Cabinet, at its meeting on 8 July 2026, will consider a report which seeks approval for the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and agree any recommendations.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 8 July 2026, will consider a report which seeks approval for the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy. 

Councillor Rowley, Cabinet Member for Regulation of the Private Rented Sector and Preventing Homelessness, Courtney Bennett, Regulatory Services Manager, and Katherine Coney, Residential Regulation Team Area Manager, were present to respond to questions.  

Councillor Rowley provided a summary of the report, noting that it related to changes following the new Renters Rights Act. The Committee understood that the Act gives new rights to renters, it consolidates previous legislation into a local regime, and it gives the council the legal duty as the Housing Authority to enforce those rights. Resultantly, Councillor Rowley outlined that the Council now requires its own private rental sector enforcement policy to meet the requirements of the Act but also emphasised that this Council has been one of the few nationally to have a licensing scheme for all HMOs and non-HMOs in the private rent sector. As such, the Committee heard that the Council is in a strong position to respond to the changes. 

The Regulatory Services Manager explained that the council's corporate enforcement policy will remain in place and is unchanged, however private sector housing will now operate under a much more complex distinct legislative framework; as such, a dedicated policy is required. The Committee heard that this would provide landlords and tenants clarity about what to expect, protect the council's decisions, and ensure the council’s approach is lawful. The Regulatory Services Manager highlighted that the policy was developed with the necessary professional bodies for housing enforcement authorities in England and aligns with national best practices and other local authority approaches. The report outlines the framework for meeting the new statutory duties whilst giving protections and confidence to communities of what powers the local authority holds, and how they can enforce these formally and informally; examples were provided.  

The Residential Regulation Team Area Manager explained that the focus is to protect tenants, and this can involve investigation of complaints regarding disrepair, investigation of unlicensed properties, and ensuring protections from discrimination. The Committee heard that the changes would allow more enforcement and penalty procedures to be used in the future.  

The Chair invited questions from the Committee.  

Councillor Jarvis queried whether tenants' unions were consulted during the development of the policy.  

The Residential Regulation Team Area Manager explained that consultation was not specifically undertaken for this policy, however previous communications with Tenant Unions has indicated their support for a specific policy on private sector housing. 

Councillor Rowley also emphasised that the details of the policy are largely dictated by the requirements of the Act and would therefore be uniform across councils. The value and importance of tenants' unions voices in evaluating the policy were however recognised, and it was suggested that they should be involved in reviewing the policy once it has been embedded. 

Councillor Elphinstone queried how discrimination by landlords is measured, noting it is an important consideration.  

The Residential Regulation Team Area Manager explained that any measurement and investigation must be based on the definition of discrimination used within the Act. The Committee heard that time will be taken to develop an approach with legal support, and the Council is part of focused regional discussion groups which are addressing this topic.  

 
Councillor Rowley also informed the Committee that a new officer with relevant expertise will be recruited. 

 
Councillor Altaf-Khan requested specific data on the number of HMOs and selective licenses in the city to better understand the new enforcement requirements.  

Councillor Rowley emphasised that the data is publicly available on the council website and explained that the requirement for new officers is not related to increases in private rented properties, but rather the new regulatory burden and duties resulting from the Act.  

The Regulatory Services Manager quoted the data requested by Councillor Altaf-Khan from the Council website and outlined the new funding burdens on local authorities.  

The Chair queried whether there is anything further the Council could do to extend beyond the requirements of the Act when asking landlords and agents to sign up to better conditions; voluntary schemes were suggested.  

Councillor Rowley outlined that the Council does already operate schemes. 

The Residential Regulation Team Area Manager further explained the licensing schemes already in place, such as the fee scheme designed to incentivise accredited landlords. The Committee heard that it is very difficult trying to encourage voluntary actions beyond the legal standards, however, when the Council renewed the additional licensing scheme earlier in the year, it was positively noted as being one of the lowest fees across the country by the National Residential Landlords Association; this demonstrates the Council’s commitment to encouraging more than minimum standards. 

The Chair invited the Committee to consider recommendations. 

The Committee made the following recommendations to Cabinet: 

1. That Tenants Unions be involved in the evaluation of the implementation of the policy. 

2. That further and regular data to be provided regarding the enforcement of the policy to be shared with the committee and included within future reports brought to the committee. 

3. That further information to be brought to Councillors regarding Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy, including a briefing to be scheduled. 

The Chair thanked the Councillor Rowley, the Residential Regulation Team Area Manager, and the Regulatory Services Manager.  

Councillor Rowley, the Residential Regulation Team Area Manager, and the Regulatory Services Manager left the meeting and did not return.