Agenda and minutes

1.1 Members noted the confirmed appointments to the position of Chair (Cllr Soraya Adejare) and Vice-Chair (Cllr Clare Joseph) for the municipal year 2023/24, as agreed by Full Council at its Annual Meeting on 17th May 2023.

2.1 The Chair updated those in attendance on the meeting etiquette and that the meeting was being recorded and livestreamed.

2.2 Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Sadek, Rathbone, Ogundemuren, Ozsen, Joseph and Maxwell.

3.1 There were no urgent items, and the order of business was as set out in the agenda.

4.1 There were no declarations of interest.

5.1 The Chair opened the item by explaining that the Commission was keen to hear about how the Council worked with its Housing Association partners and the Private Rented Sector to ensure effective accountability and protection for Housing Association tenants and private renters.

5.2 The Commission saw this discussion as timely given the development of a shared Housing Compact between the Council and Housing Associations operating in the borough, the Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting private renters and challenging rogue landlords, and the recent publication of the proposed Renters (Reform) Bill.

5.3 Representing London Borough of Hackney

·  Cllr Sem Moema, Deputy Cabinet Member for Private Rented Sector and Housing Affordability

·  James Goddard, Strategic Head of Strategy, Assurance and Private Sector Housing

Private Rented Sector Presentation

5.4 The Chair invited the Deputy Cabinet Member for Private Rented Sector and Housing Affordability and Strategic Head of Strategy, Assurance and Private Sector Housing to give a short verbal presentation on the relationship between the Council and the Private Rented Sector in Hackney, and how it ensures accountability and protection for private renters.

5.5 There were around 120,000 homes in the borough, 82% of which were flats, 0.2% detached homes (including bungalows) and 5.6% were four bedrooms or over. Of these, 28% were privately rented, 28% privately owned and 44% were social homes (Council or Housing Association). The Council owned over 31,000 units, and there were also 9,153 Right to Buy properties, of which 3,702 (40.5%) were now private market rented.

5.6 There were around 34,000 units of Private Rented Sector (PRS) stock in Hackney. The average weekly rent for Council units during 2022/23 was £107.59, and for Housing Associations it was £148. For the PRS, as of 12th June 2023, it was £600.

5.7 The Private Sector Housing (PSH) Team covered a range of key areas. 32 members of staff were were in place to cover key areas such as prevention and advice, licensing, houses of multiple occupation (HMOs), conditions (including fire safety and damp and mould), the Better Renting Campaign and enforcement.

5.8 The most recent Stock Condition Survey estimates that 11% of PRS stock had category 1 housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) hazards. Key hazards included excess cold, fall hazards, disrepair and fuel poverty. Stock performance was generally above the England average but lower for disrepair and significantly lower for low income households.

5.9 Fire safety had been a key issue across the PRS since Grenfell. There were over 400 tall buildings in Hackney, many of which were complex buildings. The Council had taken enforcement action against the owners of five tall buildings in the borough, having been otherwise able to positively engage owners to carry out related works without the need for enforcement.

5.10 Government policy on fire safety had proved an issue for leaseholders. Whilst there was a cap on the costs of remediating fire safety defects for some leaseholders, at £15,000 this was still considered unaffordable to many.

5.11 Over 200 damp and mould complaints  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1 The Chair opened the discussion by explaining the item would cover the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission work programme for the 2023/24 municipal year. 

6.2 The Overview and Scrutiny Annual Public Consultation, which asked residents and stakeholders for their suggestions for the work programme, was underway and would close on 22nd June.

6.3 Any suggestions from Commission Members this evening, as well as suggestions made in the public consultation, by officers, by Cabinet Members or by key partners would be collated by the Chair and Vice Chair into a shortlist and presented at the next meeting for agreement.

6.4 After the Commission had agreed the items for the work programme, the Chair and Vice Chair would update the Scrutiny Panel with the proposed work programme for the Commission.

6.5 The Chair then invited Commission Members to make any comments or suggestions for the 2023/24 work programme.

6.6 A Commission Member suggested that the Commission look at the Council’s approach to homelessness and rough sleeping, particularly around the needs of transgender and gender diverse residents.

6.7 A Commission Member suggested that the Commission look at the progress made against the Council’s work to improve the housing repairs service.

6.8 A Commission Member suggested that the Commission look at the current arrangements across the Community Safety Partnership to ensure a multi-agency approach to community safety issues, as well as examples of best practice elsewhere.

6.9 A Commission Member suggested that the Commission look at the Council’s current approach to providing advice services to those that were homeless or at risk of homelessness.

7.1 The draft minutes of the previous meeting on 20th April 2023 were presented.

7.2 Members agreed the draft minutes as an accurate record.

8.1 None.