Presentation for Landlords’ Forum

Developing the Approach to Private Sector Housing in West

Lothian

Private Sector Housing in West Lothian

• Context• Scale of Enquiries• Developing the Council’s Approach• Communication• Landlord Registration• Assistance Available to Private Landlords• Questions

Private Sector Housing in West Lothian – Context 1

• The majority of housing stock in West Lothian is in the private sector (77%) (owner occupied or privately rented)

• There has been a large increase in the number of houses in the private rented sector from 3% of the stock to at least 7%. 4,315 landlords are registered and 5,184 properties.

Private Sector Housing in West Lothian – Context 2

Legislation has introduced duties and powers on the Council to intervene in private housing:

• to provide information and advice to tenants, to register landlords, to licence HMOs

• to make sure homes are fit for purpose and to provide a Scheme of Assistance for owners and occupiers

Private Sector Housing :Scale of Enquiries

• HCBS – In excess of 2000 enquiries per annum covering property condition, adaptations

• Licensing (including Landlord Registration) – 232 enquiries and around 3000 calls, 1000 emails and 2500 applications handled by the team directly annually

• Environmental Health 345 house condition enquiries in 11/12 plus associated noise, water, pest control and waste related services

• Revenues and Benefits – 12,000 enquiries per year, 2,791 tenants claiming housing benefit for private rented sector properties.

Developing the Council’s Approach

• To identify and close gaps in service provision• To provide a better, more coherent service for

tenants, reputable landlords and home owners in West Lothian

• To develop recommendations for service improvement, enforcement and development

• To put in place a service that will raise the quality of private sector housing in West Lothian

• The Council’s webpages on Private Sector Housing and particularly private rented housing are being revised.

• New information leaflets will be developed for tenants and landlords.

• We will work more closely with the Council’s call centre to develop a better understanding of the private rented sector so that enquiries can be more easily targeted to the right people.

• There is more joint working between staff working on private sector housing and sharing of information.

Key actions - Communication

• Examining the Council’s approach to landlord registration in line with Scottish Government’s strategic approach

• Considering further policy development in relation to enforcement of landlord registration.

Key Action: Landlord Registration

Communal Repairs

• Developing the approach to funding “Missing Shares” in communal properties

• Examining Options for the Council to pay missing shares and then recover from homeowners.

• This could facilitate work to communal blocks to be undertaken in some circumstances.

Assistance available for Private Sector Landlords

• HomeChoice • Advice and Assistance to landlords on renting their property• Advertising properties for rent on the Homechoice website• Administration of the Council’s rent deposit guarantee scheme• Access to landlord accreditation training

• Empty Homes Project – Advice and information to bring empty properties back into use – To date 16 empty homes have been brought back into use either for rent or have been sold on.

• Signposting advice on Energy Efficiency matters to Energy Savings Trust

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Organisations/Innovation/Free-resources-for-housing-professionals/Private-Sector-Landlords

• Home Energy Efficiency Programme – Targeting properties for insulation measures in identified areas in West Lothian (this programme is currently being developed).

Questions

• Do you have any views on how the Council could improve its approach to private sector housing and how it works with private landlords?

Contact: westlothianhomechoice@westlothian.gov.uk