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Welcome to the first edition of the Private Housing Standards Landlord Newsletter.
Thank you for signing up to receive these new landlord updates, from Private Housing Standards. We work to ensure that private rented properties in Sheffield are safe and free from hazards and we want to work with you as landlords to provide information, guidance and advice to support you in this.
We will be issuing newsletters at least twice a year along with additional updates, where relevant.
We want to make sure these newsletters meet their aim and are keen to hear from you about the issues you want to see in future newsletters or updates. Suggest topics for future editions.
If anyone else you know would like to keep up to date with ‘Landlord News’ share with them and they can sign up:
Free damp and mould training for landlords and managing agents
As a landlord you must ensure that your rental properties are free from damp and mould as if left untreated this can have significant impacts on health of tenants.
We are currently working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help support landlords to diagnose and treat damp and mould in their properties.
We have worked with the National Residential Landlord Association to develop and deliver some free training sessions which are held online.
The first sessions took place in December and February with a third session booked in April.
We received a positive response and all sessions quickly filled up so we have booked 4 further dates for training in 2025.
You can book your space now for the training on the following dates in 2025:
- 12th June
- 14th August
- 16th October
- 11th December
As places are limited if you do book on but find you are no longer able to attend the training, please cancel your place to allow other landlords the opportunity to attend.
Damp and mould in your rental properties
Sheffield City Council have produced a helpful guide and checklist for landlords. If you would like to request copies contact landlord support.
Further help and advice about damp and mould for landlords and managing agents is available on Sheffield City Councils website.
Introducing the Warm Homes Local Grant (WH:LG)
We are pleased to share that Sheffield City Council's Housing Energy Efficiency Team has submitted an application for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) funded Warm Homes Local Grant (WH:LG).
This fully funded, three-year programme, running from April 2025, aims to support low-income households in the private sector by implementing energy efficiency retrofit measures, with the goal of achieving Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C for all eligible homes.
To register your interest or for more information in the Warm Homes Local Grant, please contact the Housing Energy Efficiency Team. Kindly include your name, property address, and contact details.
National Energy Action (NEA)
The fuel poverty and energy efficiency charity, has launched a new community retrofit hub based in the Sharrow Community Forum in Sheffield.
The hub aims to ensure that local householders can benefit from energy efficiency retrofit measures, such as:
- insulation or
- more efficient heating systems
- making homes warmer, healthier, and ready for future decarbonisation.
Funding is available under government programmes to improve homes, including homes occupied by private tenants.
Landlords will be required by law to provide homes with an EPC rating of C or higher from 2030, yet many householders and owners are unaware of what’s available or whether measures would be effective or suitable for their homes.
Grant funding is available based on tenant eligibility, with criteria including income, health conditions and receipt of benefits.
You can get in touch with the Retrofit Hub for more information
Landlord Advice Session with the NEA
The NEA Sheffield Retrofit Hub team will be hosting an information session for landlords online on 24th April between 1pm and 2pm.
Landlords will be provided with details about:
- Grants
- Eligibility criteria
- NEA services in Sheffield for landlords and their tenants
Places are available to book on line, please note places are limited.
Let Zero
Let Zero is working with landlords across South Yorkshire to help them enhance the energy efficiency of their rented properties.
Services launched in Sheffield last December, offering landlords free retrofit assessments to identify upgrades tailored to the specific needs of each property and its tenants.
Using innovative tools and approaches, Let Zero aims to make retrofitting simpler and more accessible.
This year, the service will expand to include technical project management and co-ordination support, to make it easier for landlords to make property improvements.
Support for Sheffield residents who are at risk of / experiencing domestic abuse
Our Housing Service Domestic Abuse Policy was approved in December 2024. The policy explains how the Council will work with partners and residents to respond to both victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse regardless of housing tenure.
The policy supplements 'From Surviving to Safety' which is Sheffield's Strategy from 2024 - 2030 to end domestic and sexual abuse and violence against Women and Girls.
The strategy outlines the local priorities in addressing domestic abuse and sexual violence for everyone.
To deliver this strategy we will take a multi-agency approach, working alongside organisations and victims / survivors across the city.
There are a range of other domestic abuse services you can get in touch with for advice and support for more information visit sheffield.gov.uk.
For specialist support and advice, including information on the Safezones project – dispersed housing for anyone escaping domestic abuse, call the Sheffield domestic abuse helpline on 0808 808 2241.
Renters Rights Bill
The Renters Rights Bill is currently in the process of being passed through Parliament.
The bill is set to implement a number of changes in the private rented sector including;
- Abolishment on Section 21 evictions,
- Decent homes standards and
- Awaab’s law related to damp and mould in properties.
The Government have already stated that there will be a staggered implementation of all the different changes highlighted in the bill, with the earliest changes likely to be mid to late 2025 following royal assent of the bill.
A guide to the Guide to Renters Rights Bill is available on the Gov.UK website.
We will provide further updates in future editions of this newsletter. If there is any aspect of the bill in particularly you’d like us to cover in future editions please tell us at landlord support.
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