Landlord Accreditation Scheme

[pdavidson]

Our local council is now running a Landlord Accreditation Scheme and I was wondering if anyone else had gone this route. Should I bother?

[Melboy]

If it's free... possibly yes is the answer... but if it's another Landlord Government / Council stealth tax then the answer is.... why bother?

Mel.

[Mortitia]

I think I saw something about this in my local press - but the angle given was that all DSS landlords had to have done this course - I did get the impression in was free.

Would I do it? - maybe if it was at a suitable time/day and low cost/free.

Mortitia

[pdavidson]

Thanks for your comments as always. It looks like its a free deal with benefits thrown in if you get accredited. Its just a single simple form. They inspect your property to make sure its in rent-able state. Documentation you have to supply, if applicable, is:

Energy Efficiency Certificate

Gas Certificate

Electric Certificate

Insurance Certificate

Mortgage statement

I've listed the benefits below. Looks like I'll go for it.

Benefits

* Discount card for Jewsons

* Discount card for Grahams The Plumbers Merchants

* Discounted Landlords Insurance via:

o Giles Insurance Brokers *

o Alan Boswell Group *

o Simple Landlords Insurance *

* Free Advertising through Housing Property Shops

* Free credit checks using Experian

* Access to the Council's new Private Sector Leasing Scheme

* Access to Council Housing Solutions , a not-for-profit organisation offering housing management services.

* Specialist Landlord/Tenant advice and support from the Council's Housing Strategy Team supported by the Council's Private Sector Housing Team

* Council does not recommend these particular companies and advises landlords to shop around to get the right price and cover that suits their own circumstances

Benefits Coming Soon

* Free Landlord Resource Pack - containing good practice guides, advice leaflets etc.

* Access to discounted Gas Safety Checks, Electrical Safety Checks and Energy Performance Certificates

* Access to 24 hour emergency repair service

* Access to Private Sector Housing Benefit Liaison Officer

* Access to Fire & Rescue Service Home Safety Checks

* Membership of Council Landlords Forum

* The ability to influence the Council's Private Sector Housing Strategy

[Melboy]

Just one thing missing from that list...............

100% guarantee that your Tenant will pay their rent and a guarantee that the council will assist all Landlords with any dispute over non payment from their Tenants.

[pdavidson]

The way I saw it was I could get accredited BUT didn't have to deal with them. The few areas I wanted to use from them was:

Free credit checks

Specialist Landlord/Tenant advice and support from the Council'sHousing Strategy Team supported by the Council's Private Sector HousingTeam.

Access to the Council's new Private Sector Leasing Scheme

oh, and the Discounted Landlords Insurance.

I have read the fine print and there was nothing saying you had to use their commercial services. They do have a tenant finding service and full management service but I wont need to use them.

[Jinal]

Accreditation is a set of standards relating to the management or physical condition of privately rented accommodation.Landlords who join a scheme and abide by the standards are 'accredited'.Accreditation schemes are voluntary.