Issue - meetings

ES 20182

The update on the Lettings Enforcement report was provided by the Assistant Director for Public Protection and Enforcement and she stated that the report was primarily for information. The idea behind the lettings enforcement legislation was that the Council could hold landlords and letting agents to account, so that tenants’ deposits could be protected. It was initially the case that the Council had taken a proactive stance in this regard, but they had now moved to a more reactive position in the sense of responding to any complaints received from the public. A Member expressed surprise at the decision that proactive interventions were not being continued.

It was noted that section 3.5 of the report said that nine agents had been the subject of enforcement action whereas in section 3.6 of the report it referred to 8 agents. The Assistant Director said that she would clarify this. Members were also keen to be provided with a Ward breakdown of where the offences were taking place so that they would know where the offenders were located. There was a reference to the 3 appeals made in the report. The Chairman commented that as far as he was aware the cases were well proven and the three appeals could only be for mitigation only.

RESOLVED that the Lettings Enforcement Update be noted.