Local Letting Agency and PRivate Rented Sector Access Schemes. Local Authorities Engage With Landlords by Letting Focus
One of the findings of the Rugg Review into the private rented sector was that local authorities should be actively encouraged to explore ways in which to “improve their engagement with private landlords” in their area.
Hooray, say many landlords.
The fact is that local authorities need landlords to house people on Local Housing Allowance (Housing Benefit) and whilst some councils have a negative view of landlords, some other local authorities actually do a very good job of trying to think of innovative ways to get landlords on board in such a way that the landlords worries about tenant default are reduced.
But even in the better local authorities, all too often, the ways and means that the councils have devised are not really what landlords want.
Understanding the Needs of Landlords
At LettingFocus we think we understand the needs of landlords.
As a landlord for over 20 years and the author of the UK’s best selling book on property – which happens to be all about the subject of letting from a landlord point of view - I do claim to have an understanding of what landlords actually need.
And since the Rugg Review was published a growing number of local authorities have found me via the internet and asked to consult with them and benefit from my advice on how to set up Local Letting Agency Models and Choice Based Lettings schemes so they can better engage with landlords and meet their needs.
I do find public sector employment / consulting contracts and the rather long winded process of being hired as a consultant by a local authority rather daunting - but it is fun and it is nice to do something which is for landlords and the social housing sector and which will, I hope, be to the benefit of all.
Local Housing Allowance Payments and Default
Of course one of the problems for local authorities is that the present government decided that Housing Benefit would in future (unless the tenant was classed as vulnerable or other special circumstances were in place) be paid to the tenants rather than direct to the landlord.
(This was to encourage tenants’ financial responsibility, since you ask.)
Paul Shamplina of Landlord Action at our seminar last night said that this move has led to a huge increase in his workload of evicting non paying tenants because all too often tenants spent the money on other things rather than hold it and pay the rent due to the landlord.
As a result, a large number of landlords have completely stopped letting to people on Housing Benefits.
The Conservatives have said they will, if elected; once more offer the option of having Housing Benefit paid direct to the landlord.
Housing Benefit Bill Growing
All the while, the bill for Housing Benefit is growing and lots of landlords are still be prepared to let to people on benefits, despite the higher default risk.
(They know that good Housing Benefit tenants tend to stay a long time and often make model tenants. The hard bit is finding such good tenants.)
With the continued growth of people on Housing Benefits, it is imperative that local authorities do all they can to make letting to people on benefits attractive to landlords.
Through my consultancy with RSLs and local authorities I can help them with this objective.
ABOUT LETTINGFOCUS.COM and DAVID LAWRENSON
We are LettingFocus.com - the landlords’ expert and I’m David Lawrenson, the author of “Successful Property Letting” - the UK’s top selling property and buy to let book for the last 3 years.
I have been a landlord and property investor myself for over 25 years.
At LettingFocus we offer independent unbiased seminars for buy to let investors and landlords as well as one to one advice covering all aspects of being a landlord and investing in property.
I am able to give unbiased independent advice on where to buy (which areas), what type of property to buy, when to buy and how to buy property at a low price. I can also explain how to reduce the risk of getting a bad tenant.
I also do a lot of corporate consulting work in the private rented sector with banks, property websites and local authorities and RSLs - helping with their buy to let and landlord facing products and services.
CHECK OUT THESE PAGES AT OUR SITE LETTINGFOCUS.COM:
Our Events only take place twice a year.
For our NEXT SEMINAR AND NETWORKING EVENT for Landlords and Property Investors click here:
Next Property Investing Seminar and Networking Event
We have GREAT OFFERS for landlords too, Click here: Services and Products for Landlords to see our Landlords Resources (Useful Links) page. (Selling services to landlords and property investors and have a national coverage? You could be a partner, please get in touch!)
For general info on our SEMINARS AND CONSULTING click here: Property Seminars, Networking Evenings and Consulting
ONE TO ONE CONSULTING click here: Property Consulting
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS from past customers click here: Testimonials
BUY THE BOOK click here: Buy the Book at Amazon
THE HOME PAGE OF THIS BLOG click here: Blog
THE HOME PAGE OF OUR MAIN SITE click here: LettingFocus Home Page
To JOIN our Free QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER simply send an email to david@LettingFocus.com - Please note we WILL NOT send spam or sell our mailing list to advertisers!
IF YOU HAVE A SITE WHY NOT LINK TO THIS BLOG OR OUR WEBSITE?
Copyright of Blog: David Lawrenson 2009. This blog is updated roughly once a week usually on a Monday or Tuesday.
Related Article:
http://www.lettingfocus.com/pages/myarticles_Local_Housing_Allowance.html
Also, have you seen this article on Choosing a Letting Agency?
http://www.lettingfocus.com/pages/myarticles_ChoosingaLettingAgency.html
TO VIEW RELATED POSTS select a “Category” at the bottom of this page.
Hooray, say many landlords.
The fact is that local authorities need landlords to house people on Local Housing Allowance (Housing Benefit) and whilst some councils have a negative view of landlords, some other local authorities actually do a very good job of trying to think of innovative ways to get landlords on board in such a way that the landlords worries about tenant default are reduced.
But even in the better local authorities, all too often, the ways and means that the councils have devised are not really what landlords want.
Understanding the Needs of Landlords
At LettingFocus we think we understand the needs of landlords.
As a landlord for over 20 years and the author of the UK’s best selling book on property – which happens to be all about the subject of letting from a landlord point of view - I do claim to have an understanding of what landlords actually need.
And since the Rugg Review was published a growing number of local authorities have found me via the internet and asked to consult with them and benefit from my advice on how to set up Local Letting Agency Models and Choice Based Lettings schemes so they can better engage with landlords and meet their needs.
I do find public sector employment / consulting contracts and the rather long winded process of being hired as a consultant by a local authority rather daunting - but it is fun and it is nice to do something which is for landlords and the social housing sector and which will, I hope, be to the benefit of all.
Local Housing Allowance Payments and Default
Of course one of the problems for local authorities is that the present government decided that Housing Benefit would in future (unless the tenant was classed as vulnerable or other special circumstances were in place) be paid to the tenants rather than direct to the landlord.
(This was to encourage tenants’ financial responsibility, since you ask.)
Paul Shamplina of Landlord Action at our seminar last night said that this move has led to a huge increase in his workload of evicting non paying tenants because all too often tenants spent the money on other things rather than hold it and pay the rent due to the landlord.
As a result, a large number of landlords have completely stopped letting to people on Housing Benefits.
The Conservatives have said they will, if elected; once more offer the option of having Housing Benefit paid direct to the landlord.
Housing Benefit Bill Growing
All the while, the bill for Housing Benefit is growing and lots of landlords are still be prepared to let to people on benefits, despite the higher default risk.
(They know that good Housing Benefit tenants tend to stay a long time and often make model tenants. The hard bit is finding such good tenants.)
With the continued growth of people on Housing Benefits, it is imperative that local authorities do all they can to make letting to people on benefits attractive to landlords.
Through my consultancy with RSLs and local authorities I can help them with this objective.
ABOUT LETTINGFOCUS.COM and DAVID LAWRENSON
We are LettingFocus.com - the landlords’ expert and I’m David Lawrenson, the author of “Successful Property Letting” - the UK’s top selling property and buy to let book for the last 3 years.
I have been a landlord and property investor myself for over 25 years.
At LettingFocus we offer independent unbiased seminars for buy to let investors and landlords as well as one to one advice covering all aspects of being a landlord and investing in property.
I am able to give unbiased independent advice on where to buy (which areas), what type of property to buy, when to buy and how to buy property at a low price. I can also explain how to reduce the risk of getting a bad tenant.
I also do a lot of corporate consulting work in the private rented sector with banks, property websites and local authorities and RSLs - helping with their buy to let and landlord facing products and services.
CHECK OUT THESE PAGES AT OUR SITE LETTINGFOCUS.COM:
Our Events only take place twice a year.
For our NEXT SEMINAR AND NETWORKING EVENT for Landlords and Property Investors click here:
Next Property Investing Seminar and Networking Event
We have GREAT OFFERS for landlords too, Click here: Services and Products for Landlords to see our Landlords Resources (Useful Links) page. (Selling services to landlords and property investors and have a national coverage? You could be a partner, please get in touch!)
For general info on our SEMINARS AND CONSULTING click here: Property Seminars, Networking Evenings and Consulting
ONE TO ONE CONSULTING click here: Property Consulting
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS from past customers click here: Testimonials
BUY THE BOOK click here: Buy the Book at Amazon
THE HOME PAGE OF THIS BLOG click here: Blog
THE HOME PAGE OF OUR MAIN SITE click here: LettingFocus Home Page
To JOIN our Free QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER simply send an email to david@LettingFocus.com - Please note we WILL NOT send spam or sell our mailing list to advertisers!
IF YOU HAVE A SITE WHY NOT LINK TO THIS BLOG OR OUR WEBSITE?
Copyright of Blog: David Lawrenson 2009. This blog is updated roughly once a week usually on a Monday or Tuesday.
Related Article:
http://www.lettingfocus.com/pages/myarticles_Local_Housing_Allowance.html
Also, have you seen this article on Choosing a Letting Agency?
http://www.lettingfocus.com/pages/myarticles_ChoosingaLettingAgency.html
TO VIEW RELATED POSTS select a “Category” at the bottom of this page.
Labels: choice based lettings, housing benefit, LLA, Local Housing Allowance, Local Letting Agency, Private Rented Sector Access Schemes, Rugg Review
This entry was posted by lettingfocus, on
Thursday, November 05, 2009.
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