Posts with tag: good landlords

Derby Proposes New Measures to Tackle Rogue Landlords

Published On: May 3, 2016 at 9:21 am

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Derby Proposes New Measures to Tackle Rogue Landlords

Derby Proposes New Measures to Tackle Rogue Landlords

Derby City Council has proposed a new scheme to help tackle rogue landlords in the area, which could be in operation by the end of the year.

Councillor Baggy Shanker says he is determined to crack down on rogue landlords in Derby and is hoping to replace the existing system, which has been run by the local authority since 2008. Shanker claims the current scheme is no longer “fit for purpose”.

If Labour succeeds in retaining control of the council following this week’s local elections, Shanker pledges to make it much harder for rogue landlords to operate in Derby, by allowing members of the public to freely access an accredited list of private landlords.

Under the present scheme, the council conducts its own research to ensure that landlords are fit and proper. However, the public cannot access this list without contacting the council directly to request feedback about a landlord, including whether or not they are accredited.

Shanker hopes the new proposed scheme would work like an MOT check for both the landlord and their property. An open register would be made available on the council’s website, similar to a Trusted Trader initiative that allows people to check if a firm or tradesperson is considered trustworthy and dependable.

The new landlord list would include health and safety checks, such as ensuring a property has a gas safety certificate, and also checking whether the council has previously received complaints about a landlord, whether they use a deposit scheme, and whether the cost of renting the property is suitable for the area it is in.

Shanker comments: “We are thinking we should work the good landlords, exclude the bad ones and then people will stop using them. Some of the initial feedback [from city landlords] is that they are up for discussing the scheme. We would start it in certain wards: Normanton, Arboretum, Sinfin, some parts of Abbey ward. We may even be able to do it in selected streets.”1

1 http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/New-scheme-pipeline-shame-Derby-s-bad-landlords/story-29203790-detail/story.html

Landlords to be Protected Under New Changes to Right to Rent

Published On: March 4, 2016 at 9:35 am

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Landlords will be protected by Government changes to Right to Rent legislation, the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has announced.

The RLA has campaigned for changes to the Right to Rent scheme, notably that landlords should not be immediately criminalised for failing to identify illegal immigrants.

Landlords to be Protected Under New Changes to Right to Rent

Landlords to be Protected Under New Changes to Right to Rent

The Government has now agreed to changes to the Immigration Bill – currently going through Parliament – which will provide protection for the good landlords that take reasonable steps in an appropriate timeframe to end tenancies for those living in the UK illegally.

Previously under the bill, landlords would face immediate criminal penalties upon discovery that they failed to ensure their tenants had the right to rent in the UK.

The Government has also agreed to consider changes to regulations that would enable landlords to provide information to tenants, such as tenancy deposit protection schemes, via email, rather than in paper form, as is currently required.

The RLA, on behalf of landlords, has campaigned for both changes and has welcomed the Government’s plans.

The Chairman of the RLA, Alan Ward, says: “The RLA warmly welcomes the Government’s pragmatic changes to its Right to Rent scheme that will provide protection for good landlords from the unintended consequences of the policy.

“It is also welcome that the Government is willing to look at how electronic information can be better used to provide tenants with the legal information they require.

“In the 21st century, it is ridiculous that landlords are expected to print so much paper when it can be provided at the simple click of the button.”1

Advice for landlords on conducting Right to Rent checks can be found here: https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/right-to-rent-coming-in-2016/

Information for landlords on the two new custodial deposit protection schemes can be viewed here: https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/two-new-custodial-tenancy-deposit-protection-schemes-launch-april/

1 http://news.rla.org.uk/news-rla-org-uklandlords-protected/

Welsh Tenants are the Most Satisfied with Their Landlords

Published On: March 2, 2016 at 12:12 pm

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Welsh Tenants are the Most Satisfied with Their Landlords

Welsh Tenants are the Most Satisfied with Their Landlords

Tenants in Wales are the most satisfied with their landlords than in any other part of the UK, says new research from the National Landlords Association (NLA).

A huge 92% of renters in Wales say that they are satisfied with their landlord. Tenants in the East Midlands were second on the list, with 83% saying they are satisfied – the highest figure for England.

Those in the North West and South West followed, with 82% satisfaction.

However, a stark regional variation in satisfaction was exposed on either side of the Pennines. While 82% of tenants in the North West are satisfied with their landlord, just 67% of renters in the North East said the same – the lowest satisfaction level in the whole of the UK.

On average, eight out of ten tenants (79%) in the UK are satisfied with their landlords.

Position

 Region

No. of tenants satisfied with their landlord
1 Wales 92%
2 East Midlands 83%
3 North West 82%
4 South West 82%
5 South East 80%
6 Scotland 79%
7 West Midlands 79%
8 Yorkshire and the Humber 73%
9 London 72%
10 East of England 71%
11 North East 67%

The CEO of the NLA, Richard Lambert, comments on the findings: “Good landlords make up the majority of the market, so it’s not surprising that the majority of tenants are satisfied.

“Private renting is far from the insecure, uncertain and unhappy picture that it is often made out to be, and these findings will help to reassure existing renters and those looking to make their home in the private sector.”

He continues: “The NLA provides a range of training and accreditation opportunities for landlords in order to help them develop and improve standards, which is good news for the minority of tenants who are dissatisfied.

“However, this is only part of the solution, and both central and local government must also commit more resources to tackling poor standards and weeding out bad landlords.”1 

The NLA’s results arrive as the latest English Housing Survey reveals that the average private rental sector tenancy now lasts four years.

1 http://www.landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/landlord-satisfaction-across-uk-highest-in-wales

Sheffield Rental Properties Needed

Published On: October 29, 2015 at 12:39 pm

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Sheffield Rental Properties Needed

Sheffield Rental Properties Needed

Are you a landlord or letting agent in Sheffield? You could help tackle criminals in the city by offering your empty rental properties to the police.

If you’re suffering from a spell of void homes, you could work with the police to catch out thieves.

South Yorkshire Police is looking for landlords and agents to take part in a scheme that will utilise empty properties as stings to combat burglars in Sheffield.

Police say they would use the homes as traps for would-be criminals. They would only require part of the ground floor of the property, meaning minimal disruption for landlords and agents.

In some cases, the police say they could offer a lay rent for the period that they use the house.

If you are interested in tackling burglaries in your area, get in touch with the police force here: martin.simcock@southyorks.pnn.police.uk