|
Welcome!
Welcome to our Summer 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.
|
|
|
Oxford City Council's Selective Licensing scheme starts on 01 September 2022. This scheme covers properties let to families or to one or two persons. If the property has an House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence then a Selective Licence is not needed.
The early bird application period is from 01 September to 30 November 2022. To be eligible for the early bird fee (£400 instead of £480) you will need to submit all relevant information with your application form. The Council will not chase or remind you for missing information - the discount will be given to reflect that all information was provided with the application.
You will need to:
- Submit the application form with completed signed declaration.
- Note - where the application form is completed on behalf of someone else then both parties must sign the declaration.
- Pay the stage one fee
- Submit with the application, the current gas safety certificate, current electrical safety certificate and current EPC certificate to show the EPC rating is Band E or above (or exemption).
The application system will allow you to:
- upload certificates as attachments (and will prompt you to upload them)
- save the application as you are completing it
- allow you to pay the stage one fee at the same time as submitting the application
|
|
|
We are holding a landlord forum on 15 August 2022 in the Assembly Room, Oxford Town Hall at 10.15am to explain about the Selective Licensing scheme. Please arrive from 10am and refreshments are available. The session will cover:
- Why the scheme is being introduced
- Area covered & how to find out if a property is in Oxford City Council area
- Included tenancies / licences
- Excluded tenancies / licences
- Who should apply for the licence?
- Consequences of not applying
- Who should be licence holder?
- Fees
- Documentation
- Accreditation
- Information needed for applications
If you are a letting agent, then please do not sign up to this event - see the Letting Agent event below.
Sign up via Eventbrite
If you cannot attend in person the presentation will be available on our website soon after the event.
|
|
|
We are holding a letting agent forum on 4th July at 2pm via Zoom and we have invited letting agents that we are aware of that operate in Oxford City. This session will cover the same information as in the landlord forum. If you have not been invited and would like to attend, please email selectivelicensing@oxford.gov.uk
We are planning on holding separate training sessions for letting agents on how to use the application system. This be on 16h August, with a session starting at 9.30am and another session at 10.30am. Tickets via Eventbrite
|
|
|
The Selective Licensing scheme has a discounted fee for accredited landlords or properties fully managed by an accredited agent (£280 instead of £480 standard fee / £400 early bird). To receive this discount, you will need to submit your accreditation certificate with the application form.
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:
-
National Residential Landlords Association - NRLA can provide ongoing advice and support in addition to accreditation
-
Guild of Residential Landlords - the Guild can provide ongoing advice and support in addition to accreditation
- Oxford City Council Accreditation Scheme
-
Accreditation & Training for Landlords and Agents Service (ATLAS) (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.
-
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.
-
Midlands Accreditation Scheme – 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
- 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.
ARLA requires members to have the Level 3 certification and so we do not require this separately.
|
|
Click to edit this placeholder text. |
|
 Oxford City Council are holding drop in sessions for any residents worried about cost of living. We'd appreciate it if you could let your tenants know about this event or anyone else you think might benefit from advice. You are welcome to come along to any session and find out what help could be on offer for your own tenants who may be struggling to pay bills.
You can come along to any session regardless of where you live in Oxford.
- 6 July 4pm to 7pm, Barton Neighbourhood Centre
- 12 July 1pm to 4pm Rosehill Community Centre
- 14 July 10am to 1pm Blackbird Leys Community Centre
For more information see https://www.oxford.gov.uk/costofliving
|
|
|
Oxford City Council has been awarded £1.7 million pounds of grant funding to support energy efficiency improvements in the private housing sector. The funding will provide Grants for households most likely to be impacted by rising fuel bills.
Oxford City Council does not receive any funds directly and the programme will be delivered through a managing agent, Warmworks.
The scheme will run from 1 April 2022 to March 2023. All energy-saving improvements must be completed by 31st March 2023.
Who can benefit?
Private tenants and owner-occupiers who:
- have a household income of no more than £30,000 (before tax or any other deductions) or
- an income where cost of living is below £20,000 (i.e. after rent or mortgage costs) or
- are on means-tested benefits or
- a household composition (e.g. number of dependents) which stretches income to a position where they would be in fuel poverty
and
- live in a hard-to-heat house (Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below).
How much is the grant?
Privately rented properties
- To qualify the tenant must meet the income eligibility and the landlord will need to contribute a minimum of one third towards the cost of the upgrades in addition to the grant provided (see examples in the table below).
- For privately rented properties connected to the gas grid, the grant is up to £5000.
- For privately rented properties not connected to the gas grid, the grant is on a sliding scale, from £10,000 to £16,666.
- The exact amount available is dependent on the EPC of the home and the fuel source that heats the home currently.
- If overall costs exceed the maximum grant available, additional investment by the landlord will be required. Costs and the contributions expected from the landlord will be agreed prior to commencement of work.
|
Sustainable Warmth Grant
|
Minimum Landlord Contribution
|
Total Cost
|
|
£1,000
|
£500
|
£1,500
|
|
£2,000
|
£1,000
|
£3,000
|
|
£3,000
|
£1,500
|
£4,500
|
|
£4,000
|
£2,000
|
£6,000
|
|
£5,000
|
£2,500
|
£7,500
|
If total costs exceed £7,500 then additional private/landlord investment will be required.
What does the Sustainable Warmth grant cover?
- Insulation and ventilation upgrades
- Solar panels
- Heating controls
- Upgrades to low carbon heating systems, like air source heat pumps (it does not cover boiler upgrades)
- Energy efficient lighting
Who carries out the work?
- If eligible, a comprehensive whole house assessment will be completed by a Managing Agent/Contractor. A package of works will be provided to you, offering the best combination of carbon emission and energy bill savings, based on the grant funding available.
- The work must be organised through the Managing Agent, Warmworks and be carried out by an approved contractor. You cannot organise for the work to be undertaken yourself.
Who applies for the grant?
- Private tenants, private landlords and owner-occupiers can apply for the grant.
- Private tenants must ensure their landlord is willing for works to be done to their property and that they understand they will have to make a financial contribution.
- Private landlords wishing to apply for the grant must discuss it with their tenants. The income eligibility relates to the property's tenants.
To check eligibility and to apply click here or call 0808 196 8255
|
|
www.oxford.gov.uk
01865 249811
|
|
|
|
|
