Landlords APRP. Are you looking for a tenant? Then let us take the hassle out of letting your property with our FREE service

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1 Landlords Are you looking for a tenant? Then let us take the hassle out of letting your property with our FREE service

2 How we can help rent your property? Coventry City Council's Access to Private Rented Properties () team helps to place people and families looking for accommodation in housing in the private sector. The team, through Coventry City Council, offers landlords a written guarantee in place of a cash deposit on behalf of our clients and then support them as tenants to enable them to act responsibly and maintain their tenancies. The team can also help in many other ways. This includes advising landlords on changes in the law and upcoming legislation, handling paperwork including the inventory, act as a mediator if a dispute arises and check all tenants before they approach you. Basically we help take a lot of the risk out of letting, making your job easier. Telephone:

3 Why should landlords join the scheme? There are many benefits for landlords who join the scheme. They include: A dedicated team offering a free service to help you every step of the way Your property inspected by qualified HHSRS member of staff A ready supply of tenants to help minimise voids The Council will endeavour to identify a suitable tenant for the property within three working days after inspection of the property and its acceptance on to the scheme The team will give advice and support to tenants to ensure that they understand their obligations and minimise any problems If problems do arise, the Council will act as an intermediary between the tenant and the landlord to help resolve any issues Where appropriate the tenant's Housing Benefit claim will be set up by the Council at the outset. The claim form will be completed at initial interview to ensure that it can be dealt with without delay. aprp@coventry.gov.uk

4 Payments may be made direct to the landlord if the tenant is entitled to housing benefit. However universal credits may change this arrangement The Council will provide the landlord with a written deposit guarantee in place of a cash deposit. This will not exceed the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to the value of two month's for 12 month tenancies and one month for six month tenancies The team will inspect a property within three working days of being notified of its availability and will advise on any work necessary to achieve the minimum required standards. A photographic inventory will be produced for every property, complete with photographs of each room The Council will act as an intermediary in the event of a dispute between the landlord and the tenant General advice to the landlord on tenancy issues including tenancy agreements can be provided by the team if it is required The Council will provide a dedicated address/phone number for landlords to contact the team and will respond to queries in accordance with the agreed service standards Advice and guidance on energy efficiency, including the Green Deal, and other matters like landlord s insurance can be provided by the team if required.

5 What is expected of landlords? The main responsibilities of landlords under the Access to Private Rented Properties () scheme are: The landlord must be able to prove that he/she has a legal right to let the property The landlord will provide at his/her own expense up-to-date gas, electricity and energy efficiency certificates The property must conform to the Council's approved standards before it can be accepted onto the scheme Landlords should consider the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates when setting their rents To inform the Access to Private Rented Properties () team at the earliest opportunity of any issues arising which may jeopardise the tenancy (for example, rent arrears) To inform the team within a reasonable period (to be agreed) of the end of the tenancy whether the landlord intends to make a claim on the bond The landlord must comply with all other legal responsibilities.

6 Interested? Then contact us If you would like more information about the scheme, please contact. Telephone / 1924 / aprp@coventry.gov.uk or visit: Terms and conditions: The () team does not make any warranty or representation as to the suitability or otherwise of any tenant who is introduced to you. Though it will strive to ensure that there are no problems, the team cannot take any responsibility for the conduct or behaviour of tenants once in a property. The selection of tenants ultimately remains the responsibility of the landlord. Providing an inventory and issuing a written guarantee or bond is not a warranty or representation as to the suitability of a property, its general safety or state of repair. Coventry City Council and the Private Rented Properties () team aims to help all eligible people regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, disability or religion. Landlords are asked to follow this policy. If you would like this information in another language or format please contact. Telephone aprp@coventry.gov.uk 12/6/2685