LETTINGSnews


LegIsLaTIOn


BPF warns on Benefit rules


Landlords have warned that the Government is in danger of


breaking a pre- election promise to pay housing


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Tenancy agreemenTs


Student tenants told to behave... or else!


Students at an East Oxford letting agency will have to sign a ‘good behaviour’ pledge before picking up their keys; if they break it they’ll get a letter sent home to their parents. The bond, drawn up by Premier Lettings, is in response to increased tensions between students and residents in the area due to noisy parties and rowdy behaviour.


News of the special clause, that will affect about 300 homes, was welcomed by East Oxford residents and Oxford City Council. Ian Wright, Health Development Service Manager of Oxford City Council Environmental Development said, “Premier’s scheme has the full backing of the Council and Jan is working with Environmental Health Officers to tackle bad behaviour and improve the reputation of the rented sector.” Premier Lettings owner Jan Bartlett said agents had a responsibility to help tackle concerns of homeowners. She said, “Having lived and worked


46 JANUARY 2011 PROPERTYdrum


in the area for well over 30 years, I do really understand the difficulties some local residents face.” By signing the pact, tenants


promise their new neighbours they will keep party noise to a minimum, cut out bad language and make no noise outside the property after 11pm. They will also have to


promise to do all they can to rectify any complaint raised by neighbours. Tenants must also keep their rubbish and recycling bins clean and tidy. Mrs Bartlett added, “We


‘The agents should set an example to the students.’


have always inserted a clause in tenancy agreements informing tenants of their obligations, but we feel the time has come to emphasise this as a matter of significant importance, and if we do receive reports of problems regarding a property where the ‘pact’ has been signed, we can, if necessary, in the case of students, contact their guarantors to apply extra pressure on the residents, and to encourage them to behave in a more responsible manner.” East Avenue resident


Penelope Newsome said it was a step in the right direction. She added, “The agents should set a good example to students.” In January, Oxford City


Jan Bartlett, Premier Lettings.


Council will become one of the first local authorities to roll out a new licensing scheme for HMOs as it seeks to tackle both anti-social tenants and rogue landlords. However, the scheme has been opposed by some city landlords and agents, who threatened a High Court action against the council.


benefit directly to landlords after it spurned a golden opportunity to clarify its policy with the publication of important housing benefit legislation. Responding to the recently published reforms of the housing benefit system, the British Property Federation (BPF) welcomed plans for a limited return to direct payment, where rent is paid direct to landlords rather than their tenants, but urged ministers not to backtrack on pre-election pledges to restore direct payment in full. Lord Freud, the minister for


Welfare Reform, unveiled plans to give local authorities the power to re-introduce direct payment, but only in exceptional circumstances, for a limited time, and only if landlords lower their rents. However, the BPF argued that this assumes that housing benefit keeps rents artificially high, when in fact many areas have such high demand for housing that benefit cuts will make little difference to what landlords charge. Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy at


the BPF, said, “Restoring direct payment to all private landlords was an unequivocal Conservative Party pre-election promise, which should be honoured. Without payment to landlords, taxpayers might well ask why politicians are not protecting them from hundreds of millions of pounds in squandered housing benefit, and why Government is not doing more to keep people in their homes during tough times. We urge local authorities to ignore the small print and apply these new rules broadly so that landlords are offered the support to keep renting to claimants.


“There is a strong body of


evidence that shows that the Government’s policy of paying Local Housing Allowance to tenants leads to rent arrears and evictions. And as the reductions in LHA take effect, more tenancies will be under pressure as tenants struggle to pay the rent.”


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