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Welcome!
Welcome to our Spring 2022 newsletter for the private rented sector. This newsletter contains information and news for landlords, agents and tenants in the private rented sector. You are receiving this newsletter because you have either requested to be subscribed in the past or you're named as an HMO licence holder, manager or applicant. To unsubscribe, please use the link at the end of the newsletter.
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In March 2021, the Council made a designation for a city-wide Selective Licensing scheme. Due to the number of properties the scheme would cover, the Council had to make a submission to the Ministry for Housing, Community and Local Government for approval. The submission was made at the end of January 2022.
The Secretary of State for Housing, Community and Local Government has recently approved the Selective Licensing scheme.View the letter from the Secretary of State, public notice and designation.
We invite landlords and agents to register their interest for an application form and we will notify you when the applications open.
Key points:
- The scheme will start on 01 September 2022 and end on 31 August 2027
- Licences are required for each property, not each landlord
- Licences will normally last five (5) years however one (1) year licences may be issued where there are concerns about the property or landlord.
- The standard fee is £480 for a five year licence. There is an "early bird" scheme for applications made between 01 September and 30 November 2022. Accredited landlords or agents can benefit from a fee of £280 (see the article later on regarding accreditation schemes). To benefit from the early bird or accreditation fee, we will require the application by 30 November 2022 and all relevant safety certificates provided with the application and be current and satisfactory.
- There are no minimum standards however properties must have safety certificates and be free from Category One hazards. We will not inspect before the licence is issued and prioritise properties for inspection.
- Safety certificates required: gas safety certificate (annual check), electrical safety certificate (five yearly check, required for all rented homes from January 2020) and EPC at Band E or registered exemption.
- More information is available on our website. If you the answer to your question is not on the website, please email selectivelicensing@oxford.gov.uk
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As the latest ONS statistics reveal more than eight out of 10 adults have seen a rise in their cost of living, Oxford City Council is organising a free drop-in event at the Town Hall to provide residents with advice and support.
The event is being held on Tuesday 17 May from 10am to 1pm and is open to all Oxford residents. Council teams and external experts including Charis an energy hardship fund administrator, Oxford advice agencies, home insulation scheme providers and local charities will provide practical advice and support to residents on:
- energy usage
- debt management
- access to hardship funds
- access to food larders
- access to Government-funded energy efficiency measures for tenants, homeowners and private sector landlords
The event is open to all Oxford residents on a ‘drop-in’ basis in the Town Hall’s main hall, with a number of stalls staffed by experts, there to offer tailored advice and support face to face.
Please come along to find out what help is on offer - either for your tenants or in a personal capacity. We'd also ask you to publicise this event to your tenants to help them manage their bills and prevent problems with rent arrears.
The event forms part of a range of measures from the Council to support households.
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Empty homes- help available for bringing back into use |
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Oxford City has a severe housing shortage with approximately 3000 households in housing need and listed on the Council’s housing register. Letting agencies also advise of a shortage of houses to let. With an increase in recorded empty dwellings and additional housing need in supporting refugees, Oxford City needs your support.
The Council can help with finding tenants and if work is required, assist with providing an Empty Home Loan or, if the property has been empty for over 2 years, a letter to confirm vacancy to present to HMRC for a VAT reduction on works from 20% to 5%.
If you have an empty dwelling and you need advice and support please contact Melanie Mutch Empty Property Officer mmutch@oxford.gov.uk
For information about hosting Ukrainian Refugees in your property (whether empty or occupied) please see https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ and search "Homes for refugee scheme"
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Oxford Brookes Community Partnership |
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Oxford Brookes University’s Community Engagement team is keen to work with landlords/letting agents to provide a cohesive approach in communicating behavioural messages to Brookes students living in private rented accommodation.
We work closely with Thames Valley Police, Oxford City Council and Oxford Direct Services to provide information and advice to students on how to be good neighbours, including how to keep noise levels down, how to manage their waste and keep their property safe. Together we run a number of initiatives and campaigns to encourage students to be responsible and considerate members of the community.
The University continues to deal with concerns regarding student behaviour, specifically in connection to noise and waste management. We welcome your help in disseminating these messages as ideally student tenants would receive them at the time they sign their tenancy agreement and before they move into their property.
If you would like to work with us, please provide your contact details in this short form. We will then contact you to provide further details on how we can work together.
www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/community/community-engagement/
community@brookes.ac.uk
Follow us on Twitter: @BrookesCLO
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Noisy tenants - help available for landlords |
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Noisy tenants can be a problem for landlords. If a neighbour cannot resolve the issue directly they will probably contact you or us to resolve the issue. It is important that landlords take reports seriously and encourage complainants to also contact the council if they have not done so already. Normally anti-social behaviour will also be a breach of the tenancy your tenants will have signed by agreeing not to cause nuisance to others from their property.
What laws can be used to prevent ASB?
The law is very effective when it comes to noise issues. We are happy to step in when noise levels exceed reasonable levels or times that they occur.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Antisocial Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 and the Noise Act 1996 we all have the right to be protected from excessive noise that interferes with our quality of life. Noise must be excessive enough to cause a nuisance.
What noise nuisance should you report to the council?
The most common private rental noise complaints fall into the following categories:
- Loud music and TV noise
- Parties – voices and music
- Dogs barking excessively
- Loud noise from DIY equipment and tools
The council will not investigate ASB involving:
- If your property is a HMO and your tenants are complaining about people that live within the same property as them
- Children crying/playing
- Location of waste receptacles, cooking smells, smoking and untidy gardens (unless there is a public health risk)
What responsibility do you as a Landlord have regarding ASB?
Whilst you won’t often be held personally responsible if your tenants causing ASB it is within your best interests to help us deal with the problem. Antisocial behaviour including excessive noise has a negative impact within the community. We will want to involve you in working with the tenants to prevent future incidents from occurring.
Further information may be found here -
https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20058/noise_pollution/145/report_a_noise_problem
https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20183/anti-social_behaviour/267/anti-social_behaviour
To contact the Community Response Team in relation to anti-social behaviour or environmental issues, please email saferoxford@oxford.gov.uk
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From 4 April 2022, collection days have changed.
Collection day calendars were sent to the Council Tax bill payer in March.
Please ensure your tenants are aware of these changes to collections and have the latest collection calendar to reduce complaints from residents regarding rubbish and recycling left outside properties. Landlords and agents of HMOs have a duty to manage waste and are expected to ensure that tenants are aware of collection days and how to present waste.
Waste and recycling will not be collected if it is not presented correctly. This could lead to the occupants receiving a fine.
Visit https://www.oxford.gov.uk/recycling for more information
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The number of UK households headed by a person aged 65 years or older is set to double by 2046. With the sector now the second largest housing tenure in the UK, it is increasingly important that more rented homes are suitable for tenants with access needs.
Where adaptations such as Stairlifts, Level Access Showers and Ramps are necessary the good news is The Home Improvement Agency (HIA) at Oxford City Council offers tenants a grant to pay for the works. A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) pays for the cost of providing these to the home, making it easier for the disabled person to continue living there.
For more information see our website www.oxford.gov.uk/hia or specific information for landlords on https://www.nrla.org.uk/campaigns/adaptations
Or you can contact the HIA to find out more on (01865) 252788
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To apply for a five year HMO licence, landlords need to belong to an accreditation scheme or employ a full management agent who is accredited.
The person must be accredited at least two weeks before the current HMO licence expires.
We have been asked by landlords if we can add a condition that accreditation is obtained within six-months and award the five year licence. The accreditation fee, which is a large discount, is based on the Council not having to undertake follow up work with the licence holder / managing agent. To add a condition to gain accreditation would create follow up with landlords to check they gained the accreditation would take us extra time and therefore lead to a higher fee. As we send reminders two months before the HMO licence expires, we believe this is more than enough time to gain accrediations with a relevant provider (see below).
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Either the licence holder or property manager must be accredited.
For both HMO licensing and the new Selective Licence schemes, the following accreditation schemes are available:
Landlords:
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National Residential Landlords Association - NRLA can provide ongoing advice and support in addition to accreditation
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Guild of Residential Landlords - the Guild can provide ongoing advice and support in addition to accreditation
- Oxford City Council Accreditation Scheme
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(ATLAS) Accreditation & Training for Landlords and Agents Service (includes London Landlord Accreditation Scheme and other local authority schemes in the south east) – if you have properties in London and are a member of this scheme, then we accept accreditation under this scheme.
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DASH (Decent and Safe Homes Scheme) – if you have properties in the Midlands area and are a member of this scheme, then we accept accreditation under this scheme.
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Midlands Accreditation Scheme / Homestamp – if you have properties in the Midlands area and are a member of this scheme, then we accept accreditation under this scheme.
Agents - managing agents must belong to the following schemes:
- ARLA & in addition, the agency must also demonstrate that one person working in letting has the Award in Residential Letting and Property Management at Level 3 (English law) ideally with with HMO and disrepair element
- Safeagent & in addition, the agency must also demonstrate that one person working in letting has the Award in Residential Letting and Property Management at Level 3 (English law) ideally with with HMO and disrepair element
- UKALA & in addition, the agency must also demonstrate that one person working in letting has the Award in Residential Letting and Property Management at Level 3 (English law) ideally with with HMO and disrepair element
We require agents to have a higher level of accreditation because they are managing properties on behalf of landlords and so we expect them to demonstrate compliance with regulations such as client money protection.
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The Council sends HMO licence renewal reminders about 2 months before the expiry date. There is no legal obligation on the council to send a renewal reminder.
A valid renewal application must be made before the licence expires as stated in the Housing Act 2004 and associated regulations. A valid renewal application consists of:
- A completed application form
- Signed declaration
- Stage one fee payment
If you wish to apply for a two or five year licence, then it is your responsibility to:
- Make a valid application
- Send in the two / five year checklist
- Send all required safety certificates
- Complete the above steps at least two weeks before the expiry date
We do not send reminders to explain some documentation is missing.
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Oxford City Council offer a rent guarantee service which offers guaranteed rent and other benefits to landlords who let their properties to tenants receiving housing benefit.
Under the scheme, we will ensure that rent is paid for the term of the tenancy, whether or not we have received the rent from the tenant. Rent will also continue to be paid even during times when the property is empty.
Over 400 landlords already use our specialist Home Choice service that helps local families in need find homes.
Contact a member of the Home Choice Team on 01865 252501 or 07483 098626, or email rentguarantee@oxford.gov.uk. The service is available on weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
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www.oxford.gov.uk
01865 249811
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