New plan to crack down on rogue landlords and improve rentals
City leaders have approved a new policy which aims to strengthen rules around tackling rogue landlords and raising standards in the private rented sector.
Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet backed an updated ‘private sector housing enforcement policy’ for the regulation of housing and management standards on Wearside.
The updated policy aims to take account of changes in national legislation and guidance since it was first published in 2019 and applies to landlords, property agents, managing agents and letting agents.
One change to the policy takes into account a statutory direction given to all councils from Central Government in relation to damp and mould.
This followed the tragic death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale where a coroner, at the inquest into the two-year-old’s death, made a direct link to mould in his family home rented from a social landlord.
Other updates to the council policy cover requirements around smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and rules around electrical safety standards and other hazards, which were outlined at the meeting.
Councillor Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for Dynamic City, introduced the report to cabinet at City Hall.
Cllr Johnston said private sector housing “plays a significant role in the city’s housing provision” and makes up around 15% of the city’s housing stock, according to the 2021 Census.
He added it was essential that the council reviews private sector housing to ensure“good management and safe standards”and that the enforcement policy would ensure that decision-making was “consistent and transparent”.
A report prepared for cabinet said the policy would “improve social, economic and environmental conditions in Sunderland” and “focus attention on poor performing landlords forcing them to improve homes”.
It was also noted that the policy would“help and supportthe work of good land lords who invest in their properties to maintain them, including energy efficiency upgrades, thus reducing the carbon emissions ”.
The cabinet report added: “The updated policy will ensure properties are safe for residents to live in and to allow action to be taken against landlords who fail to keep properties safe.
“The council will work with partners to use intelligence to take appropriate action against criminal landlords tackling poor housing standards and management who may also have links to other criminal activity”.
Cllr Iain Scott, deputy cabinet member for Dynamic City, welcomed the updated policy and said it would be “truly groundbreaking for those that are living in private rented accommodation”.
Cllr Scott continued: “At present we have got a regulator of social housing that regulates our registered providers however, there’s not so much in place for private rented accommodation.
“This is really going to hold landlords to account for their legal duties on both building and landlord compliance elements around things liked amp and mold, gas and electric and carbon monoxide.
“This is clearly showing that the council is committed to cracking down on rogue landlords and ensuring that there’s no [place] here in our city for substandard buildings that our residents are living in ”.