CIEH expert member highlights key concerns about enforcement and licensing to MPs scrutinising Renters’ Rights Bill

A Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) expert member has highlighted key concerns about enforcement and licensing to a committee of MPs scrutinising the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Dr Henry Dawson, a member of the CIEH Housing Advisory Panel who is also a Senior Lecturer in Housing and Public Health at Cardiff Metropolitan University, was giving oral evidence to the Renters’ Rights Public Bill Committee.

Dr Dawson highlighted the enforcement burden that the provisions of the Bill relating to the private rented sector database and the ombudsman would impose on local authorities. He suggested that the fees for these schemes could provide funding for this enforcement.

Dr Dawson also highlighted the need to remove unnecessary barriers to the use of licensing schemes to improve housing standards. He suggested this would include enabling local authorities operating selective licensing schemes to use licence conditions to improve housing conditions, increasing the maximum duration of discretionary licensing schemes from five to ten years and removing the requirement for local authorities establishing selective licensing schemes to ensure that the private rented sector forms a high proportion of properties in the area.

Dr Dawson emphasised the importance of staffing for the implementation of the Bill and the need for local authorities to have sustainable and predictable funding for the recruitment, training and retention of new environmental health professionals.

Dr Dawson’s oral evidence can be viewed here.

Mark Elliott, President of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said:

“We are delighted that one of our advisory panel members has had the opportunity to highlight to MPs key concerns about this crucial piece of primary legislation.

The Bill is a step in the right direction but needs to be accompanied by better resourcing for local authority housing enforcement teams and the removal of unnecessary barriers to licensing.

We will continue to make the voice of the profession heard on these issues during the passage of the Bill through parliament.”