Issue 24 - Feb 2011
Welcome to the February 2011 edition of the Greater Nottingham Landlords' Electronic Newsletter.
Contents
- Landlord and Letting Agent Failed to Apply for a HMO Licence - A Nottingham letting agent has been ordered to pay £10,347.67 after pleading guilty to failing to apply for a licence for a student property....
- Happy Birthday Unipol - Unipol celebrated its third birthday in Nottingham at an event held in the Council house on Tuesday 11th January 2011 attended by its supporters and users ...
- CIEH policy position statement on carbon monoxide - At present there is no obligation on landlords of private sector housing to install carbon monoxide detectors....
- Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. Don't mistake the symptoms for a hangover - Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week was organised by the charity CO-Awareness and ran from 15th to 19th November 2010....
- Beware of fake law firm websites - The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has brought to light incidents of criminals 'cloning' the identities of legitimate law firms and solicitors through fake websites ...
- How landlords can help -The Census will be held on Sunday 27th March 2011. It is important that everyone completes a form ....
Landlord and Letting Agent Failed to Apply for a HMO Licence
A Nottingham letting agent has been ordered to pay £10,347.67 after pleading guilty to failing to apply for a licence for a student property.
Thomas James Lettings Limited was fined £6,400 and ordered to pay £3932.67 costs and £15victim surcharge for failing to apply for an HMO, House in Multiple Occupation licence for a house in Hungerton Street.
Thomas Reynolds, the company's director and the owner of the property, was also fined £2,000 plus £3,932.67 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
It has been a requirement under the Housing Act 2004 Part 2 since April 2006 for certain Houses in Multiple Occupation, HMOs to licensed. Licensable HMOs are those comprising of 3 or more storeys with 5 or more persons in two or more households. The maximum fine for failing to obtain a licence is £20,000.
An investigation which began in October 2009 by Nottingham City Council's, Environmental Health HMO team, found the property to be occupied by five students and unlicensed.
To obtain a HMO application form please contact the HMO team at Lawrence House, Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5NT, telephone 0115 9156798.
Happy Birthday Unipol
Unipol celebrated its third birthday in Nottingham at an event held in the Council house on Tuesday 11th January 2011 attended by its supporters and users.
Cllr Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council said: "It’s three years on and Unipol is now a central resource for both landlords and students. In excess of 400 landlords are now signed up to the Unipol DASH Accreditation Code, with a further 16 managing agents either full members of the Code or supporters. This equates to approximately 2,000 properties and just under 9,000 bed spaces being covered by the code. Nottingham is privileged to have this scheme and we are very proud of the results that have been achieved."
Cllr David Trimble, who played a pivotal role in establishing and shaping the service, congratulated Unipol on the progress made and recalled three years ago, when he was leafleting or canvassing in his ward, that he had to share the streets with groups of young people desperate to find next year's accommodation.
"It got to the point that first years starting at the University were house hunting 6 weeks after their course started, - for a house next year. Students were so desperate they would take anything regardless of the quality and at almost any cost."
He highlighted the importance of high quality student housing in the city - a major issue in 4 out of the 20 wards within the city boundaries with Unipol as the only organisation that united all parties on this issue.
"Universities support Unipol because they see the real welfare and housing benefits it gives to the students they attract to Nottingham and local residents support Unipol because any housing improvements they can make in their neighbourhoods is improvements in their neighbourhoods."
Good landlords get real benefits from Unipol because they help to create a level playing field by making it harder for poor landlords to undercut the good landlords and undermine the rented sector in the city.
It is in all of our interests to drive out poor landlords and raise standards."
As a local councillor for Dunkirk and Lenton ward Cllr Trimble fully supported Unipol's work in the ward he represented and as an Executive Member of the City Council he also supported Unipol's work across the city.
Contributions were also made Michael Lees, from Nottingham Trent University who praised the revitalised accreditation scheme (the Unipol DASH Code) and gave the University full support to seeing quality control extended throughout the sector.
Teddy Smith, from Nottingham University Students' Union, stressed the importance of helping students to make wise decisions about their housing without rushing into house hunting. The Union, in partnership with Unipol, had spoken directly to over 1,500 first year students this year before Christmas at a series of talks held throughout the University - the best attended events ever. Students were getting better help, advice and support than ever before which was part of building the essential student experience in Nottingham.
In concluding the proceedings, Martin Blakey, the Chief Executive or Unipol thanked all of those present, the University of Nottingham and their students' union, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham City Council and the landlords for helping to grow the service.
The Unipol web site was very popular with students and was used equally between the students of Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham and had displayed 27,462 bed spaces over the last two years, with 80 percent currently being accredited.
The service had been successful because:
- it had operated as a cross-City and cross institutional initiative, between partners and with their support.
- the unified house hunting date had brought some structure to the market and had an increasing impact year on year
- accreditation was delivering higher standards with increased training and support from landlords
- the Code Supporters scheme for managing agents had been launched recently and was progressing well.
But the service could not stand still. Communicating effectively with students was an ongoing task each and every year.
Looking forward:
- the accreditation standards needed revising
- a starred system will be introduced to recognise the best
- Unipol needed to play its part in regulating lettings boards that defaced the streets
- management standards needed linking more closely with community expectations.
This could only be achieved by partners working together to seeing student housing as an integral part of Nottingham's overall housing strategy.
CIEH policy position statement on carbon monoxide
At present there is no obligation on landlords of private sector housing to install carbon monoxide detectors, even though carbon monoxide is one of the most common causes of accidental poisoning in the UK.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless, tasteless, non-irritant gas which is produced when carbon based fuels such as coal, gas, coke and wood burn without enough air. This can happen when appliances such as heaters, boilers and cookers are used not in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, malfunction, are incorrectly installed or when flues or chimneys become blocked.
The problem is not uncommon. Studies have shown for example that between 6 and 20 per cent of homes in London have CO levels above World Health Organisation upper limits.
Carbon monoxide is the cause of death of around 50 people each year in England and Wales and is responsible for over 400 hospital admissions for non lethal poisoning incidents. At low levels, symptoms of CO poisoning often mimic other more common conditions such as flu or food poisoning, but at high levels, it can cause sudden collapse and death. So the true burden of carbon monoxide poisoning is difficult to quantify, because many exposures are unrecognised and unreported and cases can
be misdiagnosed.
The CIEH is concerned that the recent spending review and subsequent cuts to housing support might exacerbate the fact that carbon monoxide poisoning tends to affect the most vulnerable members of the community, such as elderly people living in private rented accommodation. CIEH members are responsible for regulating the private rented housing sector (enforcing housing legislation) and our fear is that if environmental health capacity is cut there will be fewer resources to tackle rogue landlords - many of whom operate under the radar.
In 2010 the CIEH proposed legislation that would make compulsory the installation of carbon monoxide monitors in all new and any tenanted (both public and private) dwellings that have any solid, oil or gas burning appliances for space or water heating or for cooking, and for any dwelling above or immediately adjacent to restaurants, cafes, bars or other cooked food outlets.
In order to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide among environmental health practitioners and to help reduce carbon monoxide poisoning incidents, the CIEH and Health Protection Agency (HPA) have produced a housing inspection aid. The one page checklist outlines key indicators of the possible presence of carbon monoxide and the symptoms in occupants that environmental health practitioners should look out for.
The guidance advises Environmental Health Practitioners to recommend that occupants fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm in their home compliant with British standard EN50291. But the installation of an alarm should not replace regular gas safety checks and servicing by an appropriately registered engineer.
The CIEH/HPA Carbon Monoxide inspection aid can be downloaded from the CIEH web site at www.cieh.org/policy/publications_a_z.html
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. Don't mistake the symptoms for a hangover.
Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week was organised by the charity CO-Awareness and ran from 15th to 19th November 2010. The aim of the week was to reduce incidents, fatalities and ill health due to carbon monoxide poisoning by raising awareness amongst consumers.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Inhaling the gas reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen, leaving the body's organs and cells starved of oxygen.
Common sources of carbon monoxide in the home include faulty central heating systems, gas appliances and fires. Blocked flues and chimneys mean the gas can not escape and is inhaled by the unsuspecting occupant.
Carbon monoxide kills about 50 people each year in the UK and causes 200 cases of recorded non-fatal injury (Health Protection Agency).
Although carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, signs that indicate incomplete combustion is occurring, resulting in the production of CO, include:
- Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (apart from fuel effect fires or flueless appliances which display this colour flame)
- Soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances
- Pilot lights that frequently blow out
- Increased condensation inside windows
If you think a gas appliance is faulty, turn it off, open doors and windows to ventilate and contact a gas safe engineer to check the appliance. In an emergency call the gas emergency helpline on 0800 111 999. If you feel unwell, seek medical attention straight away.
Preventative measures you can take against carbon monoxide exposure, include:
- Gas appliances and/or flues are installed and serviced regularly for safety by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Provide your tenants with a copy of the gas safety check certificate.
- Get your chimney swept at least once a year by a qualified sweep.
- Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm as a useful back-up precaution but they are not to be regarded as a substitute for proper installation and maintenance of gas appliances.
Six Oxford university students narrowly escaped death when a carbon monoxide leak was discovered in their student house. Their carbon monoxide alarm warned them of the danger (The Oxford Student).
Carbon monoxide alarms should comply with European standard EN 50291 and should be installed, checked and serviced in line with the manufacturer's instructions.
Further information can be found at:
www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/co/coawareweek.htm
www.fire-magazine.com/Content/Doc.aspx?id=964
Beware of fake law firm websites.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has brought to light incidents of criminals 'cloning' the identities of legitimate law firms and solicitors through fake websites.
This activity is being undertaken to obtain money fraudulently. At first sight these 'firms' can appear genuine but individuals are being asked to send money in advance to a fake bank account.
The SRA are advising all firms to be vigilant and take extra precautions to ensure they don't become a victim of this activity.
If you are looking to sell, purchase or remortgage a property make sure you use a trustworthy law firm.
How landlords can help
The Census will be held on Sunday 27th March 2011. It is important that everyone completes a form.
The importance of the Census
The Census is important to Nottingham for two reasons:
- Results from the Census form a very significant factor in the annual Financial Settlement for the City Council and other public bodies. Part of this is their use in the official Mid-Year Estimates of Population. ONS estimate the characteristics of households that do not complete a form, but it is still to Nottingham's advantage to have as complete data as possible. Each person missed is estimated to be worth at least £200 per year for 10 years - i.e. £2 million per 1,000 people, a significant amount in the current economic climate.
- Census population and demographic data is used extensively to plan and target services. For much of the data involved (e.g. many social and economic characteristics by age and ethnic group) the Census is a once in 10 years opportunity to update our information for local areas of the City. It also provides important information for use in bids for funding.
In addition, and from a more personal point of view, the Census is very important for family history research. It is the only way that, in 100 years time, our descendants will be able to find out a lot of things about us.
How the Census is carried out
The Census is carried out by the Office for National Statistics. It is a legal requirement for the forms to be completed. The detailed information is kept confidential for 100 years.
For the first time, Census forms will be sent out by post. They can either be returned by post or completed on-line. The forms will be sent out from 4th March and people have until 6th April to return them, but the information they fill in should relate to where they were and their circumstances on Census Day. Each form will have a unique barcode and number, so, from Census Day, ONS will be able to track which forms have been returned and to send collectors to chase up those which have not been returned.
Analysis of the 25 million census forms is a major exercise. The first data will be released in the summer of 2012, with the remainder being published by the end of the year.
How landlords can help
Landlords can help with the Census in two ways:
- By emphasising to tenants the importance of the Census and also its confidential nature. No-one is allowed access to the detailed data for 100 years, so there can be no cross-checking with other information on people by the Government or Council. Indeed, it is a criminal offence to try to access any of the information about people or households.
- By assisting the field staff working on the Census with information on access to blocks of flats etc.
Further information
The ONS Census website www.2011.census.gov.uk has information about the Census.
The Census Area Manager for Nottingham City is Michelle Breslin E106@census.gov.uk
© 2007. The Greater Nottingham Landlords’ Electronic Newsletter is run as a partnership