Birmingham City Council launches consultation on Private Rented Sector Strategy.

The strategy will set out how the council will ensure that it helps develop and sustain a diverse, high quality private rented sector that is safe, secure and energy efficient, in neighbourhoods that are diverse, sustainable and pleasant to live in.

The council’s vision is to “Achieve long term and sustainable improvements in the quality of private rented sector through engagement and regulation”

Commenting on the consultation, Cllr Hussain, Cabinet member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, said ‘Our plans for the next five years set out where we focus our resources to have the biggest impact. We intend to work even more closely the many conscientious landlords already providing truly viable housing options in the private rented sector, while tackling rogue landlords through an expanded programme of licensing, inspection and regulation. In this strategy, we also look further afield to support energy improvement and influence legislation. This is in addition to, recognising the real problems that can arise from concentrations of certain tenure types in very small local neighbourhoods and looking for local initiatives for local issues.’

The key priorities for the strategy are to

• Increase the supply of safe and secure accommodation
• Identify and implement local initiatives to address local issues
• Tackle disrepair and criminality
• Prevent illegal eviction and harassment
• Improve the energy efficiency of Birmingham homes, tackle fuel poverty, and reduce carbon emissions
• Operate a high-quality mandatory Houses of Multiple Occupation licensing scheme
• Seek to influence Government and national regulatory agencies to enhance relevant legislation and regulation

The consultation will last for a period of 4 weeks commencing on 12 November 2021 and ending on 2 December 2021.

Anyone wishing to comment can do so at https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/place/private-rented-sector-strategy/