating Good Landlord standards.

            Any additional costs arising as a result of these changes will be brought back to

            committee for approval.

2.67    That Housing Committee notes the funding required to explore and scope the

            feasibility of a broader based ethical letting agency proposal. This will require an

            estimated budget of £0.100m.

2.78    That officers urgently develop options for sustaining tenancies where a tenant with             arrears faces eviction and could become homeless.

Proposed by: Cllr Williams                                    Seconded by: Cllr Osborne

Recommendations to read if carried:

2.1       Housing Committee note the updates on progress against key elements of the

            Housing Committee Work Plan objectives to improve the quality and

            management of homes in the private rented sector as set out in this report.

2.2       Housing Committee restates its commitment in the joint housing and             homelessness programme to work towards introducing selective licensing in             the City of Brighton and Hove as soon as possible and to seek resources to             support this.

2.3       Housing Committee note the expansion of the existing Private Sector Housing

            enforcement team, as outlined in paragraph 3.1, and that the service will assess

            the impact of the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy and new legislation

            in this area.

2.4       Housing Committee note that, as outlined in paragraph 5.1, officers will seek to

            support renters to understand what legal remedies are available to them under

            the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Strategy, including any provided by new

            legislation in this area.

2.5      Housing Committee request a review of the current national position with regard to             selective licensing designations to better understand the current context within             which any approvals are being given. Identifying the resources that are required to             undertake this work to be considered.

2.6      That Housing Committee agrees the re-purposing and expansion of the Direct

            Lets scheme as an ethical letting agency incorporating Good Landlord standards.

            Any additional costs arising as a result of these changes will be brought back to

            committee for approval.

2.7       That Housing Committee notes the funding required to explore and scope the

            feasibility of a broader based ethical letting agency proposal. This will require an

            estimated budget of £0.100m.

2.8       That officers urgently develop options for sustaining tenancies where a tenant with             arrears faces eviction and could become homeless.