To consider the Quarterly Housing Audit and Compliance report which provides oversight of the Council’s housing stock.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance, Councillor Tyerman, Managing Director, Liam Montgomery, and Housing Manager, Anita Merritt presented the submitted Quarterly Housing Audit and Compliance Report for Quarter 3 2024/2025 for all housing stock for TorVista Homes and those that had been transferred to the Council together with the temporary accommodation units and responded to questions. 

Members were updated that the data in red relating to temporary accommodation was all compliant and had been completed but the Council was just waiting for some dates to come through.  There was some outstanding PAT testing which had been ordered for temporary accommodation, but the dates were still to be confirmed.  Temporary accommodation was currently being managed by a different Team of Officers, but it was intended to bring all housing elements together to ensure a consistent approach to all the Council’s housing stock.

The Board asked questions in relation to there being two or three properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below C, with new lettings being required to be C or above later in the year, what plans did the Council have to look at EPC ratings on those properties and does the Council have any ambitions to uprate the C rated properties to A or B; it was understood that all properties from TorVista Homes were being transferred to the Council, what was the reason that this had not happened; was it expected that the Council would not be able to transfer existing tenants from TorVista Homes to the Council; the report mentioned adaptations such as wet rooms and level access showers, would the properties have other accessible elements as well; when accessible properties become vacant would they be considered for use by people fleeing domestic abuse; page 8 referred to a vacant property and alternative use being explored, what was this; and had fire risk assessments been completed for the temporary accommodation.

In response to questions in respect of EPCs, Members were advised that upgrading EPCs was part of the wider programme linked to climate change looking at all Council properties including the housing stock.  It would be included as part of the ongoing repairs and maintenance.  The Council would ensure that all properties were rated C or above within the required timeframe to ensure compliance.

The Board was advised that it had been planned for all TorVista Homes properties to be transferred to the Council, but this had been delayed as some of the tenancies could not be changed for existing tenants, those would be transferred as they become vacant.  The Council was aware that there were some limitations on the type of accommodation that Councils could offer as this was one of the reasons that TorVista Homes was set up in the first place, but it was a surprise that the Council would have to rely on them becoming vacant before they could be transferred.  This made it hard to put an end date on the process.  All those that could be transferred had been transferred.  There was no difference to the tenants in the way the property was being managed apart from the name on the bill.  It was noted that there were still some administrative costs associated with running the TorVista Homes accounts for longer than anticipated.

In response to questions around accessible properties, Members were advised that the Council was trying to get to a stage where they would look across all areas of the Council when a Council owned property became vacant to use the stock as strategically as possible to make the best use of the size and type of accommodation, this could be for cared for young people, adult social care clients, people on waiting lists, people fleeing domestic abuse or those in temporary accommodation.  All the temporary accommodation purchased was intended to house families but there was also a need for single person properties.  Members received a verbal update on the vacant house of multiple occupation (HMO) property and the restrictions relating to the Government Grant and some of the potential options being explored.  Officers from across the Council were working together to find the best solution for the property and clients moving forward.

It was noted that all compliance testing for temporary accommodation (TA18) had been completed.  Following the meeting it was confirmed that all fire extinguishers were up to date for Council owned stock with all the certificates received except for the two HMOs which had been completed but the certificates had not yet been received.  There were two outstanding Fire Risk Assessments, but they had been booked in for week commencing 14 April 2025.

Resolved (unanimously):

1.         that the Overview and Scrutiny Board note that the Housing Audit and Compliance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Report demonstrates that Torbay Council is compliant in all areas regarding their housing stock.  This now incorporates the existing TorVista Homes housing stock, transferred housing stock and temporary accommodation stock;

2.         that the KPIs will continue to be mirrored and reported for all housing stock held by Torbay Council; and

3.         that this will be presented quarterly to the Overview and Scrutiny Board as part of the quarterly performance monitoring report.