Agenda item

The Director of Adult social care and health integration submitted a report that sought approval for a framework for calculating financial penalty charges for offences committed by persons who have duties under housing laws, which includes landlords, lettings agents, managing agents and license holders. The use of penalty charges has been brought into effect under the provisions of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. The ability to issue financial penalty charges is an alternative to prosecution, in accordance with the Public Protection Regulatory Services Enforcement Policy.

The report advised that where conditions in a rented property do not meet legal standards or there is a failure to meet statutory obligations such as with regard to the management of properties, the Council (Public Protection Service) has power to serve enforcement notices to require remedial action, including physical improvement to properties, better management of shared accommodation or to invoke prohibitions on the use of properties.  The Housing and Planning Act 2016 amendments the primary housing legislation (the Housing Act 2004) to enable local authorities as the enforcing authority under the housing laws to impose a financial penalty as an alternative to prosecution for certain offences.  Similarly, penalty charges imposed under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 will be determined using the framework approved for civil penalty charges.    

The method for calculating the financial penalty charges was not prescribed in law or by Government and it lies with local authorities to develop their own framework.

The implications of the recommendation(s) have been considered by the appropriate officers of the Council and are set out in the main body of the report. This report falls within the Terms of Reference of this Committee as the policies proposed will impact on all wards within the Borough and represents a change in the policy on the approach housing enforcement.

OPTIONS

Other potential decision(s) and why these have not been recommended

1.     Do not introduce civil penalty charges. If they are not introduced there would be no change to current enforcement practices in that prosecution action would be taken for offences, where appropriate. This is time consuming process for officers and Legal Services, it can take many months or years to achieve an outcome and does not always achieve the desired results in terms of level of penalty or a deterrent.

2.     The use of civil penalties offers a reduced cost enforcement option that will act as an immediate and more effective deterrent.  This enforcement tool will address the poor management of properties in the private rented sector and drive up standards and levels of compliance. The framework for calculating the level of charge will provide transparency and consistency in this approach.

ORDERED

That Executive approves the framework for calculating the civil penalty charges in relation to housing offences.

REASONS

The decisions were supported by the following reasons:

3.     The Housing and Planning Act 2016 provides Local Authorities an alternative to prosecution for certain housing offences.  The civil fixed penalty charge can be up to £30,000, enabling the local authority to determine the level of penalty rather than the courts.  The process is designed to ensure transparency, consistency and fairness, and will allow the council to deal with unlawful acts by persons with duties under the Housing Act 2004.  If a landlord or other person receives a civil penalty this may influence whether they may be deemed to be a fit and proper person to be the holder of a licence for the operation of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) or for a property in a selective licensing area.  If a person receives two or more civil penalties over a 12 month period, the council can apply to include that person of a national ‘rogue landlord’s’ database, which can be viewed by other local authorities.

4.     The benefit of using a civil penalty charge as opposed to prosecution is to deal more effectively with breaches of housing law, drive up standards in private rented accommodation and deter poor management of dwellings.  The use of civil penalties will not remove the Council’s ability to take legal action and for the most serious breaches this option will be considered first. Any enforcement decision will be made in accordance with the Regulatory Services Enforcement Policy.