“32% of private sector homes in Gillingham fail to meet the decent homes standard, the highest proportion in Medway. Given the recent cuts in grants available to homeowners and landlords to make necessary improvements, what practical steps are being taken to raise awareness of and focus these resources in the areas that need them most, and what target has the Council set to reduce the proportion of homes in Gillingham failing the standard?”
Minutes:
“32% of private sector homes in Gillingham fail to meet the decent homes standard, the highest proportion in Medway. Given the recent cuts in grants available to homeowners and landlords to make necessary improvements, what practical steps are being taken to raise awareness of and focus these resources in the areas that need them most, and what target has the Council set to reduce the proportion of homes in Gillingham failing the standard?”
The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe thanked Councillor Stamp for his question. He responded by stating that the Council kept overall figures for Medway and the recent figure for Medway was 20% but it was higher in specific areas and the Council continued to target those areas with the highest incidents. Resources were targeted in these areas specifically to address particular issues and the Council worked with colleagues in social care, health, police and other agencies to identify vulnerable clients who required assistance. The main reason for the failures were around energy and efficiency and the Council had identified £390,000 which was available this year and further funds had been identified from the EU and energy providers which were being spent in other target areas.
In addition, specific training and systems had been put in place with colleagues from health and social care to identify households at risk where advice and sign posting towards the available assistance was needed.
Overall, in Medway the target was to assist 2,700 households in the private sector to improve their living conditions. He agreed that it was something that had to be constantly worked on and something which was of concern because no matter what action was taken there were always some people who just would not apply for grants. All the Council could do was keep on putting out information and communication.
Councillor Stamp thanked Councillor Doe for his answer and commented that it would be helpful to know over what time period the 2,700 households in Medway were going to be assisted and he asked a supplementary question enquiring as to what enforcement action could be taken against rogue landlords who consistently failed to co-operate with the Council by failing to ensure their properties were up to an acceptable standard and made safe for their tenants.
Councillor Doe responded by stating that there were a number of answers to the question. Firstly, there were condition surveys. The problem however, was that there were a number of tenants who did not want to come forward because they feared the effects on their relationship with the landlord. The Council had to go in and inspect the property in order to make sure that the Council has a good schedule of what was wrong before it could take enforcement action. However, he gave an assurance that if tenants came forward then the Council was prepared to take enforcement action. He added that the Council actively encouraged landlords to improve their properties and to become good landlords. He also referred to the need to educate landlords as many were not large commercial businesses but individuals that had an additional property. The Council therefore sought to educate them as to what being a good landlord really meant and helping them to achieve that. On the other hand, where there were bad landlords, the Council was prepared to, and would use enforcement. However, if there was a hidden problem and the tenant didn’t want to or wouldn’t come forward then this presented difficulties.