Council to give amnesty to landlords to get problem properties fixed

The landlords are invited to come forward for advice and guidance to help them bring their properties up to acceptable standards under the council’s Safe as Houses initiative.

The scheme is designed to ensure that housing standards - including condition, warmth and safety - are met, coupled with a new Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy coming into force.

One new aspect of the policy is the introduction of charges for issuing enforcement notices to landlords who put their tenants at risk of harm as a consequence of poor housing conditions.

Another part of the policy means landlords who seek advice from the Private Sector Housing Team will not have enforcement action taken against them for a year to give them the chance to rectify any problems under agreed timescales.

In situations where emergency action is warranted, the council is obligated to act. However, under this amnesty notice fees will be waived.

Coun Richard Wright, Executive Board Member, said: “This amnesty gives landlords the chance to come forward so that we can advise and work with them without the fear of any action being taken if they keep to the agreed timescales.

“We want residents in the district to have safe and secure homes, which is why we’ve introduced Safe as Houses to set out the standards we expect from housing in a clear way.”

The Safe as Houses project also includes work to seek out private rented properties with poor energy performance ratings, with the aim of helping landlords and agents understand the changes in law which mean that from 2018 most properties rated F or G will not be legally rentable. Estimates suggest this could affect around 1,600 homes in the district.

For more information call 01529 414155, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/safeashouses