Council urges landlords to join its Safer Renting scheme

Council urges landlords to join its Safer Renting scheme

0:02 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago 11

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A scheme that aims to improve the quality and safety of rented properties in Weymouth and Portland has been launched by Dorset Council.

The Safer Renting scheme offers landlords tailored advice and information on how to comply with various laws and regulations.

The scheme, which started last year, has already attracted 75% of the landlords who have been contacted by the council.

However, the council is still waiting for the remaining landlords to respond and join the scheme.

‘Helping landlords comply with their legal requirements’

The council’s portfolio holder for adult social care, health and housing, Coun Jane Somper, said: “This front-facing service is helping landlords comply with their legal requirements and improve standards and safety in rented properties.

“It also means we can target those properties which are rented, but where the landlord has not told us about the conditions and can act accordingly.”

She added: “I would appeal to landlords in Weymouth and Portland to complete the online form on our website if they haven’t already done so, to be sure they are complying with the law.”

Invited to join the Safer Renting scheme

Landlords who are invited to join the Safer Renting scheme will receive a letter from the council, asking them to fill out an online form on the council’s website.

The form requires them to verify that they have met some basic legal and safety requirements, such as having a valid Gas Safety certificate, an electrical condition report, and a smoke detector on each floor of the property.

Once the landlords have completed the form, the council will send them a confirmation email and a personalised advice on how to achieve full compliance.

The advice could range from a simple checklist of documents and certificates to more specific guidance based on the information provided by the landlords.

In some cases, the council and the landlord may agree that an inspection of the property is needed to address any issues.

Connects landlords to the council’s popular landlord forum

The Safer Renting scheme also connects landlords to the council’s popular landlord forum, Dorset Landlords, which organises regular meetings and updates landlords on the latest best practices and legal requirements.

The scheme is currently a pilot project in Weymouth and Portland, where there is a high demand for rented properties, but the council plans to expand it to other areas of Dorset in the future.

The council stresses this is a voluntary initiative that aims to work with landlords to help them comply with legislation.

Through initiatives like the Safer Renting scheme and the Dorset Landlords forum, the council says it is working proactively to raise standards and promote best practices in rented properties.


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Cider Drinker

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8:58 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

The council and landlords may well agree an inspection is needed. I trust the tenant gets a say in it too.

Reluctant Landlord

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9:59 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Voluntarily letting the council into one of my properties on the premise THEY are offering me their insight into abiding by housing legislation?

They can't properly look after their own housing standards which are less than the PRS!

Allowing entry to the same body who are underfunded, have powers to enforce and are judge, jury and executioner?

Errrr.....no thanks!

TheMaluka

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11:11 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 21/02/2024 - 09:59Totally agree; never let the council inspect your property without a video recording of the inspection. You will be surprised how few inspections occur when the inspector knows the whole process is being recorded.

Tim Rogers

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11:41 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Can't decide if this is a backdoor to a selective licencing application or a way to avoid such a thing happening.

If you don't have the ability to video, at least always have an independent witness, ideally a chartered surveyor.

Reluctant Landlord

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11:46 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 21/02/2024 - 11:11
the point is I would never let them in voluntarily full stop!

Reluctant Landlord

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11:51 AM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Tim Rogers at 21/02/2024 - 11:41
whatever it is I wouldn't get involved whatsoever. Its never in YOUR interests, despite what they say....

If they are looking at if from a potential SL perspective then that is questionable in itself. The irony is that they don't have to use 'evidence' to show PRS housing 'standards' are not being adhered to to request SL is put in place, as they just need to show that there are ASBO issues or a certain % of an area is private rented or is a 'deprived' area.

Lets face it SL is not about housing standards so a weak argument if they suggest it is...

Snooping for snooping's sake....

TheMaluka

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12:50 PM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 21/02/2024 - 11:46
The threat of a video recording effectively stops all inspections and everybody has a video camera on their phone.

Reluctant Landlord

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17:01 PM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 21/02/2024 - 12:50
The OP is about the LL and Council agreeing to an inspection if it is mooted.
My point is not taking the council up on their 'offer' in the first place!

TheMaluka

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17:16 PM, 21st February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 21/02/2024 - 17:01
Any 'offer' from the Local Council should be resisted, there is always a Poisoned Chalice associated with the offer.

David Houghton

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10:29 AM, 22nd February 2024, About 9 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 21/02/2024 - 09:59
Yep. I recorded an inspection. First the council officer called the police saying he is filming me. No action, then knocked the phone out of my hand.

I made a complaint and the council suddenly dropped the case.

In fairness the bloke left the council and when I saw him in the street he did apologize

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