Safe as Houses drop-in event for district's landlords

A drop-in event for landlords and agents that let homes in North Kesteven, large scale or small, will take place at Lincoln Guildhall on Tuesday, April 12, from 9am to 1pm.

NKDC’s Housing Enforcement and Sustainability Officers will be on hand to offer advice on new and forthcoming legislation as well as providing information on heating and insulation initiatives offered by fuel providers.

Changes in the law mean that from 2018 there will be a minimum energy rating, likely to be Band E on the Energy Performance Certificate. Most properties with an F or G rating will not be legally rentable. Estimates suggest this could affect around 1,600 properties in North Kesteven.

Officers will be actively identifying properties where they are aware of a low energy rating, or where it hasn’t been advertised when the home has been marketed.

They will also be checking to ensure that any Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are identified and have the correct licenses if necessary.

Coun Stewart Ogden, Executive Board Member with responsibility for Housing, said: “Our Safe as Houses initiative seeks not only to protect tenants to ensure that every home is safe and healthy, but also aims to support landlords to provide advice on the standards needed to be met to provide quality housing, which is warm, secure and free from safety risks.”

Coun Richard Wright, Executive Board Member with responsibility for Enforcement, said: “While having powers to compel landlords to deal with serious health and safety hazards to protect tenants, our preferred option is to advise and work with them before any action becomes necessary. However, we will not shirk from taking action if we need to in order to protect our residents’ wellbeing and safety.

“Safe as Houses sets out what standards we expect from housing in the district in a clear way, to ensure that everyone’s home is safe and secure.”

Landlords and tenants can contact the Safe as Houses team by calling 01529 414155; email: [email protected] or online: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/safeashouses