Agenda item

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer presented the report to the Committee.

The Private Sector Housing Strategy 2024-2027 (the ‘Strategy’) was the Council’s first dedicated strategy aimed solely at the private sector.  It was noted that funding for the Strategy had been jointly secured with North East Derbyshire District Council.

Owner occupied and privately rented properties made up over 83.3% of homes in the District (Census 2021).

Many homes in the private sector in the District were in poor condition.

Data analysis completed as part of development of the Strategy showed that 45.8% did not meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C, and 16.3% of owner-occupied homes and 18.6% of privately rented properties failed the Decent Homes Standard for having a Category 1 hazard (which posed a serious and immediate risk to a person's health).

Following approval by Council of the Strategy in 2024, a range of activity had progressed, and the Strategy was delivered in partnership across Housing Management, Housing Options, Environmental Health, and Planning Policy.

Key achievements:

Objective 1 had included:

• Delivery of a joint Landlord Forum November 2024;
• Securing £1.2m grant funding via Warm Homes: Local Grant for delivery across the private sector (the programme targeted households with an EPC rating of D-G, combined with a low household income;
• Work had commenced on design of the new Housing Enforcement Policy (to complete end of 2025);
• New literature had been devised for damp and mould advice;
• The Council’s website was revised to include a wider range of links and advice for both private landlords and tenants on rights and responsibilities;
• DASH Services and Call Before You Serve (CB4YS) were continually promoted by the Housing Options team, particularly the Triage Officers; and,
• The renewal of a DASH Services contract.

Objective 2 was:

• Analysis of the private rented sector provision by Supported Accommodation Review Team (SART) officers – data showed good success rates placing those presenting as homeless in the privately rented sector.

Objective 3 had included:

• Development of an in-house design and contract management service for the Disabled Facilities Grant following the closure of the Derbyshire County Council (DCC) service;
• Background research completed for new minor adaptations policy; and
• DCC consultation on potential withdrawal of the Healthy Homes Project – this could lead to the need for a District level approach.

Immediate plans for future delivery:

Objective 1 had included:

• Run a Landlord Forum for 2025;
• Develop a Landlord / Agent e-bulletin;
• Complete year 1 of Warm Homes: Local Grant and secure further interest for years 2 and 3;
• Develop an Intervention Strategy to support landlords to meet the requirements of the Renters’ Rights Bill (the ‘Bill’) and help ‘myth bust’ the legislation;
• Freedom of Information contact to all Registered Providers operating in the District to establish current stock, future plans, secure access to affordable stock via additional nomination rights, and establish options for development of new affordable stock.

Objective 2 was:

• Further develop working relationships with local Landlords / Agents to create additional links to private rented sector.  This would be particularly important once the Bill was formally enacted – the sector would require additional support to comply with new regulations.

Objective 3 had included:

• Raise awareness of support options for older and vulnerable tenants as part of a Landlord Forum 2025; and,
• Develop a database of private rented sector adapted properties to enable tenant referrals by Housing Allocations and Housing Options teams.

Objective 4 was:

• New Council Tax charges for empty properties would come into force April 2026.

The Private Sector Housing Strategy Delivery Plan was attached at Appendix 1 and the Strategy was attached at Appendix 2.

While the Bill required Landlords to consider much, it was important to provide support where possible – no local authority would be able to compensate a further reduction in the numbers of privately rented properties.

For the provision of supported accommodation, the Council was working with Amber Valley, Chesterfield, High Peak, and North East Derbyshire District / Borough Councils to help deliver this service.

It was noted that after DCC had withdrawn the previously offered Disability Design Team which supported delivery of Disabled Facilities Grants, the Council had moved to provide its own in conjunction with North East Derbyshire District Council.  This service had become operational from April-May 2025 and it was offered that the Service Manager (Environmental Health) could provide more information if requested.

For the matter of empty properties in the District, the Council would consider the UK Government’s efforts and its attempts to address this issue.  It would not be easy and could prove expensive, but the Council could consider compulsory purchase orders – Planning Services were investigating this future option and would report to the Council by end of March 2026.

Developing communications with Landlords / Agents would be a worthwhile endeavour, as while face-face conferences had proven highly successful they required extensive organising and investment.  It was also acknowledged that joint work with Planning Services to contact local registered providers operating within the District would build improved knowledge of their housing stock and future development plans.

For the Warm Homes: Local Grant (the ‘Grant’) objective, the Committee was informed that this 3-year programme had started April 2025, and a service level agreement had been made with Bassetlaw District Council for them to deliver the programme on our behalf.

7 locations (based on nationally determined eligible postcodes) had been identified in the District where properties would be automatically entitled where their property was below EPC rating C.  Following assessment of the property, they would be provided with the measures identified as delivering the best efficiency Grant.  For those households not in an auto-eligible postcode, there were other criteria related to household income / benefits received which meant the Grant scheme could still be accessed (a household income not exceeding £36,000).

Homes assessed would likely receive improvements such as loft insulation, heating system improvements or solar panels (the latter to help reduce energy costs).

To a question on how Landlords were found, the Housing Strategy and Development Officer informed the Council would regularly update a database of existing known Landlords.  The Council would also attempt to build relationships with Agents, though this could prove challenging as there was currently no mandatory requirement for Landlords to engage and register with local authorities – if Members were aware of interested Landlords through their casework, they could ask for them to contact the Council.  The requirement for a landlord to register with the local authority would change once the Bill received assent.

It was noted some Landlords might only want information and / or support – services such as DASH could provide this, and the Council regularly directed landlords to them.

The Housing Options Manager informed the recent face-face conference had been to help address the fear of the unknown that Landlords might have for matters such as the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Moved by Councillor Jeanne Raspin and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOLVED that Members review the attached Delivery Plan, progress made to date,   and plans for the immediate future.