Advice and Information for Landlords
We recognise the important role that Landlords have in providing
a supply of quality private rented homes. The information provided
below should help to ensure a good working relationship between the
Council, landlords and their tenants.
Your responsibilities as a landlord
Landlords who let accommodation have a responsibility to ensure
that it is free from serious hazards and in good repair:
More information about the rights and responsibilities of
landlord is available here:
Landlord Accreditation
Dover District Council is a member of the Kent Landlord
Accreditation Scheme, a voluntary partnership between the Councils
and landlords which recognises responsible landlords.
The benefits for both the Council, landlords and tenants
include:
- Recognition by the Council of good landlords.
- A general raising of standards in the private rented
sector
- A better working relationship between the council and
landlords.
- Help tenants find good quality accommodation.
- Reduce the number of landlord/tenant disputes needing
intervention by the Council
- improves communication between the landlord and the
Council
More information about the Scheme is available here:
Landlord Forum
The Council organises two landlords forums a year usually in
April and October. The forums are organised with Shepway District
Council in partnership with landlords associations such as the
National Landlords association.
Landlords can get information about welfare Benefits , Fire
Brigade etc. Most of the time will be taken up with presentations
to provide information and obtain views from landlords. All
landlords are welcome.
The next forum is taking place at Shepway District Council
on 20 October 2011.
Landlord
Forum
Energy Performance Certificates
Landlords must provide an Energy Performance Certificate to
people who want to rent a home from them. This is enforced by
Trading Standards.
An energy performance certificate (EPC) provides information
about the energy efficiency of the home for rent.
Other useful information for landlords
Letting your property
When you let your property to a tenant, the tenancy is usually
an assured shorthold tenancy (unless you agree otherwise in writing
or it is outside the assured tenancy legislation). This means
that:
- you have a guaranteed right to get your home back after six
months - if you need to
- you can charge a market rent
- you can get your home back if your tenant owes you at least two
months' or eight weeks' rent
- tenants causing a nuisance to local people can be evicted.
The downloadable leaflet (below) gives more details:
Council Tax & Housing Benefit - Information for
Landlords
We believe that landlords are an important stakeholder in the
service that we provide. We aim to work with landlords to ensure
that they receive payment promptly and to ensure that overpayments
are minimised. In return we ask landlords to respect our
obligations towards claimant confidentiality and the Data
Protection Act when they make enquiries about their tenants.
Kent Trading Standards
Kent Trading Standards aims to make Kent a better place to live
and do business. They enforce a wide range of legislation to
protect the consumer and ensure that businesses compete on a "level
playing field".
Contact
Tel: 01304 872397
Email: privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk
