PORTFOLIO: Housing and
Regeneration
COMMUNITY & HOUSING SELECT COMMITTEE
24 JULY 2002
Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation : Home Energy Conservation
Bill
Report by:
Acting Director of Enterprise, Environment and Culture
Ward Implications:
All Wards
For Information
1.
Synopsis
1.1
This report advises Members on progress with the Home Energy Conservation
Bill, which includes provisions relating to registration and licensing of houses in
multiple occupation.
2.
Background
2.1
The Government, in recognition of the need for enhanced powers relating to
houses in multiple occupation, have consulted upon and expressed their
commitment to Registration and Licensing Schemes to control and improve this
sector of the housing market. The primary legislation required to introduce
such controls has not yet been introduced by Government.
3.
Private Members Bill
3.1
The Home Energy Conservation Bill, a Private Members Bill introduced by Dr.
Desmond Turner MP, includes measures to deal with energy conservation and
fuel poverty and additionally includes important proposals affecting houses in
multiple occupation.
3.2
The Bill proposes a change in definition of house in multiple occupation to “a
house occupied by adult members of more than two families”. This change will
enable HMO legislation to be applied to student accommodation.
3.3
In addition the Bill would introduce registration schemes for houses in multiple
occupation similar to the Governments Licensing proposals and would compel
Local Authorities to operate such schemes for properties of more than 2
storeys containing more than 4 adults.
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3.4
The Bill received Government support and appeared to have a good prospect
of success. It had received a second reading in the Commons and had
progressed through the Committee stage when it next appeared in the
commons on 10 May 2002.
3.5
By this time, however, the energy conservation element of the Bill had been
amended to include an energy conservation target, which the Government
found unacceptable, thereby jeopardising its chances of succeeding.
3.6
During the debate on 10 may 2002 the Bill’s sponsor, Dr. Desmond Turner
appeared to be “talking out” his own Bill by prolonging debate to prevent any
further progress.
Dr. Turner’s response is recorded in Hansard – “I am not talking out my Bill. I
am trying to preserve it contrary to the impression that the Honorary Gentleman
may have. Had there not been what can only be described as a wrecking
amendment from his side of the Chamber, this Bill would now have been
passed”.
3.7
The Bill next appears before Parliament on 19 July and opinions are divided on
whether it will progress into legislation.
It will be unfortunate if this important and well supported change in HMO
legislation is lost because of contentious amendments to an entirely separate
section of this Bill.
4.
Financial
If the Bill passes into legislation it is anticipated registration fees will make the
HMO provisions self-financing.
5.
Going for Growth
Measures to improve control and conditions in the private sector complement
the City’s Going for Growth proposals.
6.
Legal
None – Private Members Bill at Report Stage and Third Reading.
7.
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Contact: Michael J Warriner, Ext. 26113, Public Health & Environmental
Protection, EEC Directorate.