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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Buy to let ‘just an extension of social housing’ claims council

A council is launching a Private Tenants Charter which it says will set standards for landlords and private rental sector organisations to help all residents know what they can expect from their landlord.

Oldham council’s charter has eight core values including commitments to making sure homes are safe and of a quality living standard, being transparent and approachable and - in the words of the local authority - acknowledging that the private rental sector is an extension of the social housing sector.

The charter says private landlords “therefore should offer the same security, standards and experience as living in social housing.”

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Councillor Hannah Roberts, the housing spokesperson on the council, says: “The vast majority of our private landlords rent out decent properties and look after their tenants.  Unfortunately, there is still a small number who fail to provide decent housing.”

The council also has a new Selective licensing scheme which it has launched in parallel with the charter. 

Robert says: “[The charter] has been signed by a number of organisations and agencies who are committed supporting private tenants and landlords to ensure they have a positive renting experience in Oldham. 

“We are living in difficult times, and we want tenants, especially those renting privately, to know exactly what their rights are so we can help to protect them. 

“We would call on more landlords and advice and support agencies to sign up and show they put tenants first and people before profits.” 

The council claims that a public consultation on the new Selective scheme showed that 74 per cent of resident and business respondents thought the council should have more control over the way landlords manage their properties, and 58 per cent of residents and businesses thought that selective licensing would improve their area.

The council has not given information on the level of response to the consultation.

 

Roberts concludes: ”Oldham council is committed to making sure residents across Oldham live in safe homes that are managed properly. 

“The Selective Licensing Scheme and Private Tenants Charter will give us and our residents more power to ensure landlords are acting responsibly. Those who fail to do so will face action from the council.” 

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    Selective Licensing = Higher rents.

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    Sorry but I won't reduce my standards to match social housing!

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    You beat me to that one Robert, do they really want us to reduce our standards to that of their social housing ?

     
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    No one has successfully explained to me how licensing helps improve the standard of properties. The only benefit is to let the council know about the property. It adds to the cost of housing for no good Identifiable benefit. Contrary to the myth that licensing increases the income of the council the opposite, the cost to the council in administering the licensing scheme is usually far more than the license fee such is the inefficiency of council’s. It creates a massive distraction for housing officers in that it takes so much time to administer the licensing schemes.I take scant comfort in the fact that licensing is the beast devours its creator.
    Jim Haliburton
    The HMO Daddy

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    Jim, can only agree only in part of course they are raking in millions from the Schemes it is reported one London Borough is going to take in £20m. (that’s a £20m hit for PRS in that one Borough) That can’t be justified by Administration costs when they have increased the fee by £850. while increased number of LL’s getting roped in. Landlords Administration costs are far higher but we have to absorb all those costs and actually comply, then pay their costs just to sit there where they have everything is a Digitalised Program on computer and virtually no Administration to do just press a button or look at it they must be exhausted. I recognised some parts of the Country are more fortunate with higher returns and lower licensing fees if indeed exists.

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    If councils think that private LL are not suppling proper housing, why don't they buy more houses to rent out?

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    Ok, if I am an extension of social housing then come 2025 I can take comfort that my properties will not be subject to a minimum EPC of C then ?

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    Michael I totally agree with you! If you or I were operating a licensing scheme we would be able to do it at a fraction of the cost it takes the Council to do the work. I used to have a lot of dealings with my local councils and they say that to produce a license takes over 40 hours split between office worker/ administrative and housing standards who have to inspect the property. Imagine how much time is spent talking to landlords and explaining to landlords how to fill in the forms . Then on top you have management which in councils can go three or four layers. Add to the management costs, sick pay, holidays, cost of running their buildings, travel allowance then someone on minimum wage costs over £40 an hour.

    Appreciate the licensing fees should only cover the cost of producing the license not any enforcement.

    I would guess if they charge anything less than £3000 it is costing the council to license a property. You can begin to understand me taking faint pleasure that licensing is the beast that devours its creator. When speaking to housing officers they will often tell me that the administration of the license scheme distracts them or even prevents them from their inspection and enforcement duties. I predict in the future private companies will come in and do the licensing for councils and maybe even the enforcement.
    Jim Haliburton
    The HMO Daddy

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    I can see your point Jim, but if it is farmed out to the private sector then we know which way the price will go, my area doesn’t have it yet but I am planning on being sold up before it comes in.

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    Jim, I think its all about the money and they a making a fortune out of it, all the while complaining about high rents that they are forcing up with all the additional Regulation’s and costs. How are LL’s supposed to cope with all this Technology we are LL’s in the main who supply good quality housing in the main. I didn’t go to Oxford, Cambridge, Eton or Harrow but know housing back the front and every aspect of it. Do they ? well not a hope just a load of bull sugar and there lies the problem. Now I suspect they can’t run the monster they created like a West London Borough. I now see another Company have set themselves up to support Council’s as they say and make another killing at our expense, they call themselves practitioners that understand the complexities to drive up standards with highly effective technologies to continuously support local Authorities. Is that my enough to open peoples eyes, they are all at it carving out soft targets to live off LL’s backs. Who have we got to support us apart from no one, Its a total stitch up.
    Why are Councils using meta- street to host their website does this mean they made a mess of it themselves and now sub-letting that aspect of it for them to take further fortunes from us on the back of their incompetence. They are all very smart are they not with their scams but we know more about housing than they ever will just spoilers. How many more coming out of the wood work.

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