Decision details

The Committee considered the update report on the Renters Reform Bill and the Selective Licensing Scheme.

The private rental market was now the second largest tenure behind homeownership, overtaking social housing provision. Whilst it was acknowledged that many private landlords managed their tenants and maintained properties to a good standard, there was also a number of landlords whose management and properties did not meet acceptable standards.

Local Authorities had a discretionary power under Part 3 of the Housing Act 2004 to introduce a Selective Licensing Scheme in an identified priority area. In 2019 the Nantwich Road area of Crewe was identified as a priority area for intervention as it was displaying multiple issues around poor property conditions, higher levels of deprivation, crime and of anti-social behaviour that was considerably higher than other areas of Cheshire East. A two-stage approach was agreed for the area and a working group was established to develop a collaborative plan across a number of Council services to co-ordinate services and develop a detailed interventions to drive improvement in the Nantwich Road area. The report before the Committee detailed the work undertaken to improve conditions. However, one key essential component was unable to be progressed due to an ongoing challenge to secure funding for the resources required to undertake proactive housing enforcement work. This meant the Council was not able to progress to the next stage of the implementation of a Selective Licensing scheme.

The Renters (Reform) Bill was introduced to Parliament in May 2023 and was presently at the report stage. A key proposal in the Bill was the introduction of a new Government Landlord registration scheme for the UK which would negate the need for a Selective Licensing scheme to be introduced in the Nantwich Road area, as once introduced all landlords would be legally required to register themselves and their properties on a Property Portal and could be subject to fines if they marketed or let out a property without registering it and providing the required information.

RESOLVED (by majority):   That the Committee

1               note the work being undertaken by the Crewe Neighbourhood project working group and progress made to date to help improve the area.

2               agree to wait the Royal Assent of the Renters (Reform) Act and the introduction of a new Government Landlord registration scheme for the UK, which would remove the need for a Selective Licensing scheme to be introduced in the Nantwich Road area.

3        note, that while awaiting implementation of the Renters (Reform) Act, the Council shall continue to assess and evaluate available evidence and options to facilitate effective oversight and licensing of landlord properties in the area.