Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing)

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing) that updated on the work of the Housing Standards Team in response to issues of damp and mould in residential properties in the borough.

The report indicated that following the death of a two-year old child, Awaab Ishak, from a severe respiratory condition due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home in Rochdale, and the subsequent Coroner’s inquest, the Chief Executive of the Regulator for Social Housing wrote to all registered providers of social housing requesting information on the provider’s response to managing damp and mould cases in their homes. 

The report advised that the Housing Standards Team (HST) was responsible for housing enforcement activity, including on vacant homes, and managing the Council’s mandatory, additional HMO and selective landlord licencing schemes and that this was primarily based on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, and that the majority of the damp and mould caseload managed by the HST related to privately rented properties; and detailed how action could be taken to alleviate problems, including the use of the Council’s Landlord Licensing Scheme. In the Social Housing Sector, the legal duty and responsibility for resolving complaints was imposed by the Regulator of Social Housing direct onto social landlords (i.e. not with the Council in the first instance).

The report detailed that in response to the Awaab Ishak case, a number of actions were carried out relating to the Council’s management of damp and mould cases in the borough via:

·       Housing Enforcement Policy

·       Website updates

·       Communication campaign

·       Staff training and equipment

·       Data analysis

·       Staff guidance

·       Engagement with registered providers

The report concluded that the death of Awaab Ishak had raised awareness of the dangers of mould in residential properties and that the reaction within the housing sector, particularly the social housing sector, had been significant; and that although the approach to damp and mould issues in the Sefton had been subject to review, both by senior managers, and through internal audit, the HST continues to look for improvements and opportunities to supplement the current approach.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       The inspection and enforcement regime employed by the Council, under the terms of the Housing Act 2004, to combat the Category 1 and Category 2 hazards associated with damp and mould in properties; and problems experienced due to differing expectations of landlords and tenants as to the satisfactory resolution of such hazards

·       Concern was expressed at the Category 2 damp and mould hazards being found in in 30% of privately rented homes in Sefton; and how this figure compared with other comparable local authorities

·       the legal duty and responsibility placed on the social housing sector for resolving complaints, as imposed by the Regulator of Social Housing direct onto social landlords, was acknowledged and data was sought on the satisfactory resolution of complaints

·       in respect of the Communication Campaign around the issue of damp and mould, using the Council’s communications channels  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46