Private Sector Landlords Forum
Minutes of meeting 23.10.14
Wilnecote Village Hall
Present: C Onion, C Small, J Vernon, A Garratt, S Hannant, T Elson, G Love, J James, M Smale, J Philips, W Smith, A Parr, I Beattie, E Lyons White, A White, R Neild, A Knight, R Watson, S King, P Humpherson, D Wortley, E Harris, M Bygrave,
Apologies: N O’Mara, M Bullock, A Lawrence, J Davies, I Wood
Notes / Action1. / Welcome and Introductions
E Harris opened the meeting and ran through housekeeping rules.
All introduced themselves
2. / Minutes from last meeting
All agreed these were true and correct
3. / Issuing Section 8s
S Kingand P Humpherson from Pickering’s Solicitors gave an informative presentation to landlords about ensuring section 8 Notices are issued correctly
The presentation was followed by a question and answer session by the landlords covering issues such as using Section 21 rather than 8 and the process of recovering your property following an abandonment and where a tenant goes into prison. / To put presentation on website
4. / Rugby’s experience of Universal Credit
D Wortley, Benefits Manager at Rugby Borough Council, gave a presentation on their experience of Universal Credit as one of the pilot areas. This included what Landlords can do where a tenant goes into arrears and support available to those struggling to budget.
A question and answer session followed where D Wortley advised that Councils will still hold budgets for Discretionary Housing Payments and that there will be a National roll out of Universal Credit for single people in February 2015 with guidance due to be put out soon.
E Harris asked how the housing element of Universal Credit was calculated and D Wortley advised it is based on Local Housing Allowance rates as usual. E Harris took this opportunity to advise landlords to work co-operatively with the Valuation Office as this has a direct impact on LHA rates in the borough / To put presentation on website
5. / Open Forum
M Bygrave advised that as of 01/10/14 Lettings Agents and Property Managers must join one of three Redress Schemes with a fine of up to £5000 if not. R Watson advised that TBC would be working with Landlords and promoting the legislation before looking at taking any enforcement action.
M Bygrave advised that the Immigration Act comes into force on 01/12/14 and that this has an implication for Landlords and Agents to check the immigration status of prospective tenants. It was suggested that the issue of how to verify ID and immigration documents could be a topic for a future forum.
M Bygrave advised that information on the above legislation can be found at searching for either ‘Redress Scheme’ or ‘Immigration Act’
M Bygrave advised that there is now a model Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement on the NLA site
M Bygrave advised that the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act came into force on 21/10/14 which includes criteria that landlords may be able to use to evict tenants on the grounds of ASB.
A question was raised about landlords’ responsibility towards Legionella. R Watson advised landlords to consider where the risks might be in their properties and that lots of specific information is available on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website. M Bygrave advised that there was also advice on the NLA website. It was suggested that this could be a topic for a future forum
A question was raised about whether Electrical Safety Certificates were going to become mandatory. R Watson advised that there are no legal regulations but landlords need to show due diligence.
M Bygrave advised that Leicester Fire Service have started charging landlords of properties where there are repeat callouts to the Fire Service. / AK to attach link to minutes
6. / AOB
E Harris asked if anyone had suggestions for future presentations. Rent protection Insurance and Liability Insurance for Landlords were agreed as future topics.
E Harris advised that the consultation with landlords regarding merging the forum with Lichfield had produced a mixed response so instead the proposal is to hold 2 separate forums a year and 2 joint forums.
All agreed to trial the new format.
A Knight advised that the current proposal is for January’s forum to be Tamworth only and held in Tamworth, April’s forum to be joint with Lichfield and held in Tamworth, July’s forum to be Tamworth only and held in Tamworth and October’s forum to be joint with Lichfield and held in Lichfield. Advised that this is to be confirmed and we will email out to all landlords / MB to arrange guest speaker
CK to confirm
Date and Time of Next Meeting - Proposed date of Thursday 29th January, likely to be the same venue and the same time. To be confirmed. / CK to confirm
Landlord Immigration checks
And:
Lettings Agents/Property Manager Redress Scheme