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Quality Homes in Quality Neighbourhoods
SLHD Private Landlord Service
Rebecca Wilkie – Head of Access and Inclusion
Jen Cooper – Empty Property Service Manager
About St. Leger Homes
St. Leger Homes of Doncaster is an ALMO established in 2005 to
manage the day-to-day running of 21,000 council homes and to deliver a
major programme of Government investment to bring council homes up
to the Decent Homes Standard
We achieved 3 star status at our last Audit Commission inspection in
2010 and have achieved many other awards and accreditations to
confirm us as specialists and excellent in housing management
St Leger Homes Private Landlord Services have been developed in
partnership with Doncaster Council to contribute towards both the
strategic objectives of meeting housing need and bringing empty homes
back into use.
In 2010/11 we embarked on a number of new business initiatives. One being our Private Landlord Management Service.
We have been externally validated by the Tenant
Services Authority and awarded Managing Agent Status.
About St. Leger Homes
The challenge
• Increasing waiting list
• Low turn over of social housing properties
• High level of empty private sector properties
12,000 active applications
Year
2005/
06
2006/
07
2007/
08
2008/
09
2009/
10
2010/
11
2011/
12
2012/
13
Number
of Voids
per
annum 1667 1750 1396 1399 1593 1668 1614 1668
The challenge
St. Leger Homes have vast experience in managing rented homes
The Landlord Services team are specialists in:
• Managing rent, including Housing Benefits
• Dealing with tenancy agreement issues
• Providing a personal and professional service to tenants and landlords
About St. Leger Homes
• Learning organisation
• Quarterly Reviews in full consultation
• Checks and measures
About St. Leger Homes
We developed three levels of service:
BRONZE (which we removed)
SILVER
GOLD
Private Landlord Services
Bronze
‘tenant find’
including offering assistance with Council tax
and benefit forms, accompanied viewings and
the provision of a Welcome Pack
Private Landlord Services
Silver
in addition to the features of the Bronze package
• access to SLHD’s 24-hour repairs service
(which are re-chargeable to the Landlord)
• a pre-termination inspection including meter
readings
• management of the property while ever it is
empty
• managing the tenancy
(including tenancy breaches)
Private Landlord Services
Gold
in addition to all of the features of the Silver package
• annual gas servicing
• heating system checks
Private Landlord Services
Tenancy
All private landlord properties are let using an assured short hold
tenancy agreement
The overall aim is to sustain tenancies over a long-term
Private Landlord Services
Property Standard
We require any property that we manage to be in a reasonable condition to an agreed lettable standard.
All of the properties have to be free of hazards as prescribed in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System as well as being safe, secure and clean - with all facilities and components in good working order.
Private Landlord Services
Landlord Criteria
• Property meets lettable standard
• Proof of buy to let mortgage
• Proof of landlord buildings insurance
• Gas Safety Certification
• Electrical Test Certificate
• Asbestos Management Survey (Type 2)
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Willingness to work together
All of which are covered within the Property Management Agreement.
Private Landlord Services
Moving Forward
• New allocations policy
• Welfare Reform
• Access to banking
• Support to manage finances
• Private Landlords and Letting and Managing Agents (Regulation)
Bill
Private Landlord Services
We began our Private Landlord scheme in May 2011 and currently have 52 landlords on board with 60 properties.
Target of 89 properties through DMBC within the next year.
About St. Leger Homes
What worked well
• One team
• Getting the right staff
• Our experience
• Relationship with HB
• Relationship with Private Sector Team
• Honesty with customers
• Discussions around lettability
Private Landlord Services
What could we have done better?
• Resourcing the set up of the service
• Communication with prospective tenants
• Rent deposit / Bond scheme
Private Landlord Services
Questions?
Private Landlord Services
St. Leger Homes contact details
Rebecca Wilkie
Head of Access and Inclusion
tel. (01302) 736362
Jen Cooper
Empty Homes Service Manager
tel. (01302) 736382
www.stlegerhomes.co.uk/private_landlord_service
Private Landlord Services
