Housing Committee Councillor Criticised For "Letting Unfit Properties"

An Isle of Wight housing committee councillor who was previously hit with warning notices over the state of a flat she rented out came under fire this week.

At Wednesday evening’s full council meeting, Reform UK’s new Central Rural representative Caroline Gladwin was the subject of a member question directed at Cllr Clare Mosdell, Conservative chair of the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee.

The Isle of Wight Council served Cllr Gladwin notices in early 2023 under the Housing Act regarding her letting of a two-bedroom flat in Shanklin, it was revealed by the Local Democracy Reporting Service recently.

The notices related to damp and mould, rotting timbers, exposed wiring and the front door having no working lock.

Geoff Brodie, Pan and Barton’s Independent Socialist councillor asked:

“Cllr Mosdell, how happy are you that the Reform UK member of your committee has recently been exposed as what some might call a ‘rogue landlord’ of private rented housing?

“Do you think it is appropriate that she continues as a member of a committee dealing with housing needs and public health when there is clear, tribunal evidence of her letting unfit property to people in desperate housing need?”

Cllr Mosdell responded:

“I think all committees, all of us as councillors, should look into what the papers are – we always have to say if we’ve got an interest.

“And if it’s something that you are concerned about, then my advice to all councillors would be to take the advice from the monitoring officer if you’re unclear of whether you should be voting or being on a paper.

“We do need to ensure that all councillors, now you’re sitting on committees, are reading papers – that is really, really important at the moment.”

Later in the meeting during a discussion on a social housing policy, East Cowes independent councillor Karl Love said he was aware of another rental property owned by “a councillor”which is “in an appalling state”.

The LDRS understands this to be a property in Cllr Love’s ward owned by Cllr Gladwin.

He said:

“I have a family in a house where there are five children and two adults all facing eviction and there is virtually nowhere for them to go.

“They need a three or four bedroomed property – they live in a property owned by a councillor which is in an appalling state, absolutely appalling state.”

Cllr Caroline Gladwin, who did not attend the full council meeting, later told the press she endorsed Cllr Mosdell’s response.