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Latest news and updates from Safer Housing at Nottingham City Council
The Council’s Executive Board agreed on the proposals for a second scheme of selective licensing in January 2023. The submission was sent to the Secretary of State in March 2023 for confirmation.
Safer Housing received official approval for the second new scheme of selective licensing from the Secretary of State in July 2023.
The second selective licensing scheme will officially start on 1December 2023 and covers an estimated 30,000 privately rented homes across designated areas of the city. It aims to give private tenants better quality accommodation and management as well as protection from bad landlords.
Tenants will also know what is expected of their landlord in terms of the maintenance, safety, and management of their home.
We recommend landlords/agents apply for their license after the 1 September 2023. The Council is also reviewing its licence application form following feedback and is making it quicker and simpler to complete.
Landlords who have properties licensed in the first scheme will not need a new license until their current licence expires. Landlords who have not previously licensed their properties or have new properties within the designation (scheme area) will need to apply.
If you wish to view the proposed designation, and check if your property is within the proposed area, please visit the links provided below;
Are you at Risk of Losing Your Home and Unsure About Your Options?
The Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS), was implemented on Tuesday 1 August 2023. Homeowners and tenants can now access free legal support from the Housing Prevention Advice team throughout England and Wales.
Individuals who require the above service do not need to meet legal aid financial eligibility rules as the service is means-free (NOT means-tested), but you will be required to show evidence that you are at risk of losing your home
The service provides:
Housing Experts may be able to provide advice on;
- Illegal eviction
- Mortgage arrears
- Rent arrears
- Issues with welfare benefits payments
- Debt concerns
- Disrepair and other problems with housing conditions
- And if you are required to attend a court hearing they may be able to represent you
More information on the Housing Loss Prevention Service can be found in the link below;
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Gas Safer announce Gas Safety Week for 2023.
This year, the event will take place from the 11th to 17th September, and theme1 for GSW 2023 is ’Diversity’. This year’s theme celebrates the diversity in gas engineers, from their personal and professional experiences, qualifications, and training to the different levels and variety of work and jobs undertaken by gas engineers.
Within the toolkit (please find link below) you can find a variety of resources designed for different audiences including landlords and tenants.
Gas Safety Week is an annual safety week to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances .
It is coordinated by Gas Safe Register, the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas.
Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly with no warning, as you cannot see it, taste it, or smell it.
Landlords are legally responsible for the safety of their tenants. Landlords must make sure maintenance and annual safety checks on gas appliances are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure their tenants and wider communities stay safe.
If you’re a landlord, you are legally obliged to make sure:
- Gas pipework, appliances and flues provided for tenants are maintained in a safe condition.
- All gas appliances and flues provided for tenants’ use have an annual safety check. Your tenants can report you to the HSE if you don’t provide one, so it’s important to remember! You can set a free email and/or text reminder so you don’t forget, visit StayGasSafe.co.uk.
- A Gas Safety Record is provided to the tenant within 28 days of completing the check or to any new tenant before they move in.
- You keep a copy of the Gas Safety Record until two further checks have taken place.
- Maintenance and annual safety checks are carried out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
- All gas equipment (including any appliance left by a previous tenant) is safe or otherwise removed before re-letting.
Before any gas work is carried out always check the engineer is qualified to carry out the work that needs doing e.g., natural gas, domestic boiler. You can find this information on the Gas Safe Register website or by checking the back of the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card.
Encourage your tenants to also check the card when the engineer arrives at the property, and to be aware of any warning signs that their gas appliance is working incorrectly, such as dark or sooty staining, excess condensation, pilot lights which frequently blow out and and error messages on the appliance’s control panel.
For more information and to find or check an engineer visit;
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The GSW toolkit can be found here;
Thank you again for your support!
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Want to know more about the Renters Reform Bill?
The DASH team will be covering an update on the Renters (Reform) bill in the next DASH & NRLA online information session which we are holding on 28th September from 10.30 am – 11.30 am;
FREE to attend - all landlords are welcome!
Email dash@derby.gov.uk to book – for more information:
DASH Services - DASH Online Landlord Information Session - 28th Sept 2023 (FREE)
Free Fire Safety Course - all landlords are welcome!
Dash is also delivering a classroom-based basic Fire safety course which all landlords are welcome to attend (£25);
DASH Services - Landlord Fire Safety Course - The Basics (Classroom based course) 21st Sept 2023
Good News! The DASH resources page has had a bit of a refresh this month – Please find additional guides added for fire doors and much more. See link below;
In May, an article in the Guardian newspaper raised the alarm on the potential dangers posed by faulty E-Bikes and E-Scooters. The Guardian reported; ‘there have been 102 fires associated with e-bikes and scooters so far in 2023, with a forecast of 338 for the whole year. At least 190 had been injured and eight people killed.”
We would like all student landlords to be aware of this issue to ensure they take precautions to ensure their properties stay safe, a few examples are. In the first instance here are some examples to include in house rules for tenants who are e-bike and scooter owners;
- Landlords are notified if they are keeping an e-bike or e-scooter at the property for insurance purposes
- All batteries and chargers must meet official safety standards
- All chargers used should be the official correct charger for the battery concerned
- Batteries should be allowed to cool before charging
- Manufacturer’s instructions should be followed at all times – in particular, note maximum charge levels and temperature thresholds.
- Batteries should not be tampered with or modified.
- Batteries should be checked carefully before charging to make sure that they have not been damaged (e.g. by being dropped) and that there are no cracks, dents, or leaks in the battery casing.
- They should also be kept clean as dust and dirt build-up on the battery contacts can cause them to overheat.
- Batteries should not be left to charge unattended and should be unplugged as soon as they have finished charging.
- Batteries should be disconnected when not in use and kept in a battery case or fireproof bag.
Please see the link below for relevant information and advice to Landlords on what Landlords should do to take the correct precautions:
To get all the latest information, tips, advice and updates from the Safer Housing team, follow us on social media.
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