Issue - meetings

ES20331

The purpose of the report was to update the Committee on the findings of the open source data assessment, to determine whether the current policies and processes with regard to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) were adequate to ensure that private rented sector tenants and the wider Bromley community were sufficiently protected.

It was noted that the mandatory housing licencing scheme for HMOs was already operative. It was further noted that following a comprehensive review, it was found that Bromley did not meet the statutory test for the introduction of additional HMO licencing or private rented sector selective licencing schemes.

Reference was made to a table in section 4.5 of the report showing the breakdown of reports and complaints made by the public regarding HMOs. It was confirmed that this related to all HMOs and not just to those requiring a mandatory licence. 

The report noted that between April 2022 and March 2023, the Public Protection Division had received 111 complaints about privately rented properties. A Member asked if this relatively low number was because of the blanket Article 4 Direction that had been adopted by the Council. The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing responded that there were a number of tools that the Council could use with respect to HMOs (as outlined in the report) and so it was not appropriate to link the low number of complaints directly to the Article 4 Directive.

A Member asked why there were 350 homes in the Borough that were empty and not paying Council Tax and what could be done about this. The Head of Environmental Health and Licensing answered that it was likely that some were going through Probate and some would be overseas investment properties. It was suggested that the question be referred to Housing Services for a response.

RESOLVED that Members note that Bromley did not meet the statutory test for the introduction of additional HMO Licensing or Private Rented Sector Selective Licensing schemes.