Private Rented Property Licensing John Hubbard

The Aim The Aim The key aim of the council’s introduction of the PRPL scheme is to help combat Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in privately rented property. It will also regulate and raise standards within the private rented sector. How will this be achieved? The Licence has 24 conditions which make the licence holder responsible for their tenants’ behaviour, the condition of their property and any management arrangements. Some examples include: dealing with anti-social behaviour ensuring that that all outhouses, garages and sheds are kept secured and used for their intended purpose following up missed rent payments PRPL – Tackling anti-social behaviour

PRPL headlines to date PRPL Headlines as at 30/06/2015 Applications received – 15,913 Licenses issued – 4, % of Early Bird Target applications received Received 280 Temporary Exemption requests have been issued Identified additional Council Tax revenue Moving into Audit and Compliance in August as planned

Intelligence used for Audit and Compliance Licensed properties database Tenant/landlord report through the internet Referrals from Council Services (Education/Health/Police/Housi ng Standards/Community Safety/Neighborhoods) Referrals from Ascham Homes (Housing Solutions/Neighborhood Services) Selective Licensing Team investigations including Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Zoopla/Rightmove/Gumtree Housing/Northgate Civica Housing Benefit/Academy Equifax Council Tax Landbase Licensed properties database Tenant/landlord report through the internet Referrals from Council Services (Education/Health/Police/Housi ng Standards/Community Safety/Neighborhoods) Referrals from Ascham Homes (Housing Solutions/Neighborhood Services) Selective Licensing Team investigations including Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Zoopla/Rightmove/Gumtree Housing/Northgate Civica Housing Benefit/Academy Equifax Council Tax Landbase PRPL - Intelligence Councillors

PRPL Referrals from Ascham Homes (Housing Solutions/Neighborhood Services) Equifax Council Tax ASB Policing Partnerships Housing Standards Planning Enforcement Co-location in Neighbourhood Teams Trading Standards Council Tax Public Health Education/Social Services PRPL - Partnerships Tenants Council

PRPL – Case Studies High Road Leytonstone: Worked with enforcement and planning and CTAX to identify 2 new properties that CTAX is owing on. Gainsford Road: Applied for flats A,B,C and D – but only 1 Council Tax record identified. Currently arranging joint visit with Planning Enforcement. The Licensing Team have identified another 30 properties which are under investigation for CTAX underpayments. CTAX maybe able to claim backdated payments for up to 6 years.

PRPL – Case Studies Trading Standards: Supported Trading Standards in ensuring all Lettings Agencies are a member of a Government redress scheme. Licensing Officers identified and visited all agencies in the Borough promoting Private Rented Property Licensing and gathered evidence of compliance with redress scheme. All agencies that did not provide evidence of compliance have been passed to Trading Standards.

PRPL – Case Studies