Charnwood Borough Council Extranets - Landlord Services

Charwood Borough Council is launching a new Landlords Surgery. The aim of the surgery is to provide a regular arena for landlords to keep up to date with current legislation and to exchange their experiences. The surgery will be held at the Council offices and will open its' doors on November 24th at 4pm. See below for more dates:

November 24th 2008 4-6pm
February 16th 2009 4-6pm
June 22nd 2009 4-6pm
October 26th 2009 4-6pm

Refreshments will be provided. If you require further information or have any issue you would like to discuss, please e-mail us in advance at landlordservices@charnwood.gov.uk and we will ensure we have the relevant information available at the next meeting

Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for private rented sector homes will become mandatory for all new private rented tenancies from 1st October 2008 (Tenancies that commenced before 1st October 2008 will not be effected). These certificates are designed to let prospective tenants know about the energy efficiency of a house and its likely running costs. Energy Performance Certificates can only be given by Accredited Domestic Energy Assessors and will last for ten years. If a home is improved in this time a certificate will have to be replaced rather than updated.
NOTE: Where individual rooms in a building are rented out and there are shared facilities (e.g kitchen and/or bathroom), an EPC is not required. An EPC is only required for a habitable unit if it is self-contained.

For more information about EPCs click on the title above, or call the EPC Helpline on 0845 365 2468.

To find an assessor in your area please follow the link below:
https://www.hcrregister.com/searchAssessor.html

The Health and Safety (HSE) today announced that it has selected Capita as its preferred bidder to run the new registration scheme for gas installers from 1 April 2009.
The main differences between the bid from Capita and CORGI the other bidder lay in their approaches to introducing innovation to the scheme, promoting gas safety and a new brand, delivering efficiencies and the continuous improvement required.
The new scheme aims to improve gas safety, and bring enhanced benefits to gas consumers and installers across Great Britain. Click on the title for more information.

A Loughborough Landlord who allowed 11 people to live in a three-storey terrace property without holding a House in Multiple Occupation Licence has been fined £10,000 following a successful prosecution by Charnwood Borough Council, under legislation that was introduced in April 2006 to tackle poor standards in this type of property .

The landlord, Mr Mohammed Chowdhury, was also ordered to pay £1,015 in costs when he appeared before Loughborough Magistrates Court on Monday, June 16.

The court heard that the property, a three-story Victorian terrace in Toothill Road, Loughborough, was occupied by nine adults and two children and that Mr Chowdhury should have applied for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licence.

Magistrates were told that the Housing Act 2004 states that a property with three or more storeys, occupied by five people or more, forming two or more households requires a HMO Licence.

Cllr David Slater, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Housing and Health, said: “This case sends out a clear message to landlords that they must make sure they comply with the law.

“We will take robust enforcement action against all landlords who ignore licensing as HMO properties pose the most significant health and safety risks to tenants. They have no excuse as this legislation has been widely publicised locally and nationally. My advice to owners is to apply for a licence now or be prepared to face the consequences.”

Since the legislation was introduced, Charnwood Borough Council has received more than 250 applications for a HMO Licence.

The Council will continue to take action against landlords who fail to apply for a licence and are encouraging people who believe they may be living in or near an unlicensed HMO to contact the Private Sector Housing Team on (01509) 634 653 for advice and assistance.

Cllr Slater added: “Landlords will be given the opportunity to legalise the use of such properties under the Housing Act. However, the Council will seek prosecutions where illegal use persists.”

To find out more about HMO Licences or to download an application form - please follow the landlord information link below.