Aim 4: Reasons for agreement or disagreement

• Of those who ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly agree’ that licensing will help to enable council officers to utilise enforcement powers effectively to significantly drive up housing standards, housing management and the wellbeing of tenants in high risk properties, over a tenth feel the council would have necessary powers to hold landlords and problem tenants accountable (13%) and that it’s effectiveness is dependent on adequate funding, staffing and skilled implementation (12%)
• Of those who ‘neither agree nor disagree’ that licensing will help to meet this aim, 15% feel some uncertainty about the capacity of the council to implement and enforce
• Of those who ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly disagree’ that licensing will help to enable council officers to utilise enforcement powers effectively to significantly drive up housing standards, housing management and the wellbeing of tenants in high risk properties, over a quarter (28%) feel the council should already have these powers without further licensing, and a further 15% feel some uncertainty about the council’s capacity to provide this

This table shows the most common themes around why respondents ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly agree’ that licensing will help to meet Aim 4: ‘To enable council officers to utilise enforcement powers effectively to significantly drive up housing standards, housing management and the wellbeing of tenants in high risk properties’:
13% of respondents feel the council would have necessary powers to hold landlords and problem tenants accountable
12% of respondents feel it is dependant on adequate funding, staffing, and skilled implementation
6% of respondents feel general agreement with the objective of the aim
6% of respondents feel it provides minimum standards for landlords and should deter bad landlords
4% of respondents feel landlords should be monitored and regularly inspected to regulate standards
4% of respondents feel it ensures better protection for tenants
6% of respondents give other comments
54% of respondents give no comment

This table shows the most common themes around why respondents ‘neither agree nor disagree’ that licensing will help to meet Aim 4: ‘To enable council officers to utilise enforcement powers effectively to significantly drive up housing standards, housing management and the wellbeing of tenants in high risk properties’:
15% of respondents feel uncertainty about the capacity of the council to implement and enforce
8% of respondents feel not confident that licensing will achieve this and help tenants
6% of respondents feel the council should already have these powers without further licensing
6% of respondents feel it should just focus on problem properties or tenants
5% of respondents disagree with HMOs generally
13% of respondents give other comments
50% of respondents give no comment

This table shows the most common themes around why respondents ‘slightly’ or ‘strongly disagree’ that licensing will help to meet Aim 4: ‘To enable council officers to utilise enforcement powers effectively to significantly drive up housing standards, housing management and the wellbeing of tenants in high risk properties’:
28% of respondents feel the council should already have these powers without further licensing
15% of respondents feel uncertainty about council’s capacity to provide this
11% of respondents feel it would penalise good landlords and/or not adequately deal with problem landlords
10% of respondents feel existing schemes and council powers have not improved standards so far
9% of respondents feel increased costs will increase rents or reduce availability of rental properties
5% of respondents feel all rental properties should be held to these standards, including council housing
3% of respondents feel the number of high-risk or sub-standard properties has been exaggerated
13% of respondents give other comments
23% of respondents give no comment