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View Plymouth City Council’s joint local plan for future student accommodation in Plymouth and South West Devon including population, supply and demand, planning applications, HMOs and council tax data.
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/PlymouthStudentAccommodation.pdf
Some consultants and letting agents are using the revised L8 Approved Code of Practice to suggest that new legislation has been imposed on landlords of domestic rented properties for managing and controlling the risks of exposure to Legionella bacteria of their tenants. This is wrong, the legislation has not changed and misinformation/misinterpretation can impose unnecessary financial burdens on landlords where they are being charged for Legionella testing and certificates they don’t actually need.
There is a legal duty for landlords to assess and control the risk of exposure to Legionella bacteria, but Health and Safety law does not require landlords to produce or obtain, nor does HSE recognise a ‘Legionnaires testing certificate’. Legionella testing or sampling is generally not required in domestic hot and cold water systems and then only in exceptional circumstances.
The law is clear that if you are a landlord and rent out your property (or even a room within your own home) then you have legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of your tenant by keeping the property safe and free from health hazards.
For more information, please see the HSE website;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/legionella-landlords-responsibilities.htm
http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/faqs.htm
Thank you to Neil Hoppitt at The Bateman Group (http://www.bateman-group.co.uk/) for the above article from HSE.
From 30th September 2017 new lending rules* come into play which mean lenders will be required to adopt a specialist underwriting approach for Portfolio Landlords. A Portfolio Landlord will be any landlord who owns four or more mortgaged Buy-To-Let (BTL) properties.
One of the reasons behind the new process is that the PRA has found that the rate of arrears increases as a landlord’s BTL property portfolio increases.
The PRA does not prescribe exact requirements but provides guidance, which includes:
Impact on Landlords
Lenders will likely request income and mortgage details on all properties in a BTL portfolio every time they refinance one, or purchase a new property. This contrasts with most lenders current policy of assessing a buy-to-let mortgage application based on the rental income and value of just the property they are lending against. This will cause problems for landlords when refinancing a property in a portfolio which is performing well but the application is affected by another property that is underperforming.
These changes will likely cause a large increase in work for lenders with a longer and more complex underwriting process. This may lead to some lenders pulling out of this area of the market meaning less competition, or increasing application fees and/or interest rates.
Some lenders will bring these changes in ahead of the deadline but will honour applications accepted prior to their chosen inception date. Those who will be classed as Portfolio Landlords and are able to refinance before the changes are implemented may benefit from reviewing their mortgages now.
Bridging loans, holiday lets, property commercial lending, and corporate lending are exempt from the changes.
*Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) Supervisory Statement 13/16 Underwriting Standards for buy-to-let mortgage contracts.
SWLA have been requested by Plymouth City Council to circulate the following.
Since the introduction of alternative weekly collections some problems have arisen regarding recycling facilities.
Please make contact with Plymouth City Council if your property has a) no recycling facility, b) insufficient recycling facilities.
“You and your residents would of course see benefits from our involvement as the increase in recycling rates would place less strain on general waste containers causing less waste related issues such as contamination, excess waste etc.”
For further information contact the Recycling Officer – anthony.boutwood@plymouth.gov.uk
Representatives of SWLA attend regular D & C Police briefings on modern slavery.
If you substitute the word ‘exploitation’ for ‘slavery’ it is easier to understand the scale and complexity of the subject.
Todays slavery is more likely to take the form of trafficked people, having paid for UK entry, with identity papers removed and being forced to work for little or no money. These people are often living in chronically overcrowded conditions with few if any amenities.
If you suspect a case of ‘Modern Slavery’ contact the police on 101 or the modern slavery help line on 0800 121 1700.
On Thursday 10th August the Chairman and V/Chairman had a meeting with Joe Roberts, Private Sector Housing Manager, Economic Growth and Development, Cornwall Council at SWLA offices to discuss the private rented sector strategy in Cornwall.
The Think CO workshop was attended by Chairman and V/Chairman, it was a Gas Safe Charity presentation raising the awareness of symptoms and actions to be taken. Further details can be obtained from the office if required.
The new Trago Build Centre is now open at Trago Newton Abbot!
● PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITY (2,088m²/ 22,475ft² PLUS EXTERNAL STOCK YARD)
● TOP BRANDS
● TRAGO EVERYDAY LOWEST PRICES
● USE YOUR T2B CARD FOR ALL PURCHASES (SOME ITEMS EXCLUDED FROM DISCOUNT)
● DEDICATED PARKING AREA FOR LOADING
● EXTENDED OPENING HOURS
● STAFF ON SITE TO ASSIST WITH QUERIES/SORTING ORDERS
If you are a SWLA member and have not yet applied for your ‘Trago 2 Business’ discount card, please contact the SWLA office and we will send you the instructions on how to apply.
Making tax digital was announced by Chancellor Osbourne in the 2015 Autumn Statement with the aim to digitise the tax system for the self employed and small businesses (including landlords).
The snap election delayed MTD’s implementation and enabled further consultation on the controversial plans.
The new Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mel Stride MP announced changes to MTD on 13th July.
These changes are:
This will ensure that there is time to test the system fully and for digital record keeping to become more widespread.
Thank you to all of our members who attended the SWLA open office afternoon on Wednesday. It was lovely to catch up with everybody and enjoy a cream tea!
Congratulations to Greg Yates who won the bottle of champagne, kindly donated by Ken and Brenda at Sam’s Accommodation.
Our next open office event will be in December, details will be confirmed nearer the time.
Thursday 26th October 2017 – 9:30 – 4:30pm
Venue – Astor Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
Price – £65 for members of SWLA, £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, places secured on receipt of payment.
Over 600 landlords have already completed this course since September 2011.
Course can lead to Accreditation, if required.
We are proud to announce Landlord Accreditation South West (LASW) are founder members of the West of England Rental Standard.
Monday 9th October 2017
Venue – Astor Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
If you are accredited this will count towards your CPD hours, but the course is open to all.
Cost for SWLA members – £35 per half day or £65 for both courses.
Cost for non-SWLA members – £40 per half day or £75 for both courses.
First Session – 9:30 – 12:30 – Repossession Procedures
Second Session – 13:30 – 16:30 – Important items of compliance and other safety related management issues including
Places secured upon receipt of payment, book your place through the office 01752 510913.
Thursday 17th August 2017 – 9:30 – 1pm
Venue- Charter Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
If you are accredited this will count towards your CPD hours, but the course is open to all.
There is no charge for this course. There are limited spaces so book early to avoid disappointment.
Part 1 – Mine2Manage – Inventories
Mine2manage – easy to use software.
It has the following functions:
Tenant communicator via web and App. No more late-night phone calls from tenants.
Unlimited documents storage and sharing via the cloud.
Rent reminders and profit/loss reports. Can be exported and sent to your accountants.
Track maintenance issues.
Easily created inventories, periodic inspections and check-outs.
Part 2 – NAPIT – National Association of Inspectors and Testers
Testing of electrical installations WILL become mandatory during this Parliament. Take this opportunity to see what is required.
Points to be discussed are; incoming supplies, by passing meters, fuse boards old and new, earthing arrangements, circuit breakers, ring mains – general issues, PAT testing and the general requirements, electrical installation condition reports and the home safety guidance document.
Some funding is available to upgrade Oil/LPG boilers or electric storage heaters through the Government backed, energy company funded ECO scheme.
All of the following may be eligible for funding. Electric storage heaters/loft insulation/oil and LPG boilers/cavity wall insulation/attic room insulation.
Funding is means tested/tenants on benefits.
For further information call 0800 644 5000 or visit www.energy-alliance.co.uk quoting SWLA.
A FEW PLACES REMAINING – Don’t Miss Out
Thursday 6th July 2017 – 9:30 – 4:30pm
Venue – Astor Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
Price – £65 for members of SWLA, £75 for non-members for one day course.
For further details see the Landlord Training area of the website or call the office on 01752 510913.
The following advice has been received from Bateman Group (Landlord Insure UK) who are specialists in providing insurance and financial advice.
Action Fraud have recently received a number of reports from members of the public who have responded to written posts, pages, pictures and adverts on social media platforms offering varying types of insurance cover at desirable prices.
However, once money has been transferred to the fraudsters posing as insurance brokers, a number of consequences have been reported.
In some cases, contact has been severed with the victim altogether and there is no further communication. In other cases, insurance has initially been purchased on behalf of the victim only to be immediately cancelled with the insurer; this means that bogus insurance brokers can forward voided paperwork or email concerning insurance cover to the unsuspecting victim and pocket any refunded insurance fees.
The Devon and Cornwall police offered members of the public the following advice:
Please see the ‘SWLA Insurance’ section of our website if you would like a free no obligation quote from either of our preferred insurance brokers. Anyone is welcome to obtain a quote but there are exclusive discounts for SWLA members.
The Housing and Planning Act 2016 has given councils new powers to deal with rogue landlords. These include Rent Repayment Orders and Civil Penalty Notices. The Government has defined a ‘rogue landlord’ as ‘a landlord who knowingly flouts their obligations by renting out unsafe and substandard accommodation to tenants’.
The Department for Communities and Local Government have issued statutory guidance that the Council must take into account before using these powers. Bristol Council have considered this guidance and, as a result, they are going to change the way they do some things in order to use the new powers as effectively as possible. Before they make the changes they want to seek the views from all interested parties, including landlords, agents and tenants.
You can complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BristolCPNsRROs. The survey will remain open until midnight on 7th July 2017.
The Council are reviewing the Additional HMO Licensing scheme in Bath and want to know what landlords think.
Please take 5 minutes to complete the short survey and help influence future Council decisions on HMO licensing.
Visit – www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/baneslandlord
Following SWLAs day at Bristol Landlords EXPO, we have received a request from Ashley Community Housing for landlords in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset to contact them should they have empty property they wished to lease.
Further details of the scheme can be viewed on www.ashleyhousing.com or email them – info@ashleyhousing.com.
If you are receiving income from property, you can find out about the different types of income, allowable expenses and all of your landlord responsibilities to HMRC.
You can watch live and interact on Friday 9th June 9am – 10am by clicking here and registering;
https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/8703658559873639681?source=Jun-Partner-campaign
If you miss out you can watch the recording here;
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/1901519977483118083
For further reading you can look through the HMRC Letting Out Property guide;
The Chairman and Vice Chairman met at SWLA offices with Steve Ricketts and Matt Garrett for a quarterly meeting.
Subjects on the agenda included
Training venue for accreditation courses.
HMO licensing (New mandatory licensing under the 2016 Planning Bill).
Landlord accreditation.
Plymouth University.
Parking Permits – essential worker replaced by business parking permit for Plymouth.
From 8 May 2017, Plymouth City Council are changing bin collections so that brown bins and bags – or normal household rubbish – will be picked up one week and the green bins and bags – or recycling – will be picked up the next.
The changes will lead to an increase in recycling rates, a more efficient service and a renewed sense of enthusiasm for Plymouth becoming a cleaner and greener city.
Residents will have received letters which set out what weeks their brown and green bins and bags will be collected as well as their garden waste collection, which from 8 May 2017 run on a separate round.
To help make the new system a success, residents are being asked to:
For more information and to check your bin day, please use the following link;
http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/binsrecyclingandwaste/checkyourbinday
You can also check the FAQs which includes some great hints and tips to read though in case your tenants have any questions;
Open Office – Wednesday 12th July 2017 3.00pm – 6.00pm
Come along and catch up with the office staff, committee members and other SWLA members.
More than half of the Finance Bill has been put on hold until after the general election which is taking place on 8th June 2017.
Among other clauses, the Government have decided to delay the legislation for digitising the tax system. The new system will require small businesses, self employed workers and Landlords to send quarterly digital tax records to HM Revenue and Customs (using a smartphone or computer).
The Government will legislate for the postponed measures at the earliest opportunity at the start of the next parliament.
Article abridged from an article in the Financial Times.
https://www.ft.com/content/b53a5ba6-29c4-11e7-bc4b-5528796fe35c