Issue - meetings

Report No:   CAB/SE/14/012

Cabinet Member: Anne Gower        Lead Officer: Simon Phelan

RESOLVED:

That the West Suffolk Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Guidance and Standards, and HMO licence fee, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/SE/14/012, be approved.

The Cabinet considered Report CAB/SE/14/012 (previously circulated) which sought approval for the West Suffolk Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Guidance and Standards.

Councillor Mrs Gower, Portfolio Holder for Housing, informed the Cabinet that the West Suffolk HMO Guidance and Standards document aligned the existing standards and fees for both St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath District Councils, and ensured a consistent approach towards dealing with HMOs and gaining compliance with relevant legislation and standards.

The document and associated fee had been subject to public and stakeholder consultation. Larger HMOs (those with three or more storeys and five or more persons) were required to be licensed and there was a fee to cover the cost of this process; the proposal being that it should be £500 for a five year period, which accorded with Forest Heath’s existing policy. No adverse comments had been received from landlords in respect of this proposal.

Councillor Brown expressed concern regarding the proposed inspection programme as contained in Appendix 3 to the HMO Standards and Guidance (Appendix A), with particular reference to those properties being considered to be at lower risk, which were scheduled to be inspected on a five yearly basis.  In response, Members were advised that if robust information was received regarding a potential problem within this timeframe, Public Health and Housing Services would be informed and appropriate action would immediately be taken.  

RESOLVED:

That the West Suffolk Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Guidance and Standards, and HMO licence fee, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/SE/14/012, be approved.

(Councillor Brown left the meeting at the conclusion of this item.)