Welcome We are landlords ourselves individually and as a company - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Diane Bialek – Director NGalloway

Welcome

• We are landlords ourselves individually and as a company with over 30 years

experience.

• Manage and develop properties on behalf of landlords and ourselves.
• Offer everything that any other letting agent on the high street would in terms of

managing and letting your property including HMO’s.

• Have an established portfolio of landlords on our books.

• Developing our business around Selective Licensing for 18 months.
• Established policies, procedures and efficient methods of addressing antisocial behaviour and recovering

rent arears.

• Directors have a vested interest in community wellbeing and improving outcomes for all.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in working with outside agencies and Local Authorities.
• Commercial background, expertise and passion.
• Facilitate support and guide; tenants, landlords and Local Authorities

Result: Positive and consistent outcomes

• Nottingham is the 8th most deprived

district in the country.

• Nottingham scores poorly on 7 measures
• f deprivation, particularly:

1. Income 2. Health 3. Crime 4. Poor property conditions

Why do we need a Licensing Scheme in Nottingham?

Local Authority

• Social Care
• Benefits
• ASB Team
• Family Care
• Waste removal
• “Legal proceedings”

Emergency Services

• Fire
• Police
• Ambulance
• Gas
• Electrical
• Water

Education

• Nurseries
• Childminders
• Schools
• After school care
• Colleges
• Universities

Tenants

• Rent
• Safety of the property
• Property repairs and maintenance
• Disputes
• Complaints
• ASB
• “Legal proceedings”
• Rent
• Safety of the property
• Property repairs and maintenance
• Disputes
• Complaints
• ASB
• “Legal proceedings”

Landlords Health & Wellbeing

• GPs
• Dentists
• Mental health
• Anti and post Natal care
• Sexual health

Voluntary Sector

• The Safe project, etc.
• Hospices
• Charity shops
• Forums
• Community groups

Letting agents

• Rent collection
• Tenant find
• Full management
• Maintenance
• Reference
• Inspections
• Deposits

Nottingham

• Rent Arrears
• Property Damage
• Complaints from Neighbours
• Tenants refusing the landlord access for inspections & repairs
• Tenants receiving legal aid to defend non compliant Section 21

Notices

• Total breakdown in communication and engagement with Landlord

What are the issues we are finding Relating to Tenants?

What are the issues we are finding relating to Landlords?

• Rent arrears & property damage
• No policies or experience in dealing Anti-Social Behaviour.
• Poor property conditions (out of date smoke detectors/mould etc.)
• Out of date Gas Safe Certificates, deposits not protected etc.
• No tenancy agreement or inadequate tenancy agreement
• Providing tenancies without adequate reference checks.
• Unclear and misuse of Section 21 Notices.
• No or little evidence to support any Notice issued.
• Landlords facing potentially large legal bills/prosecution.

January 2013 and December 2015 In total, 21912 reports of ASB against residential properties in Nottingham

Antisocial behaviour in Nottingham

Housing conditions in Nottingham

Nottingham city council received 7106 service requests regarding poor housing conditions between 2009 and 2015, 33% were attributed to private, residential properties.

• Excess cold
• Damp
• Condensation
• Fuel poverty
• Disrepair

Many hazards, go unreported.

At typical day in the office… or more accurately… 9.57pm

Case Study – Multi Agency Approach

• Complaint received from the neighbour (out of hours, by text)
• Initial investigation (with tenant and neighbours)
• Findings:

Landlord £950 of rent arears. Property damage. Communication breakdown. Neighbours Barking dog. Shouting and swearing. Inconsiderate parking. Excessive rubbish. Tenant Feels ganged up on. Living in disrepair. Rent arears. Personal and family issues Multi Agency Approach

Emily Bairstow Nottingham City Council

ASB Investigator Selective Licensing Environmental Health and Safer Housing Community Protection

Agreed Action Plan

Agreed Action Plan

Agreed Action Plan

Case Study- Process

• Complaint received from the neighbour (out of hours, by text)
• Initial investigation (with tenant and neighbours)
• Process:

Landlord Fully informed of every step. Neighbours Full investigation. Regular updates. Tenant Consultation and investigation. Involving ASB officer and Housing Benefits. Investigation revealed Family court proceedings. Relationship breakdown. Child removed from care.

Case Study- Outcome

• Complaint received from the neighbour (out of hours, by text)
• Outcome:

Landlord Thrilled that £950 rent arears will be paid. Property maintained. Complaints stopped Rent now paid regularly. Neighbours Informed of outcome. Reported positive change. Thrilled and surprised that ASB stopped. Tenant Action Plan agreed. Aware of what’s required. Do not want to make themselves intentionally homeless. Multi-Agency Support. Keeps in regular contact with Ngalloway.

One very happy neighbour

Average Cost in resource time experienced by NGalloway to address anti-social behaviour using a multi-agency approach is approximately £600 per case.

NGalloway Resources- Cost £’s

Social Cohesion- Everybody’s Problem

• Tenants: May have underlying issues and need support to be good

tenants and deserve safe and well maintained properties.

• Landlords: Better tenants, nil rent arrears, safe and maintained

properties, should equal improved profits.

• Local Authority: Need a mechanism to address issues resulting in anti-

social behaviour which is costing all of us significant expense and not changing outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Selective Licensing could be our opportunity to improve

• utcomes for us all.

Thank you for your time. We’ll be here to answer any questions.