Agenda item

The Directors of Housing and Neighbourhood & Environmental Services submit a joint report, primarily consisting of a presentation which will be given to the Commission at its meeting regarding progress in relation to work being undertaken involving damp and mould across Housing stock and the private rented sector. The Commission is asked to comment on the achievements and progress made in relation to the work involving damp and mould and to seek any further clarifications needed.

The Head of Service for Housing and Team Manager for Private Rented Housing presented the item to update on the work being undertaken involving damp and mould across housing stock and the private rented sector. It was noted that:

·         The tragic death of Awaab Ishak has heightened awareness and the importance of governance of damp and mould. Legislation underpins responsibilities and further regulations will be enforced in 2024 for social housing with expectations for the Council to deal with reports of damp and mould.

·         A Damp and Mould Group has been established comprising of teams across different divisions to work collaboratively. An Action Plan has been formulated to deal with damp and mould in social and private housing given the awareness of health impacts. This includes greater resources for responding to additional demand of reports, inspections, and repairs as well as increased communication and advice.

·         Damp and mould cases have always been a category within the housing repairs section but there has been an increase in reports with the Group using data to identify trends. Around £150k has been spent on remedial work in social housing with improved remedial and preventative solutions utilised.

·         The percentage of reports locally for social housing is comparative to national figures but further work is needed to improve reporting from the private rented sector.

·         The private rented sector team have secured funding that will enable initiatives such as an online portal for private tenants to report issues, streamlining inspections with the use of tablets, training officers as EPC assessors, providing advice to tenants and grants for home improvements as well as the Leicester Energy Action service.

In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

·         There will inevitably always be a backlog between reports and repairs, however increased resources have been allocated and the service is maintaining the backlog, currently at around 100 cases.

·         Properties are inspected within 28days and where remedial work is required, they are categorised. Priority one cases where damp and mould is reported in a bedroom or if there is a child or vulnerable person at the property will be completed within four weeks. Priority two cases are completed within eight weeks.

·         The Council have invested in its housing stock to ensure properties are of good condition. Whilst the criteria the Regulator will be monitoring is currently unknown, the governance and processes in place ensures appropriate inspection and remedial action when damp and mould is reported.

·         There are fewer reports than expected from the private rented sector, but the team are developing a portal that will enable tenants to report damp and mould with evidence.
It was agreed that more information will be shared with the commission when the portal is further developed to support testing and promoting.

·         Landlords are required to provide private tenants with EPC certificates and there is also a national database to search EPC ratings. If landlords are found to be renting properties with an EPC rating of F or G the service would expect immediate improvements to sustain at least an E rating. If landlords do not comply or co-operate enforcement action can be taken.

The Chair asked the tenant and leaseholder forum representative for comments in which he noted good experience from the service when reporting damp and mould issues.

AGREED:

·         The Commission notes the report.