Episode 15: Decent Homes Standard and Landlord Redress

04/01/22 • 30 min

With plans afoot to extend the Decent Homes Standard to include the PRS, in this month’s episode of Listen Up Landlords, we take a look at the impact any changes could have, as well as shining the spotlight on landlord redress.

Presenters NRLA CEO Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_) are joined by Gavin Dick, NRLA Local Authority Policy Officer as well as Tim Frome of the Property Redress Scheme.

Gavin talks to Ben and Richard about the implications of extending the Decent Homes Standard to the PRS, the potential impact on landlords and what the Government needs to consider before making any changes to rules on property standards.

Elsewhere Catherine Behdad of the NRLA advice team talks about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on landlords and what to do if you need to raise your rents.

And, with the Government announcing plans to make it mandatory for private landlords to sign up to a redress scheme, Tim Frome of the Property Redress Scheme joins the presenters to talk about such schemes, how they work and to introduce a new, exclusive pilot scheme for NRLA members.

If you enjoy the show, please spread the word on your social media channels using the hashtag #listenuplandlords.

For all podcast enquiries email [email protected]

ACCREDITATION: You can now pick up a CPD point to be used towards NRLA accreditation by listening to the podcast. To log your point, visit the accreditation dashboard in the ‘Your Account’ section of the NRLA website. Select ‘Other’ then ‘NRLA Podcast’ from the dropdown menu.

More information

To read a full transcript of the show click here.

Guest Biographies

Gavin Dick

Gavin has worked at the NRLA and legacy organisation the NLA for nine years, specialising in liaising with local authorities on areas including housing safety and standards. He has worked in Westminster on environmental policy and energy efficiency and in the private sector, providing low carbon energy solutions. He also served as a councillor within a local authority for eight years, including time as cabinet member for environment, transport and planning.

Tim Frome - Associate Director at Hamilton Fraser

Tim is responsible for the running of two Hamilton Fraser subsidiaries, HF Resolution Ltd and CM Protect Ltd. HF Resolution runs the Property Redress Scheme and the Cosmetic Redress Scheme while CM Protect runs a Client Money Protection scheme for letting agents. Tim was previously a Legal Services Manager for the mydeposits tenancy deposit protection scheme, where he was responsible for legal matters and managing the disputes and adjudication teams.

Presenters NRLA CEO Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_) are joined by Gavin Dick, NRLA Local Authority Policy Officer as well as Tim Frome of the Property Redress Scheme.

Elsewhere Catherine Behdad of the NRLA advice team talks about the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on landlords and what to do if you need to raise your rents.

If you enjoy the show, please spread the word on your social media channels using the hashtag #listenuplandlords.

For all podcast enquiries email [email protected]

More information

To read a full transcript of the show click here.

Guest Biographies

Gavin Dick

Tim Frome - Associate Director at Hamilton Fraser

Previous Episode

Episode 14 – Tackling the supply crisis and NRLA tax calls

The supply crisis facing the private rented sector has been looming for some time, with latest statistics showing the sector will need to provide an additional 230,000 homes a year by the middle of the decade.

The data comes from a report by consultancy Capital Economics, commissioned by the NRLA, which has now set up a Rental Supply Working Group to tackle the issue.

Made up of stakeholders from across the sector, it is meeting regularly to establish what the current challenges are, develop workable solutions and lobby Government for change.

Listen Up Landlords presenters, NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_) talk to working group members David Cox, Legal & Compliance Director at Rightmove, and Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy (Real Estate) at the British Property Federation about what they can see happening in the sector and how they believe the supply crisis can be tackled.

Elsewhere Dan Cumming of the NRLA advice team talks about the hot topics on the phonelines throughout the month, including changes to the right to rent process coming up in April.

Finally, NRLA Policy Director Chris Norris talks in more depth about the findings of the new Capital Economics report and how they have been used as the basis for the NRLA’s calls for positive taxation policies for landlords ahead of Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement next month.

If you enjoy the show, please spread the word on your social media channels using the hashtag #listenuplandlords.

For all podcast enquiries email [email protected]

More information

If you would like further details on how to become accredited with the NRLA click here.

To download the full Capital Economics report; Challenges and Opportunities for the Private Rented Sector, click here.

Guest Biographies

David Cox, Legal & Compliance Director, Rightmove

David Cox joined the Rightmove team as Legal & Compliance Director in 2020, with responsibility for keeping agents up-to-date on latest industry legislation and compliance. Chief executive of ARLA Propertymark from 2014 to 2019, David has a strong background in lettings, legislation and government liaison.

Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy (Real Estate), British Property Federation (BPF).

A former Head of Policy and Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, Ian is Director of Policy (Real Estate) at the BPF – the trade association for the property investment sector. Ian speaks for the sector and his team covers a wide range of housing, commercial property, planning and sustainability issues.

Chris Norris NRLA Policy Director

Chris Norris is responsible for policy and campaigns at the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). A private landlord and former letting agent himself, Chris has represented landlords for more than a decade, joining the NLA’s policy team in early 2007.

Next Episode

Episode 16: Local authority enforcement and lets with pets

This month we take a deep dive into the issues of local authority enforcement and lets with pets.

Presenters NRLA CEO Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_) are joined by NRLA Policy Officer Sam Watkin, co-author of the NRLA’s recent report on the enforcement lottery when it comes to local authorities and their approach to housing standards in the PRS.

The report shows an alarming disparity in levels of enforcement by local authorities against poor property conditions, and Sam explains both the findings of the report and its recommendations.

Elsewhere Dan Cumming of the NRLA advice team talks about the Supreme Court’s decision to reject a further appeal IN the long-running Trecarrell House case – and what this means for landlords.

And finally Jen Berezai, of pets charity AdvoCats, will talk about the challenge of finding pet-friendly lets and the legislative changes Government could make to mitigate the risk to landlords.

If you enjoy the show, please spread the word on your social media channels using the hashtag #listenuplandlords.

For all podcast enquiries email [email protected]

More information

To read a full transcript of the show and to listen click here.