Council Help And Advice For Private Landlords

18th December 2012

Highland Council publishes help and advice for private landlords and letting agents.

Private landlords are being given information about new laws and advice about what they need to do to meet their new duties in the latest edition of The Highland Council’s Landlord News published this week.

The electronic newsletter provides private landlords and letting agents with information and advice on private sector housing and landlord issues. As well as articles on legal changes, it provides information on new services and support for private landlords to help them manage their tenancies and improve their housing. It also provides ‘good practice’ advice on letting and managing property.

At the same time as increasing numbers of people in Highland are becoming landlords and more property is becoming available to rent privately, there is more regulation of the private rented sector. These legal changes are aimed at improving the management and quality standards of private renting housing.

These reforms also come at a time when there is greater reliance on private renting. Potential first time buyers are continuing to find it difficult to access mortgages and there continue to be huge pressures on social rented housing.

Councillor Dave Fallows, chair of the Finance, Housing and Resources Committee said: “We want private renting to be a positive choice for everyone. We want private renters – and landlords - to have good experiences of renting.

“We know that there are lots of good landlords out there. However we also know that there are some who are not aware of their duties and legal responsibilities. Understanding tenancy rights and the law can be complex. Many of Highland’s landlords are not full time property managers and are busy people so we want to make sure that they can easily access all the information and resources they need. This is the third newsletter the Council has issued. We’ve had good feedback from landlords who’ve told us how helpful they’ve found it.”

The electronic Newsletter has been emailed to registered landlords and letting agents. It is also available on the Highland Council’s website at www.highland.gov.uk/privatesectorhousing.

David Goldie, the Council’s Head of Housing said: The Council is also increasingly working with private landlords. We recognise the important role that they play in providing housing across Highland. We’re also helping more people find and secure private tenancies and helping landlords find tenants.”

Since the Council established its Homeless Prevention Team last year, the team has helped over 230 households get a new private rented home. They have also helped people who were struggling to secure a private let because they could not afford their first month’s rent and the deposit. 40 households received financial support to set up their private tenancy – the majority from the Council’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme. This Scheme provides landlords with a guarantee (instead of a cash deposit) which enables their new tenant to pay the landlord their deposit over the first few months of their tenancy.

The Homeless Prevention Team can also assist landlords to resolve difficulties with existing tenants to help prevent their tenancies from failing. To date it has provided support and assistance to landlords and their tenants to help sustain 52 tenancies.

Summary of the key Private Renting Duties for Landlords

Landlords must be registered with the local authority.
The terms of any tenancy or occupancy agreement must be clear, fair and lawful.
The landlord must use correct legal procedures for seeking possession of the accommodation.
The landlord must keep the accommodation wind and watertight, fit to live in and in good repair.
The property must meet the Repairing Standard at the start of, and at all times through, the tenancy.
Landlords must also keep equipment for supplying water, gas and electricity in good repair, and supply smoke detectors.
Any fixtures, fittings or appliances provided by the landlord must be in a reasonable state of repair and in good working order.
There can be no tenancy charges other than rent and a refundable deposit.
Tenancy deposits must be lodged by the landlord with an approved scheme.
The tenant has a right to enjoy their home in peace.
HMO landlords have additional obligations. They must have an HMO licence and also meet the HMO Licencing management and property standards and conditions throughout the period of their licence.