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Call for Tougher Sanctions Against Rogue Landlords Highlights Council’s Existing Scheme
Published on: 22 Sep, 2015
Updated on: 24 Sep, 2015
A call from the Local Government Association that rogue landlords should face stronger sentencing, tougher licence conditions and potential blacklisting, has caused Guildford Borough Council (GBC) to highlight the accreditation scheme it already has in place to raise the standards of property management within the private rented sector in the borough.
Cllr Tony Rooth
Cllr Tony Rooth, Lead Councillor for Housing and Social Welfare, said: “Our scheme, which is a partnership with the University of Surrey, Surrey Students’ Union, the Academy Of Contemporary Music and other stakeholders, launched in May.
“Landlords who gain accreditation are demonstrating that they are operating a professional business, and are committed to providing high standards of accommodation and management for their tenants.
“It makes sound business sense to become accredited to a scheme such as this as tenants are more likely to seek out an accredited landlord in order to protect themselves from the rogues that are out there.”
Accredited landlords can access information and advice as well as a range of other incentives such as discounts on insurance and licence fees.
To join the Guildford Accreditation Scheme, landlords must first attend a suitable training course. The next training day is scheduled for September 29 at the council offices in Millmead, Guildford. For more details visit: www.guildford.gov.uk/
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Responses to Call for Tougher Sanctions Against Rogue Landlords Highlights Council’s Existing Scheme
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Martin Elliott
September 22, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Councils have another function in rental market that they seem reluctant to address – monitoring letting agents. Unscrupulous letting agents can cause great problems and distress to both tenants and landlords.
Unlike estate agents they are not registered. Membership of trade associations is voluntary. The only area where there is some regulation is the independent holding of the tenant’s deposit.
What they charge and for what services, both to landlord and tenant is not controlled. For example, despite many organisations pointing out there is little work in renewing a tenancy agreement (change the date) some ‘high street names’ charge £100+ for this service every six months.
Recent changes to the Consumer Protection Act require all fees to be clearly defined and displayed in offices and websites. I have yet to find any that comply. For my last renewal, the document fee on the agent’s website was £50, my fee was £100. The reason given was only new customer fees need to be displayed. This is not true, but is the council monitoring or even interested?