Halton Borough Council is introducing its own Landlord Accreditation Scheme to help support the Private Rented Sector and the essential role landlords play in providing housing for the residents of Runcorn and Widnes.
Membership to the scheme is free of charge but carries many benefits for landlords who decide to join.
Benefits of being an accredited landlord include:
- Access to interest free property improvement loans;
- Exclusive access to the Halton Borough Council Empty Property Register;
- A recognised ‘quality mark’ providing elevated status over non-accredited landlords;
- Commitment of service from Housing Benefit;
- Discounted services and products from both local and national businesses;
- Promotion of available properties through the Bond Guarantee Scheme;
- Information provided of any change in regulations that may affect you;
- Dedicated landlord liaison officer providing support and advice.
The scheme involves members agreeing to a code of standards, which detail good management practices and property standards. These standards, and all aspects of the scheme, have been developed in partnership with local landlords.
Tom Reynolds, North West representative for the National Landlords Association, said: “I have been pleased to sit on the Accreditation Scheme Focus Group consisting of Halton Council Officers and local landlords producing the standards for the scheme. I have been greatly encouraged by the attitude of the Council Officers towards the private rental sector in the area.
“The resulting scheme’s standards reflect the level of professionalism which should be already be sought by all good landlords and the incentives are real and valuable. I urge all local landlords to join the scheme.”
Local landlord Mike Cunliffe, said: “As a landlord within the Halton area it was a breath of fresh air when invited to join the landlord's forum. All issues were discussed openly and any items that were not favourable were discussed at length, eventually leading to a mutual decision.
“Halton have if anything helped to ease what could have been a very problematic issue into an easy and acceptable package.”
