Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing. The Regulator of Social Housing is due to introduce a revised set of consumer standards as part of the new consumer regulatory framework by April 2024. A new overarching Homes Safety Policy has been drafted to reflect the new requirements in preparation for the new legal framework.

The Group had before it a report * from the Corporate Manager for Public Health, Regulation and Housing bringing forward a new policy in relation to Homes Safety. The Regulator of Social Housing was due to introduce a revised set of consumer standards as part of the new consumer regulatory framework by April 2024. The Safety and Quality Standard would replace the Home Standard and required landlords to provide safe and good quality homes and landlord services to tenants.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·       Tenant safety was, and always had been, a key consideration across all the MDH policies.

·       Some Tenant Satisfaction Measures now specifically related to safety and the Council were legally bound to report on these.

·       Actual figures in relation to asbestos would be reported in the future rather than assumptions being made.

·       Council’s would need to be 100% compliant in terms of electrical testing by 2027/2028. MDH planned to be 100% compliant a year in advance of this date.

·       The Group would be able to monitor this closely through the service delivery report presented to it on a regular basis.

Consideration was given to:

·       Procedures in relation to gaining access to properties where this had been denied to MDH in the past were being strengthened. Charging for missed appointments and threatening court action where appropriate was helpful in this regard. It was important to be able to have access to Council owned property for necessary safety checks to be undertaken.

·       There was a separate policy in relation to Damp and Mould due to the complexities involved, however, this was cross referenced with the new Homes Safety Policy.

·       The Council was unlikely to be able to secure any further funding to support the impacts of the new inspection regime but would seek to access any funding should this be possible.

(Proposed by Cllr S Robinson and seconded by Cllr J Cairney)

Reason for the decision

The Council was an RP and therefore was required to comply with the regulatory framework operated by the RSH.

The policy ensured that MDH fully complied with its statutory obligations and that the safety of its residents was safeguarded including provisions set out in the draft new Safety and Quality Standard.

Note: * Report previously circulated.