New Scheme Focuses To Improve Property Management Of Rented Homes

Published on: 1 Nov, 2014
Updated on: 1 Nov, 2014

A new accreditation scheme, to raise housing standards and improve property management is a step closer, after an outline proposal was agreed at Guildford Borough’s Council’s latest Executive meeting.

Measures to improve areas of concern including waste recycling, maintenance of gardens and parking will also be explored.

Rubbish piles up in Guildford Park Avenue.

The announcement comes as residents in Guildford Park Avenue have once again been recently frustrated by rubbish and other waste piling up – possibly being discarded by some of those who are tenants in the area.

The Guildford Dragon has heard that there are similar problems in other areas of the borough too.

The council acknowledges that the growth in the private rented sector has seen a substantial increase in the number of HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) in the borough over the last 10 years.

The council states that HMOs provide homes to an estimated 9,000 residents, including people working in the local economy and vital public services. There are concerns about how some are managed and the impact that concentrations of HMOs can have on a local community.

Earlier this year, the council’s customer and community scrutiny committee conducted a study of the impact of concentrations of HMOs on local communities and the standard of accommodation.

The committee’s review recommended some practical steps for dealing with some of the issues and the introduction of a landlord accreditation scheme. Key stakeholders including tenants, landlords, local residents, letting agents, and local education establishments gave their views as part of the investigation.

Cllr Caroline Reeves, who chairs of the task and finish group, that led the investigation said: “Councillors have been aware of on-going problems around HMOs in certain parts of the borough, mainly in the town, so it was very encouraging to have such strong feedback from the wide range of stakeholders that we contacted through the review.

“The private rented sector will continue to expand and it is vital that we have a method to ensure that we can encourage good community relations between tenants and neighbours, as well as supporting the best working practices for landlords and agents. Through the involvement of all of the various stakeholders, we aim to make this accreditation scheme a simple but viable long-term solution to the problems.”

Cllr Sarah Creedy, lead councillor for housing and social welfare added: “It’s important to realise that people live in shared properties for a number of reasons. They may be students, but we also have a high number of young professionals, service and office workers who wish to live in town to be near their work place, or need to share a home because of rising rent levels.”

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