Improving Standards in the Private Rented Sector

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Improving Standards in the Private Rented Sector

• Katie Buckingham and Jennifer Watkins
• Private Rented Services
• City of Edinburgh Council

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Introduction

• Recent changes in PRS
• - HMO licensing
• - Landlord Accreditation
• - Landlord Registration
• - Repairing Standard
• City of Edinburgh Councils approach

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Background to HMO Licensing

• HMOs provide affordable accommodation
• Mandatory legislation introduced to licence HMOs
  in 2000.
• Definition 3 or more unrelated people who share
  facilities.
• Only or principal residence.

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Profile of HMO accommodation - 2006/7

• EDINBURGH
• 4767 HMOs
• 38 Scottish HMOs
• 2.2 households
• 417 properties owned/managed by Universities
• Current numbers approx. 5,500 HMOs and
  26,000 tenants

• SCOTLAND
• 12582 HMOs
• 0.5 of households

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The HMO Licensing Regime

• Essentially concerned with
• Physical property standards
• Tenancy management standards
• Has resulted in
• Significant increase in safety repair of
  properties.
• Mechanism for tenants and neighbours to have
  concerns investigated.
• Licence Conditions

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Benchmark Standards

• Fire Safety detection / escape / preventing
  spread / risk assessment
• Controlling overcrowding space standards room
  sizes vs. number of occupants / activity
  storage space
• Lighting ventilation requirements
• Heating space heating in living bedrooms
• Sanitary facilities sufficient for numbers
• Gas Electrical Safety visual certification
  checks
• Kitchens food storage / prep / cooking
  facilities
• Noise Reduction insulation / flooring / door
  closers

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Complaints in Edinburgh 2007/8
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Landlord Accreditation

• One of 4 pilot schemes established in 2005
• Recognise good practice
• Voluntary scheme based on Code of Standards
• Now has 360 members (100 letting agents) covering
  a third of rental properties in Edinburgh
• Self-declaration from landlord followed by
  audit checks
• Incentives for landlords

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Landlord Accreditation

• ELA now has 360 members (100 letting agents)
  covering a third of rental properties in
  Edinburgh
• Partnership approach and project board
• Incentives for landlords

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Landlord Accreditation Scotland

• National scheme launched April 2008
• New standards based on experience of the pilots
• Wider opportunity to become accredited

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Landlord Registration

• Introduced by the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland)
  Act 2006.
• Aims to ensure all private landlords are Fit and
  Proper.
• All landlords need to register with the local
  authority.
• Tenants can check if landlord registered
• www.landlordregistrationscotland.gov.uk
• Landlord can be deregistered.

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Housing (Scotland) Act 2006

• Key changes for tenants
• Tolerable Standard
• Repairing Standard (September 07)
• Right to Adapt Rented Houses
• Tenancy Deposits
• HMO
• Mobile Homes

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Repairing Standard

• Implemented September 2007
• Extends landlord obligations
• Private Rented Housing Panel makes it easier for
  tenants to enforce

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The Edinburgh Approach

• Why we want to work with the sector
• Advice and Information Services
• Private Sector Leasing

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Why work with the private rented sector?

• Main Source of supply
• High turnover
• Opportunities to improve standards
• Accessible almost immediately
• Provides a wide range of property types
• Located in areas where people want to live

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What housing is available?
Total properties 225,000
No of properties
No available per year
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City of Edinburgh Council approach

• Letwise - established in early 2005
• Rationale of supporting the private rented market
  
• Advice, information and guidance for private
  landlords and tenants
• Main products training sessions, Inside Letting
  Magazine, written resources and helpline

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Provision of services for landlords

• Free quarterly training programme
• Quarterly magazine
• Guides and Resources

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Helpline advice and information

• 8500 enquiries per annum
• Assisting in resolving tenancy problems
• Outlining options
• Improving access to the private rented market

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Profile Raising

• Hosting of Responsible Renting Events
• - Over 400 landlords attended Edinburgh Landlord
  Day
• Training through Edinburgh Housing Advice Network
  to housing advisors across Edinburgh.

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Private Sector Leasing

• Making use of the private sector to house
  homeless
• Offering rent and property guarantee to private
  landlords
• Currently 1300 private properties used to house
  homeless people

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Summary

• Increasing volume of regulation in the sector
• Increasing reliance on private rented sector as
  housing option makes working with the sector a
  priority for Edinburgh
• Committed to ensuring it is a safe well managed
  option for Edinburghs residents

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Contact details

• katie.buckingham_at_edinburgh.gov.uk
• Jennifer.watkins_at_edinburgh.gov.uk
• www.edinburgh.gov.uk/letwise