Every landlord who rents out property in the London Borough of Hounslow is being invited to a special event to find out about how new legislation will affect them.

This year Hounslow Council’s annual landlord fair takes place at the conference centre, Hounslow Civic Centre, on 12 February between 10am and 2pm.

Subjects to be tackled, include changes to HMO licensing, changes to housing benefits, energy performance certificates and the new Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

Cr Mark Bowen, deputy leader of Hounslow Council and lead member for strategic housing, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for Hounslow landlords to get up-to-date with a number of important changes affecting them this year. The council is committed to helping landlords fulfil their commitments to their tenants and I would urge them to attend this valuable event.”

The day’s keynote speech will be about the new Local Housing Allowance, which is a new way of working out housing benefit for private tenants. LHA is currently in operation in nine pathfinder areas and will be introduced nationally on April 7th 2008.

During the day, landlords will be able to speak to exhibitors about the services on offer to them, as well as make contact with other landlords and key council staff. Lunch will be provided and attendance is free.

There will also be a series of workshops giving landlords an opportunity to get in-depth information about topics they have a particular interest in.

If you would like to attend the landlord fair, call Natasha O’Shea on 020 8583 3837.

In a separate move by Hounslow Council’s Executive, property owners who have empty properties in the London Borough will pay more council tax on them.

The measure has been introduced in an effort to encourage owners to bring empty homes back into use, and raise approximately £200,000, which will be channelled into keeping the overall council tax lower.

Currently, people who have empty properties get a 40 percent reduction in council tax on them. That relief has been cut to 10 percent from April 2008, in line with a policy on people who own second homes in the borough.

Cr Mark Bowen, deputy leader of Hounslow Council and lead member for strategic housing, said: “Any property lying empty is a waste, and by offering a large discount to people who have them, it might suggest we are encouraging this.

“We want to get more empty homes back into use, and by making it less affordable to keep an empty home, it might encourage people who have vacant properties to do more to get them back into use.”

Cr Gerald McGregor, lead member for finance, added: “Empty houses, which are often in a state of disrepair, can encourage anti-social behaviour. While they remain empty, many are vulnerable to break-ins by squatters, vandals, and drug users. In addition, they are a wasted resource because so many people in this borough need a roof over their heads.”

There are currently 462 properties, which currently receive a long term empty property discount. A long term empty property is defined as unoccupied and unfurnished.

Any property which is empty will still receive a statutory six month full exemption, but if it remains unoccupied after that period, the owner must pay 90 percent of the full tax rate.