Signup to the SWLA
Steve Lees (SWLA Chair) attended the Shelter meeting on Monday 5th November 2018 with PATH, CAB, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Homes 4 Let and other representatives from housing related agencies.
Topics discussed included; –
Membership renewal payments of £45.00 are due by today (01/11/2018). Thank you to members who have paid already.
Renewal receipts will be sent by email unless a paper copy has been requested by post.
If you haven’t yet renewed, you can do so by paying a BACs (Bank Transfer) payment to –
Account Name: SWLA Sort Code: 20-68-10 Account Number: 50498610 (remember to include your name and membership number!)
Alternatively, you can send a cheque to SWLA
SWLA, 30 Dale Road, Plymouth, PL4 6PD
Please note, you do not need to return your membership renewal form in the post. By paying your membership fee, you are agreeing to continue the membership terms of your original membership.
All SWLA Memberships are due for renewal as of 1st November 2018.
Thank you to members who have already paid. If sending a BACs/Bank Transfer (£45.00), please remember to include your surname and membership number so that we can send your receipt promptly via email.
Account Name: SWLA
Sort Code: 20-68-10
Account Number: 50498610
You can also renew by sending a cheque to the office; SWLA, 30 Dale Road, Plymouth, PL4 6PD
Do you have a property in Devonport, Ham or St Budeaux electoral wards? (to include Devonport, Keyham, Morice Town, Ham, Weston Mill, Pennycross, North Prospect, Kings Tamerton, St Budeaux, Barne Barton and parts of Stoke and Beacon Park)
To check which ward a property falls into, the postcode can be entered at https://mapit.mysociety.org/ and it will tell you immediately.
Plymouth Energy Community are working with Plymouth City Council to provide free energy saving measures to homeowners and private renting tenants. Everything that they provide is free including;
No means testing. Completely free of charge.
To enquire, call 01752 477117 or email energyteam@plymouthenergycommunity.com
Click the following link for more info; Energy Team – Big Bills Save Money
Landlord Training Course – Inventories
Tuesday 9th October 2018 – 9:30am – 4:30pm at Plymouth Guildhall
If you are accredited this will count towards your CPD hours, but the course is open to all.
Cost for SWLA members – £65. Cost for non-SWLA members – £75.
Inventory Course will cover:-
– How to create a robust Inventory and Schedule of condition
– Mid-term visits – what to look for and record
– Managing the safety paper trail
– Alternatives to taking a deposit
– IT solutions
– Move in
– Move out
– Move out reports
– When is wear and tear a damages claim
– Managing a move out dispute
– Adjudication workshop
Places secured upon receipt of payment, book your place through the office 01752 510913.
To view, please click the following link; Plymouth student guide interactive
https://www.trade-point.co.uk/loyalty#
From 1st October 2018, TradePoint members are eligible to receive flat rate discounts when they spend and swipe their TradePoint membership card. The discount is applicable on practically every product across B&Q and TradePoint.
Spend £250 in a month and you’ll receive 5% discount off your products until the end of the following month.
Spend £1,000 in a month and you’ll receive 10% discount off your products until the end of the following month.
These changes will help make B&Q low prices even lower for loyal members.
***SWLA Members, if you do not have a B&Q Trade Point Card, please contact the office to find out how you can apply***
On Wednesday 5th September, SWLA Office Manager Gillian Kerr attended The West of England Landlord Panel in Bristol. Main subjects covered were HMO licencing and Universal Credit.
Linda Johns (SWLA Committee Member – Policy and Liaison Officer) along with SWLA Vice Chair Iain Maitland attended Plymouth City Council’s Charter Steering Group. They met Plymouth’s new Portfolio Holder- Cabinet Member for Housing; Councillor Penberthy. Discussions were held regarding private rented accommodation within Plymouth and Pledge 33 from the Labour Manifesto. Other items included the plan for preventing homelessness.
Since 1st October 2014 – all letting and managing agents in England must belong to a redress scheme.
There were 3 schemes to choose from;
‘Ombudsman Services’ are ceasing to be a redress scheme for the purpose of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 which requires membership by agents.
Any letting or managing agent in England who belong to the ‘Ombudsman Services’ scheme must join one of the other 2 schemes before 6th August to ensure that they continue to comply with the requirement to belong to a redress scheme.
Agents must remember to prominently display who they are a member of in their office and on their website (if they have one).
For more information please see the ‘Ombudsman Services’ press release;
https://www.ombudsman-services.org/sectors/property
If so, regardless of how many floors the property has, you have until midnight 30th September 2018 to apply for a HMO Licence (if you haven’t done so already).
For further information, please contact your local authority.
United Kingdom Climate Trust works with Government funding to improve the energy efficiency of properties throughout the UK. Since 2014 they have been part of a team which helps over 1500 properties per month. Every six months the Government selects measures to be incorporated into funding, whilst also selecting postcode areas throughout the UK to be given access to funding. If any of the measures available are suitable for a property in a selected post code area, they can be installed at no cost to the occupier or owner of the property.
Once the installations have been completed the property will also receive a funded EPC, that will show the improvement of the energy efficiency of the property.
2000 post codes in the South West have been selected for funding. Please contact United Kingdom Climate Trust on ukct.landlord@gmail.com web – www.ukclimatetrust.uk to check firstly if your property is in a selected post code area and secondly if suitable energy efficiency measures are available.
See www.lasw.co.uk for all the new landlord training courses to take place in October and November 2016.
Book your places now to avoid disappointment. Call 01752 510913 or email info@landlordssouthwest.co.uk.01
We have been contacted by Mr Steve Dyer regarding a business he operates in Cornwall.
He sells clearance/overstocks from High Street and On-line retailers
This includes – furniture from sideboards and bedside cabinets to dining sets and sofas. He also has over 250 mattresses in stock and prices start from £20.
For further information please contact Steve –
BND Furniture, Unit 3 Century House, 28 Kernick Industrial Estate, Penryn., Cornwall TR10 9EP Tel. No. 01326 617470/07966 476535
Landlord Training Course – Thursday 6th October 2016 – 9.30am – 4.30pm
How to get you property back – Repossession
Course will cover :-
Completing Section 21s, completing Form 6A, completing Form 3 (Section 8), abandonment rules and procedures, move out disputes, possession claims online and when to use and court procedues including demonstration of online form completion.
Venue – Astor Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parage, Plymouth PL1 1HA.
Cost for SWLA Members – £65 for full day. Cost for non SWLA Members – £75 for full day.
If you are accredited this course will count towards your CPD hours, but the course is open to all.
Places secured upon receipt of payment, book your place through the office on 01752 510913.
Course will be instructed by Stephen Fowler from Training for Professionals.
Trago Mills are holding an Independence Day Dividend with 20% off everyday lowest prices in most departments. Valid from Thursday 30th June 2016 – Wednesday 6th July 2016.
SWLA Legionella Risk Assessment and the Tenant’s Advice Sheet – Legionnaires Disease, are available for members to download from our stationery page in the member’s area.
Members can complete the risk assessment themselves and keep it alongside their copy of the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement. The Tenants Guide should be given to the tenant(s). There is currently no requirement for members to pay a contractor to complete the assessment.
The HMRC have invited any interested landlords to log into their joint webinar with Companies House to find out more about starting a limited company and directors responsibilities.
To Join – No special equipment is needed, use the link to receive an invitation and connect via the internet or any smart device.
To Ask Questions – use the on-screen textbox and an advisor will send a response.
27th June 10am-11am – HMRC and Compnaies House – Working together for you
For more information go to Companies House on Gov.UK
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1086966574805460738
Proposed area – Falmouth Town Council Urban area- excluding area of the Port and Pendennis Castle.
Members of the public can view the draft schedue on the Cornwall Council’s website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/falmoutharticle4. or any of the One Stop Shops during office hours.
The selective licensing consultation has now closed. A summary of all the responses can be found on www.n-somerset.gov.uk/rented
The next stage in the process is for the council’s executive to make a decision on the proposals. The meeting will take place on 21st June 2016 and the report and background papers for this meeting will be shortly available on North Somerset Council web-site.
Monday 4th July 2016 – 9:15 – 4:30pm
Venue – meeting Room G18, Plumer House, Tailyour Road, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5DH.
Price – £65 for members, £75 for non-members for one day course.
Course covers ASTs, Deposits, Section 21s, Section 8s, HMOs, Gas and Electrical Safety, Inventories and much more.
The course will provide you with all the skills to start, manage and finish a tenancy.
Places still available. Contact the office on 01752 510913 or via the website to book your place.
Over 500 landlords have already completed this course since September 2011.
Course can lead to accreditation.
We are proud to announce Landlord Accreditation South West (LASW) are founder members of the West of England Rental Standar
We have been approached by Alanbrookes Limited, Chartered Accountants advising that this Spring they are running a series of free workshops at the Weston-Super-Mare Offices.
The topics being covered are – Strategy, Structure, Tax, Adapt and Thrive.
For further information please view –
www.alanbrookes.org/propertyworkshops2016
www.alanbrookes.org/landlords
www.alanbrookes.org/new-events-2/
The next meeting of the Association will be held on Tuesday 26th April 2016 at the Future Inn Hotel, Plymouth International Business park, William Prance Road, Plymouth PL6 5ZD at 7.30pm.
Speakers will include :-
Paul Williams – City of Plymouth Credit Union – Credit union facilities for tenants claiming benefits including Universal Credit
Steve Paine – Immigration Officer – Right to Rent legislation and landlord checks
Bromhead Accountants – tax changes affecting landlords
Wine or orange juice will be served during the evening.
We hope to see you there, guests are very welcome.
Please remember to register your car at the hotel reception upon arrival
The consultation period regarding proposals to implement a licensing scheme in part of Weston Super Mare has been re-started from Friday 18th March 2016 giving further opportunity to respond.
The consultation will last for a further 10 weeks until 11pm on 30th May 2016.
If you have not had your say please follow the link at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/rented or alternatively you can search on the site using the words “selective licensing”.
Paper copies of the proposals are available in the Town Hall, Walliscote Grove Road, Weston-Super-Mare.
Rogue landlords who harass or illegally evict tenants are the subject of a new crackdown in Plymouth. Plymouth City Council is working in partnership with PATH (Plymouth Access to Housing) who have appointed a dedicated Tenancy Relations Officer to tackle these issues. The project involves the investigation of allegations of illegal eviction and harassment by landlords, and will see thorough enforcement action being taken against any landlord found to be flouting the law.
South West Landlords Association (SWLA) and Devon and Cornwall Police are partners in this initiative.
Illegal eviction, including a landlord or their agent physically denying a tenant access to their accommodation or taking a tenant’s key from them, is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. Harassment of a tenant, including withdrawal of utilities, entering accommodation without informing the tenant and constantly contacting a tenant is a criminal offence under the same Act. Both offences carry the posibility of a custodial sentence. Councillor, Chris Penberthy Cabinet Minister for Coperatives and Housing for Plymouth City Council said “We are pleased to work with PATH on this important project and the officer is making great inroads into this sensitive area so far. The initiative forms part of our Plan for Private Rented Housing and our aim to drive up standards in the private rented sector. There are many excellent landlords in the private rented sector but we want to send a clear message that we will not tolerate the harassment or illegal eviction of tenants here in Plymouth. Tenants deserve to live happily and safely in their chosen home just as much as anyone else and we are working with our partners to ensure this happens”.