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The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) has become the first of the three Government-approved tenancy deposit protection schemes to appoint a new external, independent complaints reviewer.
Margaret Doyle has taken up the new role and says: “Having an independent and impartial outside reviewer is a key process for demonstrating robust arrangements exist for ensuring that customer complaints are dealt with well, and that complainants have the opportunity for review by someone outside of TDS.
“It is also designed to help TDS learn lessons from complaints and to help improve service provision.”
Doyle’s appointment was introduced to enhance the scheme’s transparency to members and the wider private rental sector.
The role of the independent complaints reviewer will be to look at the way the TDS has investigated complaints about its service, in order to ensure that the process has been fair and transparent, and that the issues raised have been properly considered.
In its 2018 Annual Review, the TDS reported that less than 1% of its tenancy deposits ended in a dispute – a total of 14,430.
Of these 14,430 disputes, just 2.65% resulted in a complaint being made about the adjudication decision or the service received.
Steve Harriott, the Chief Executive of the TDS, says: “We take any complaints about our service very seriously and strive for the highest standards of complaints handling practice. If a complainant remains unhappy about TDS’s response to their formal complaint about an adjudication decision or other aspect of TDS’s customer service, they can escalate it to the independent complaints reviewer.
“This role does not make Margaret a TDS staff member, but someone who is appointed by the TDS board to take an independent view of complaints and report annually to the board on their work.”
He adds: “As the only not-for-profit deposit protection scheme operating in England and Wales, TDS is committed to a programme of continuous investment in our systems, processes, people and service. Margaret’s appointment is part of that ongoing strategy and we are proud to have her on board.”
Article from Landlord News (landlordnews.co.uk)
SWLA AGM-
Wednesday 23rd January 2019-
Future Inn Plymouth-
7.30pm
Listen to this episode from BBC Radio 4’s Money Box Live. The panel discusses the effectiveness of the system for getting you your money back.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001ygh
It will be a requirement for all social and private landlords (including letting agents acting on their behalf) in England to ensure that a property is fit for human habitation both at the beginning of the tenancy and throughout. The Bill amends the Landlord and Tenant Act 1984.
If a home does not meet the standards of the HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System), tenants can take legal action in court for breach of contract.
Put forward by Labour MP Karen Buck, the Bill received Royal Accent on 20th December 2018 and comes into force 3 months after that date – 20th March 2019. Initially it will only apply to new and renewal tenancies in England from this date. It will then apply to periodic tenancies 12 months later to give landlords time to ensure properties are up to standard.
The government have a HHSRS guide for landlords and property professionals;
For more information on the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018;
https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/homesfitnessforhumanhabitation.html
The Tenant Fees Bill 2017-2019 is due it’s 3rd and final reading on 15th January 2019 in the House of Lords. Once the final reading takes place, it will then return to the House of Commons for a consideration of amendments, after that it can receive Royal Assent and become law.
The implementation date is not known but is to be expected in Spring 2019 at the earliest. The Bill seeks to ban most letting agent and landlord charges to tenants and will place caps on security and holding deposits.
For updates on the Bill and to read debates on all stages of the bill, please see the following link; https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/tenantfees.html
All organisations, companies and sole traders that process personal data must pay an annual fee to the ICO unless they are exempt. Fines for not paying can be up to a maximum of £4,350.
This follows regulations which came into force alongside the new Data Protection Act on 25 May 2018.
These first organisations have been fined for not renewing their fees following their expiry and more fines are set to follow. More than 900 notices of intent to fine have been issued by the ICO since September and more than 100 penalty notices are being issued in this first round.
Article from The Information Commissioners Office 28.11.2018
The SWLA office will be closed from 3pm Friday 21st December 2018 and will re-open at 10am on Wednesday 2nd January 2019.
Emails and telephone messages will be checked and responded to in that period.
We wish all of our members a very lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.
As of Monday 10th December 2018, SWLA members with a B&Q Trade Point Card receive 5% off B&Q purchases (to exclude local clearance items, vouchers and services – see T&Cs) without having to have a minimum spend the previous month.
This is on a 6 month trial basis. With the right amount of uptake, this trail period will hopefully be extended.
**please note if over £500.00 is spent in one month, an additional 5% discount will be applied within 7 days to run for the remainder of the current month and the following month**
See the original discount update here;
On Wednesday 5th December, Gillian (SWLA Office Manager) attended the West of England Landlord Panel Meeting. Items discussed included Bristol’s proposed Additional Licencing Fee update, mandatory licence standards and the Tenant Fees Bill.
On Friday 16th November, Gillian Kerr (Office Manager) and Iain Maitland (Vice Chair of SWLA) attended a Teignbridge District Council Stakeholders Event in Kennford.
Housing progress and plans for 2018/19 were discussed and many ideas were shared.
Landlord Training Course
End of Tenancy including Repossessions
Monday 4th February 2019 – 9:30am – 4:30pm
Venue – Charter Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
If you are accredited this will count towards your CPD hours, but the course is open to all.
Cost for SWLA members – £65. Cost for non-SWLA members – £75.
Course will cover:-
Places secured upon receipt of payment, book your place through the office 01752 510913.
Course will be instructed by Stephen Fowler from Training for Professionals.
Venue – Astor Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
Price – £65 for members of SWLA, £75 for non – members for one day course.
Course covers ASTs, Deposits, Section 21s, Section 8s, HMOs, Gas and Electrical Safety, Inventories and much more.
The course will provide you with all the skills to start, manage and finish a tenancy.
Places still available. Contact the office on 01752 510913 or via the website to book your place, places secured on receipt of payment.
Over 720 landlords have already completed this course since September 2011.
Course can lead to Accreditation, if required.
If your tenant is struggling with their finances or benefit claim, you can direct them to Shelter for help. Shelter are opening their Information Resource Centre in Ernest English House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth in December 2018. There will be 2 computers and a phone line, with a full-time member of staff dedicated to helping your tenants with guided self-help. Guidance will be for benefit claims, housing applications, job searches, Shelter ‘get help’ pages and other related assistance. The member of staff who will be running this service is called Rachel Hembury. The Information Resource Centre can be accessed Monday to Friday 9.30-12.30 and 13.30-15.30, no appointment is necessary.
SWLA Chair Steve Lees, Vice Chair Iain Maitland and Policy Officer Linda Johns met with Matt Garrett (Head of Community Connections PCC) and Councillor Chris Penberthy at the SWLA Office to discuss the following items;
Wednesday 12th December 3pm – 6pm
Come and join SWLA staff, committee and members for a mince pie and a drink. All members welcome.
Wednesday 17th October 2018 – Future Inn Hotel, William Prance Road, Plymouth – 7.30pm
Speakers will include:-
Emma Rose, Plymouth City Council
An update on Universal Credit, with Q&A to include Housing Benefit & Council Tax questions
Jeremy Wood, Excaliber Insurance
‘The perils of being under-insured’ including loss of rent vs rent guarantee
Richard Green, Trading Standards
‘The role of Trading Standards in Private Renting’
Wine & orange juice will be served during the evening.
We hope to see you there, guests are very welcome.
Please remember to register your car at the hotel reception upon arrival.
New HMO licencing – 5 persons or more sharing – New legislation begins on 1st October 2018.
Only 5 days to go to get your applications in to the local authority where an early bird discount may be applicable.
Vice Chairman, Iain Maitland attended the launch of the Property Agent Rating Scheme for Teignbridge on Wednesday 19th September 2018.
19 agents were awarded ratings from bronze to platinum.
Thursday 8th November 2018 – 9:30 – 4:30pm
Venue – Astor Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
Price – £65 for members of SWLA, £75 for non – members for one day course.
Course covers ASTs, Deposits, Section 21s, Section 8s, HMOs, Gas and Electrical Safety, Inventories and much more.
The course will provide you with all the skills to start, manage and finish a tenancy.
Places still available. Contact the office on 01752 510913 or via the website to book your place, places secured on receipt of payment.
Over 700 landlords have already completed this course since September 2011.
Course can lead to Accreditation, if required.
We are proud to announce Landlord Accreditation South West (LASW) are founder members of the West of England Rental Standard.
Venue – Charter Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
If you are accredited this will count towards your CPD hours, but the course is open to all.
Cost for SWLA members – £65. Cost for non-SWLA members – £75.
Inventory Course will cover:-
This course is key for those newer to lettings or for those who recognise their inventory paperwork could be better or for those looking for fresh solutions.
Places secured upon receipt of payment, book your place through the office 01752 510913.
Venue – Charter Room, Plymouth Guildhall, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 1HA
Price – £65 for members of SWLA, £75 for non – members for one day course.
Course covers ASTs, Deposits, Section 21s, Section 8s, HMOs, Gas and Electrical Safety, Inventories and much more.
The course will provide you with all the skills to start, manage and finish a tenancy.
Places still available. Contact the office on 01752 510913 or via the website to book your place, places secured on receipt of payment.
Over 680 landlords have already completed this course since September 2011.
Course can lead to Accreditation, if required.
The Government have published another updated version of the guide ‘How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England’. The document was updated on 6th July 2018 and published on 9th July 2018. This was following the previous update on 26th June 2018.
When you provide the ‘How to Rent’ guide, print it straight from the gov.uk website to ensure that you give your new or renewing tenant the most up to date guide;
Unfortunately, due to the constraints of GDPR and having taken legal advice we are no longer able to operate a form 77 service.
We apologise to all form of contributors and thank them for their past submissions.
