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Latest news and updates from Safer Housing at Nottingham City Council
Landlords and Managing Agents in Nottingham are invited to join a free Zoom event with Nottingham City Council’s Safer Housing Team.
At the event, there will be updates from different teams on the work they've been doing and offering scheme updates.
DASH and Unipol, in partnership Nottingham City Council will be hosting the event live on Zoom.
Date – Wednesday 3 November 2021
Time – 4.30pm to 6.30pm
Numbers are limited, so this is a first come, first served basis.
*Final agenda with timings will be sent out to attendees with the link to join the Zoom event.
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We have been given funding to enforce Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) in privately rented properties in the city, which will help to make sure homes are warmer, heated properly and have the right energy efficiency measures.
Since 1 April 2020, the Government set Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for all private rented housing.
It means that landlords can no longer let or continue to let properties covered by the MEES Regulations if they have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating below ‘E’, unless they have a valid exemption in place.
The MEES team will be contacting landlords and agents about their legal obligation to comply with MEES and they will be offering support, advice and useful information on what landlords can do to make their homes more energy efficient and move them up to an E rating - if they currently have an EPC rating of ‘F’ or ‘G’.
The team will also take action against those who do not make changes and comply and they will be checking that properties that are registered as exempt, are legitimate.
Read more on our funding, our new powers and what happens if landlords don’t comply.
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Landlords and tenants in parts of the Arboretum and Lenton Triangle area are being urged to get in touch with the Safer Streets team to see if they are eligible for free home safety improvements to crackdown on burglary.
The Safer Streets funding of £432k is being invested in a raft of security upgrades and additional policing to reduce the fear of crime and prevent households and individuals falling victim to criminals.
The Safer Streets project will fund the below upgrades to rented homes:
- Free security upgrades at up to 500 residential properties in the area including previous burglary victims and neighbouring properties. Improvements will be based on risk and vulnerability and could include new window and door locks, window alarms, external PIR lights, external PIR activated CCTV, repairs or security improvements to doors and windows, and where beneficial repairs to gates/perimeter fencing.
- Free Ring doorbell devices to up to 375 student properties in the area.
We have created a list of streets where properties may be eligible for these measures. You can find this in the link below and more information on qualifying for a risk assessment and how to get in touch.
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Landlords, you and your tenants may be eligible for heavily subsidised 1st time gas central heating and/or insulation measures for your property.
You and your tenants could be eligible for services like -
- Gas Connection
- 1st-time Gas Central Heating
- Loft Insulation
- Cavity Wall Insulation
- Community Scheme
The Warm Homes Hub may be able to help if your property is heated by portable space heaters such as: solid fuel fire, electric storage heater, electric panel heaters, gas room heaters or a gas fire
This offer is heavily subsidised for Landlords, however a contribution of just £500 is needed.
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Private renters and Landlords can apply to the council to have solar panels fitted to their properties at a discount rate.
The Council has secured over £4million from the Government’s Green Homes Grant to fit solar panels to around 655 properties in the city.
The aim of the scheme is to reduce Fuel Poverty, cut carbon emissions, improving the energy efficiency of the targeted homes, aiming to bring them up to at least EPC level C.
Installing solar panels is expected to save around £240 a year in electricity costs per household
For tenants (social or private), a minimum contribution by the landlord of a third of the cost of upgrades is expected.
To find out about eligibility and to apply for funding please contact the Green Homes Grant team on 0115 666 7298 or email them customersupport@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
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We’ve been getting more reports about rodents and pests at properties in the city, not just in rented but also privately owned homes.
If anyone, landlords or homeowners become aware of rats or mice on their land, it is their legal responsibility to sort the issue and keep it clear of pests, no matter what the source of the rodents might be.
Below are some tips that you and your tenants can do to help reduce pests being an issue:
- Ensure rubbish is stored correctly
- Ensure food is all correctly stored and not left out
- Remove all bird feeders and sources if possible
- Maintain gardens and shrubs
- Clear alleyways
- Repair building defects/holes in brickwork
- Repair drains and covers
- Traps, rodenticide and insecticide are available online to order, supermarkets and DIY shops may also stock if you wish to treat the problem yourself.
The Council has a Pest Control Team who can come out and deal with Cockroaches, Mice, Wasps and Rats.
If there is an issue with a neighbouring property, then complaints can come from Landlords or tenants and you can report issues to us by:
- Calling the Customer Contact Centre on 0115 915 55555 between 9am -5pm.
- Reporting the issue under Report Pests or Report Housing Standards and Condition on the Report It NCC website.
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The Government has updated its guidance for landlords and tenants to reflect the end of the Rental Mediation Service pilot.
They have also updated their guidance to reflect the return to pre-COVID notice period lengths on 1 October 2021.
You can read the guidance here
They have also updated their Electrical Safety Standards guidance for Landlords and Tenants in the Private rented sector.
You can read the updated guidance here.
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