Bournemouth Council is targeting the 1300 privately rented homes throughout Boscombe in a housing crackdown, and sixty private landlords are already facing possible legal action as a result. The area’s housing was featured on Channel 4 documentary ‘Landlords from Hell’ in December last year and the inspections are just part of a major drive to regenerate Boscombe’s housing.
The council has vowed to work with all of the different kinds of landlord, promising those with ten properties will get the same treatment as somebody with one bedsit. The problems found include faulty fire alarms, no fixed heating, damp, mould and some major problems including roofing faults and blocked drains. The council have praised landlords for working with them and said they would also benefit from having better quality properties in their portfolios. Interestingly enough all the landlords visited had property insurance. Cllr Bob Lawton, cabinet member for housing, said: “There was an element of truth in saying that we did not have the resources and political will before this. Since I was made portfolio holder, I have got more money for the inspection regime, because I believe people deserve good housing conditions.”
Bournemouth Council also want people to have their say on a housing strategy for Boscombe, and they hope that housing changes will create a more stable, family orientated population. The ‘Homes for Boscombe’ blueprint outlines how the council wants to tackle housing problems while at the same time bringing the community together. The ideas include: reducing overcrowding, improving the quality of homes and building new homes for local people. Boscombe has huge potential for positive change and the council want to take the best elements and use them to attract investment. They believe that if they make positive changes to housing it will mean that Boscombe becomes a better place and a place filled with greater aspiration for people to live, put down roots and stay for a lifetime.