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Rother District Council
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Private Sector HousingThe Private Sector Housing Team offers a service to the community in relation to private sector housing as well as undertaking a number of duties prescribed by law. This is done in a number of ways through inspection, licensing, advice, provision of grants, and enforcement. The main service areas we cover are; Discretionary Financial Assistance Small works grants (£250 - £500) for essential repairs may be available to owner occupiers aged over 70 on low incomes. Please contact Private Sector Housing on 01424 787565 or privatesectorhousing@rother.gov.uk A range of discretionary funded assistance measures are listed in our Private Sector Housing Renewal Strategy (page 17, link on the right). Unfortunately, we do not have the financial resources to fund these measures and we are currently unable to accept any new requests for discretionary financial assistance except for small works grants. If you need financial assistance towards repairs/improvements please contact Parity Trust www.paritytrust.org.uk (02392 375921) and they may be able to help you (subject to eligibility). Parity Trust is an ethical, socially responsible community development finance institution and they work with all the district and borough councils in East Sussex. Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grants The Council is responsible for administering Disabled Facilities Grants. A grant may be available for a range of work that will help a disabled person to fund adaptations to their home and enable them to live as independently as possible.
Complaints about your living conditions - rented accommodation Do you live in privately rented accommodation and are you are concerned about the condition of the property (e.g. damp, disrepair, heating etc.)? In first instance you should notify your landlord or managing agent about your concerns (preferably in writing and keep a record). If the landlord fails to respond or does not arrange for the matter to be resolved within a reasonable time period you can contact the private sector housing team and make a formal complaint (privatesectorhousing@rother.gov.uk or call 01424 787565). We will work with your landlord and try to resolve your complaint; in certain circumstances we may take enforcement action. Pitfalls of renting out a home (March 2009) - a guide for owners The housing market has stalled and mortgages are difficult to come by because of the credit crunch. This makes selling a home very difficult. To help meet financial commitments, many homeowners are looking to rent out their home. When owners do their sums, they often look at the rent they could charge and whether it would cover the mortgage costs. However, many owners fail to appreciate the responsibilities they take on by becoming a private landlord. If you are thinking about renting out your home in England or Wales, this simple guide will help you avoid some of the common pitfalls of private renting
Landlords' responsibilities for Gas Safety. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 place specific duties on landlords for the maintenance and repair of gas appliances, pipe work and flues in domestic rented accommodation; to have appliances and flues checked annually for safety and to provide information about these checks to tenants. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the enforcing body for gas safety. Keep up to date with your responsibilities by clicking here for specific information available on the HSE website...http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords/index.htm Private Sector Housing Stock Condition Survey 2007 A comprehensive stock condition survey was undertaken in 2007. The final report and an executive summary can be viewed via the following links:
An East Sussex regional stock condition survey (October 2008) is also available via the following link:
Landlord Handbook The ANUK/LACORS Landlord Handbook replaces and updates the ANUK/IDeA Model Landlord Development Manual that was issued in 2007 (now withdrawn). The handbook contains the basic level of knowledge required for a landlord and can provide the basis for professional development and training within the landlord community.
Housing Act 2004 The Housing Act 2004 covers a number of parts including;
The Housing Act 2004 - Full text available at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/20040034.htm The Residential Property Tribunal Service is the public body that can decide many Rent and Leasehold disputes. http://www.justice.gov.uk/forms/hmcts/residential-property
Fire Safety Guidance
New national guidance on fire safety in residential accommodation was formally launched at an event at Local Government House in London on Wednesday 23 July 2008. The guidance has been developed by LACORS in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA). Officials in Communities and Local Government (CLG) have also provided considerable technical support and the guidance contains a foreword from the Fire and Housing Ministers in CLG. The guidance will apply nationally and covers certain existing residential accommodation including single family dwellings, shared houses, bedsits and flats. It is not aimed at new housing built to modern Building Regulations. The guidance adopts a risk based approach to fire safety that will satisfy both the Housing Act 2004 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It includes guidance to landlords on how to carry out a fire risk assessment. The guidance will be equally relevant to landlords, managing agents, local councils and fire and rescue authorities. The guidance will apply to both the private and social housing sectors.
Decent Homes In 2002 the Decent Homes standard was extended to include the private sector with the focus on reducing the proportion of vulnerable households living in non-decent homes. A Decent Home: Definition and guidance for implementation - June 2006 update [PDF 209Kb] Private Landlords Forum In March 1996, the Council organised the first meeting of the Rother Private Rented Sector Housing Forum. In 1998/99, links were developed with the Hastings and Rother branch of the Southern Private Landlords Association (SPLA) and invited the chair of the branch to address a meeting of the Rother Housing Forum held in April 1999. This forum has since, in partnership with Hastings Borough Council, developed into the Private Sector Landlords Forum and meetings are now held three times a year. The Southern Private Landlords Association chair has agreed to jointly work with Rother District Council and Hastings Borough Council to chair and support this Forum. Speakers have come from a variety of relevant agencies including Housing Benefits, the Rent Officer, In Touch, SHAH and the Hastings and Rother Bond Board. |
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