To receive the Report of the Assistant Director, Homes and Communities.  [Report attached]

Contact Jane Trethewey

Members received the report of the Assistant Director Homes and Communities which requested approval from the Housing Supervisory Board on the Cornovii Developments Limited (CDL) private rent sector, lettings policy, debt management and recovery policy, planned maintenance policy, rent setting policy and day to day repairs policy.

The Assistant Director Homes and Communities introduced the report which set out the policies in regard to the retention of new homes for private rent and added that CDL had identified 33 homes for PRS across five schemes.

In response to concerns raised by a member, the Assistant Director Homes and Communities explained that the company was not set up to solely to deliver affordable housing but to meet unmet housing needs in Shropshire.

The Managing Director of CDL, in response to further questions confirmed that:

·       The lettings for PRS properties will be managed through an estate agent under a development management agreement to ensure professional handling of the rental process.

·       The policies included a focus on providing rental options for key workers, highlighting an effort to support essential service providers in accessing quality housing.

·       Exploring the possibility of a local lettings policy would be considered, and updates will be provided accordingly.

·       The policies were drafted on a risk-based approach, which was considered appropriate to manage the tenancy risks effectively and he acknowledged the need for flexibility to accommodate different circumstances to ensure that the policy remained inclusive and responsive to the changing legal and social contexts.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the CDL PRS Policy Consultation report be noted.

2.     That the draft CDL PRS Rent Setting Policy, as at appendix B of the report be approved.

3.     That the draft CDL PRS Lettings Policy, as at appendix C of the report be approved.

4.     That the draft CDL PRS Debt Management & Recovery Policy, as at appendix D of the report be approved.

5.     That the draft CDL PRS Planned Maintenance Policy, as at appendix E of the report be approved.

6.     That the draft CDL PRS Day to Day Repairs Policy, as at appendix F of the report be approved.

7.     That the request for CDL to charge the maximum deposit allowed of five weeks (as referred to in appendix G of the report) be approved.

8.     That the implementation of the Tenancy Deposit (custodial) Scheme for managing tenant deposits (as referred to in appendix G of the report) be approved.