LETTINGSnews


CONfeReNCes NLA National Conference


The policies of the Coalition Government and how they affect landlords, including


proposed cuts to housing benefits, will be among the key issues discussed at The National Landlords Association National Conference 2010 in London on Saturday, 27 November. Neil McDonald, Director


of the Government’s Housing Standards, Homelessness and Support Directorate, will give the keynote address, followed by an open forum on the opportunities and challenges facing landlords.


A panel of experts will give advice on how to maximise rental income, along with the best business models for


successful letting. David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, commented, “The NLA National


Conference is an opportunity for landlords to learn about the very latest trends in the landlord market and how they can best plan for the future of their portfolios. “Next year will see massive changes in the private rented sector as government cuts to local housing allowance (LHA) start to take effect. The conference offers the information and advice landlords need to weather the storm.”


www.landlords.org.uk/conference


‘NLA Conference is an opportunity to learn and plan.’


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aCQUIsItIONs Barbon acquires Rentshield


Barbon Insurance Group Limited has acquired the Devon-based Rentshield, a specialist in


residential lettings insurance, with a strong customer base across the South West of England. The acquisition is part of Barbon’s expansion campaign and its strategy of targeting companies within its core markets. Says Nick Sharp, MD of Barbon, “Rentshield is a natural fit with our Lettings Division, with Letsure and HomeLet, both extremely successful brands. He continues, “Rentshield is a


young, innovative and fast- growing company with customer service at the heart of its business. It has also won local awards as a


safety Budget cuts spark safety fears


The significant reduction in the UK’s social housing budget – as detailed in the


current spending review – is a cause for concern, according to leading safety charity, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC). Phil Buckle, Director General of the ESC explains, “The ESC believes that


forthcoming cuts will force people into low standard, privately rented homes and unlicensed HMOs. Standards in social housing tend to be better than in the privately rented sector and our research shows that individuals in privately rented homes are at greater risk of electric shock. In particular, proposed changes will cause difficulties for young, single people between 25-35. Their housing benefits could be cut by over a third, which is likely to lead them into low-rent homes or unlicensed HMOs. We recognise that the majority of private landlords offer safe and decent homes for their tenants – and we will continue to work with them to achieve this. There are,


aiic ARTWORK QUARTERv3.indd 1 50 DECEMBER 2010 PROPERTYdrum 16/10/10 15:54:12


however, unscrupulous or ‘rogue’ landlords who will seek to benefit from an increasing need for low-cost private accommodation. These landlords are a small minority but their disregard for the safety of their tenants continues to threaten the professionalism of the sector as a whole. As more people are obliged


to enter privately rented accommodation, their needs must to be safeguarded. Consequently, we suggest that this may now be the time for the Government to launch a register for landlords in England and Wales – and we will seek to work with them to achieve this.”


model employer in the South West, so there is a strong cultural fit between the two organisations, and we are confident that it will complement and enhance our existing products and services.” Rentshield MD, Gary Abraham,


has developed the business to process 60,000 tenant references per annum over the last five years and he will continue in his post after the acquisition is finalised.


He comments, “This is


a great opportunity for Rentshield to benefit from the investment and management expertise of a bigger, well-respected


organisation with expertise in the lettings sector, whilst also being able to continue to operate autonomously from our Devon offices.” Rentshield joins Homelet and Letsure in Barbon’s portfolio.


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