Introduction
The Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper was published on 16 June 2022, outlining Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) plans to reform the private rented sector and level up housing quality. One item in its 12-point plan is to accelerate quality improvements in the areas that need it most by running pilot schemes to trial improvements to the enforcement of existing private rented sector standards.
Through these pilots, DLUHC is aiming to:
- support local authorities tackling poor quality private rented sector properties in the areas of greatest need;
- raise the profile of successful enforcement, changing expectations and driving improvement in pilot areas and beyond;
- build an understanding of what is needed to bring PRS properties up to the proposed Decent Homes Standard, and how landlords respond to enforcement;
- develop an evidence base of effective approaches to enforcement, and share best practice;
Based on the criteria set by DLUHC, Coventry has identified 2 lower super output areas in the Foleshill ward that will be targeted using the funding provided.
This project is trialling a new approach to intensive proactive enforcement work in the PRS to bring about sustainable change in the property conditions and management standards. The use of other supporting legislation outside of the Housing Act 2004 and the Housing and Planning Act 2016 will be documented and shared throughout the project.
Landlords will be informed in advance that they will be required to provide for inspection copies of documentation that they should already have in hand if due diligence is followed, for example a copy of the EICR, GSC, EPC etc. The tenant’s version of the letters will be supportive and written to be educational about their rights (and reinforce the “how to rent” messages and behaving in a tenant like manner), and they will be provided with information about tenancy support if required.
In meeting DLUHC’s objectives the proposed pilots will:
- tackle poor quality private rented sector properties in the areas of greatest need – the LA will inspect every PRS property in those areas to remove hazards, signpost residents to additional help they may need and encourage improvements in landlords and agents to a decent homes standard and thinking around maintenance and good management practice.
- raise the profile of successful enforcement, changing expectations and driving improvement in pilot areas and beyond through using a single approach to inspections
- build an understanding of what is needed to bring PRS properties up to the proposed Decent Homes Standard, and how landlords respond to enforcement – this pilot will provide quantitative and qualitative data and should also demonstrate the benefits of a programmed proactive approach over reactive work
