The Place Overview & Scrutiny Sub Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss damp and mould in council housing, and an overview of the council's management of void properties¹. The committee was also scheduled to approve the minutes of previous meetings.

Romford Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document

The sub-committee was scheduled to receive a briefing on the Romford Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The Havering Local Plan sets out the detailed policy for Romford and commits to the delivery of a Supplementary Planning Document for the area. The masterplan supplements the Havering Local Plan and sets out a framework to shape and guide development in Romford over the next 15-20 years.

The masterplan proposes a series of key spatial moves that establish the physical structure and interventions to achieve the long-term vision for Romford town centre:

• Opening up the River Rom
• Recharacterising the ring road
• Celebrating Romford Market
• Reinstating the historic urban grain
• Wider green links
• New and improved station entrances

The sub-committee was scheduled to note the following key themes and objectives to guide the delivery of the masterplan:

• Space and landscape
• Movement and Connectivity
• Sustainability
• Inclusivity, Health and Wellbeing
• Character and Townscape
• Uses and Mix
• The Economy

The sub-committee was scheduled to be asked to consider and respond to the following recommendations:

• Support the need for an Inward Investment in Romford Strategy, related launch events and would like to see further details when available.
• Ask for all the referred to associated documents such as the IDP & Local Plan to be updated accordingly and advised when that has happened and to have sight of them.
• Interested in the growth of small retail businesses in Romford and are keen to encourage this.
• Interested in what the plan will encourage and deliver in regards to economic growth, and how the requisite skills and employment will be achieved.
• Hope that the new jobs will increase residents' employability and household incomes.
• Interested in how the Master Plan will be funded and also the provision of more schools/school places in support of the Plan.
• Interested in Romford developing as a place of learning taking the Queens Hospital University as a key driver for this.
• Interested in the future demand on health facilities, in particular the adequacy of the development of additional medical hubs to support the Queens Hospital.
• Ask if the plan or related plans could consider attracting wider further education facilities, e.g. a university, college or skills academy.

Addressing Damp and Mould

The committee was scheduled to discuss the council's Damp and Mould Policy and revisions relating to Awaab's Law².

Awaab's Law, which comes into force on 31 October 2025, requires landlords to demonstrate compliance by investigating, inspecting and sending a summary to the resident explaining when works will begin. Landlords must show reasonable and documented steps taken, and at least three attempts must be made to gain access to the property.

The council's new Damp and Mould policy was approved by Cabinet on 11 June 2025. The revised policy sets out how the council will deal with dampness and mould and clarifies the council's commitment to supporting residents' health and wellbeing, through addressing any detected presence of damp and mould in its properties.

The council will raise an emergency 10 day priority mould treatment and a pre-inspection for the area surveyor to attend within 14 calendar days. Letters will be automatically generated and sent to the resident providing key information required by Awaab's Law. The surveyor will attend the property and ensure it is free from penetrating or rising damp. They will also provide lifestyle and condensation advice to the resident.

The surveyor will raise any required remedial works using specialist damp and mould SOR Codes which are tracked through the Housing Management System

The council has also introduced a Damp and Mould MOT approach to help support residents over the cold winter periods when some of Havering's property archetypes are prone to condensation based mould. This provides mould treatments once a month for 4 months with a surveyors inspection which can determine and raise any required or additional remedial works.

Voids Overview

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the council's voids process and performance.

Voids are unoccupied properties, which often require repairs before being ready for let to new occupants. Key objectives for the housing service are to make void properties available for letting as quickly as possible, minimising rent loss and maximising the housing available. It is also to ensure that the homes provided are clean, safe, secure and comply with the council's ready to let standard.

The council manages approximately 9,250 homes including Private Sector Housing (PSH) of which approximately 757 became vacant last year. On average, there are around 80 voids with the maintenance & lettings service at any one time. Last year the council received 14.5 voids per week.

The council currently categorises voids into three classifications of void works:

• V1 – Under £3500.00 in 11 Days
• V2 – Over £3500.00 in 19 Days
• V3 – Over £16,500.00 in 70 Days

The key-to-key time performance comparison report has been compiled comparing historic performance records from 2020-2021 against current 2024-2025 performance data. The performance chart demonstrates the significant improvements made within the service area.

Customer satisfaction data relating to void performance was poor, so the council has launched customer satisfaction postcards that gathers resident's feedback in relation to the voids and lettings service.

The council will also be implementing a pre-exit process lead by the rehousing and terminations team. When a tenant provides termination notice, the voids & lettings service should receive a notification which enables them to utilise the four weeks' notice period. During this time, a pre exit survey will be undertaken identifying resident recharges thus reducing the costs of works and the amount of work required.

Minutes

The committee was scheduled to approve the minutes of the meetings held on 3 February 2025, 19 February 2025 and 6 March 2025.