Signup to the SWLA
If your tenant is struggling with their finances or benefit claim, you can direct them to Shelter for help. Shelter are opening their Information Resource Centre in Ernest English House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth in December 2018. There will be 2 computers and a phone line, with a full-time member of staff dedicated to helping your tenants with guided self-help. Guidance will be for benefit claims, housing applications, job searches, Shelter ‘get help’ pages and other related assistance. The member of staff who will be running this service is called Rachel Hembury. The Information Resource Centre can be accessed Monday to Friday 9.30-12.30 and 13.30-15.30, no appointment is necessary.
SWLA Chair Steve Lees, Vice Chair Iain Maitland and Policy Officer Linda Johns met with Matt Garrett (Head of Community Connections PCC) and Councillor Chris Penberthy at the SWLA Office to discuss the following items;
Wednesday 12th December 3pm – 6pm
Come and join SWLA staff, committee and members for a mince pie and a drink. All members welcome.
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
Wednesday 17th October 2018 – Future Inn Hotel, William Prance Road, Plymouth – 7.30pm
Speakers will include:-
Emma Rose, Plymouth City Council
An update on Universal Credit, with Q&A to include Housing Benefit & Council Tax questions
Jeremy Wood, Excaliber Insurance
‘The perils of being under-insured’ including loss of rent vs rent guarantee
Richard Green, Trading Standards
‘The role of Trading Standards in Private Renting’
Wine & 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.
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
New HMO licencing – 5 persons or more sharing – New legislation begins on 1st October 2018.
Only 5 days to go to get your applications in to the local authority where an early bird discount may be applicable.
Vice Chairman, Iain Maitland attended the launch of the Property Agent Rating Scheme for Teignbridge on Wednesday 19th September 2018.
19 agents were awarded ratings from bronze to platinum.
Thursday 8th November 2018 – 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 700 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.
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.
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.
Cost for SWLA members – £65. Cost for non-SWLA members – £75.
Inventory Course will cover:-
This course is key for those newer to lettings or for those who recognise their inventory paperwork could be better or for those looking for fresh solutions.
Places secured upon receipt of payment, book your place through the office 01752 510913.
Venue – Charter 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 680 landlords have already completed this course since September 2011.
Course can lead to Accreditation, if required.
The Government have published another updated version of the guide ‘How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England’. The document was updated on 6th July 2018 and published on 9th July 2018. This was following the previous update on 26th June 2018.
When you provide the ‘How to Rent’ guide, print it straight from the gov.uk website to ensure that you give your new or renewing tenant the most up to date guide;
Unfortunately, due to the constraints of GDPR and having taken legal advice we are no longer able to operate a form 77 service.
We apologise to all form of contributors and thank them for their past submissions.
The government has published a ‘How to Let’ guide for landlords. It’s a great guide to read through to ensure that you have carried out all of your landlord responsibilities.
Please note. The booklet does not cover leasehold, holiday lets or resident landlords who let to lodgers.