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On Thursday 22nd March, SWLA held a meeting at our Dale Road office with Councillor Ricketts (Cabinet Member for Transport and Housing Delivery) and Matt Garrett (Head of Community Connections PCC). Items on the agenda included Universal Credit, HMO regulations, Homes (Fitness for Habitation) and Banning Orders.
Iain Maitland (SWLA Chair) and Steve Lees (SWLA Vice Chair) attended the Cornwall Housing Summit ‘Home Truths’ on Friday 23rd March hosted by the National Housing Federation. Many housing topics were discussed including social housing for Cornwall and new affordable housing projects in Cornwall.
THURSDAY 26th APRIL 2018- 7pm for 7.30pm start, Future Inn Plymouth PL6 5ZD.
Speakers;
Krissy Salmon (Shawbrook Bank) changes affecting professional landlords.
Annette Stone (Thomas Wescott) Update in tax legislation including Making Tax Digital.
Andrew Elvidge (PCC) Civil penalties and HMO licencing.
All members welcome, please remember to register your car at reception.
14th March 2018, Plymouth City Council held a Select Committee Review to discuss the roll out of Universal Credit. Iain Maitland was invited to provide SWLA member’s views and experiences of the Universal Credit system.
Many thanks to all members who participated.
Gillian Kerr (Office Manager) attended a meeting hosted by Bristol City Council today (14th March 2018).
Any important updates from the meeting will be shared with SWLA members.
SWLA have been approached by Lets for Life who are seeking smaller houses, flats and bungalows. They will lease the property for between 9 months and 6 years (negotiable). There is a full support package in place for their tenants who have learning disabilities and complex support needs. All tenants will be supported by care staff and a tenancy support agent who will ensure the smooth running and maintenance of the property.
A good rate of rent will be paid as the tenants are exempt from local authority caps. Therefore rent will be above the LHA rate.
If you are interested in finding out more, please contact Clare Hannah; clare.hannah@letsforlife.org.uk
After a long wait, parliamentary approval of the changes to HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) licensing was accepted on 23rd February 2018. These changes will come into effect on 1st October 2018.
Applications and fees will vary by local authority areas. Further details will be promulgated as and when they become available.
For further information, please see the following document or contact your local authority;
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/221/made
If you are concerned that an adult may be at risk of abuse or know of a worrying situation such as an adult neglecting themselves, as a landlord what can you do?
Don’t tolerate it, don’t ignore it, report it.
You can call your local council, selecting the adult social care option to discuss and report any safeguarding concerns.
(In an emergency situation, for example when a crime is in progress, or someone’s life is at risk due to violence, serious illness or injury, please dial 999.)
Why do we need to safeguard adults?
Everyone has the right to live their life free from violence, fear and abuse.
All adults have the right to be protected from harm and exploitation.
Not everyone can protect themselves.
All adults have the right to independence, which may involve risk.
Which adults are at risk?
People aged 18 or over who:
May rely on other people or services for care and support with day to day tasks because of their age, physical or learning disability, mental health need or involvement in substance misuse
May lack mental capacity
May not be able to speak up for themselves
May neglect themselves and/or their home
Adults at risk can be:
Physically abused
Psychologically abused
Financially abused
Sexually abused
Discriminated against
Neglected
Abuse can take many forms such as:
Shouting or swearing, which makes a person fearful
Hitting, slapping or pushing
Unwanted touching, kissing or sexual intercourse or sexual contact to which a person cannot consent
Not being cared for properly or denied privacy, choice or social contact
Money or property taken without permission or under pressure
Pressure to sign over money or property or financial transactions to which a person cannot consent
Domestic abuse, which includes incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, honour based violence and female genital mutilation
Modern Slavery, encompassing human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude.
As a landlord, BE AWARE. You may well be the only person aware of the situation.