Issue - meetings

Consideration has been given to recommending the Council to approve the Gateshead Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy.

RESOLVED -

That the Council be recommended to approve:

(i)

the Gateshead Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy as set out in appendix 2 to the report;

(ii)

the use of the above provisions of the Housing and Planning Act 2016, that seek to tackle the rogue landlords and property agents who knowingly rent out unsafe and substandard accommodation; and

(iii)

that the Council’s Constitution is amended to include a delegation to the Service Director, Development, Transport and Public Protection to implement the above provisions on behalf of the Council.

The above decisions have been made for the following reasons:

(A)

The Council has a duty to comply with the new legislation.

(B)

To enable the use of the powers to tackle the poor standard and management of rented homes and to provide the Council with an alternative to prosecution.

(C)

Use of the powers will protect tenants, discourage unscrupulous behaviour by landlords and complement other interventions and public and private investment in neighbourhoods where there are high concentrations of private rented homes.