This page is for landlords of private properties. If you are a tenant of a private sector property and need advice, please visit our page on help for tenants.
If you privately rent out your property, you are a landlord.
As a landlord, you have several responsibilities which are determined by law.
The following government links provide some useful information about renting out a property.
- Renting out a property
- Landlord responsibilities
- Tenancy agreements
- Deposit protection schemes
- Making repairs
- Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard
- Evicting tenants
How Tamworth Borough Council can help
We have a private sector housing team which can help landlords with various issues related to housing that is not owned by the council. This includes leasehold properties, privately rented accommodation, housing association properties and owner-occupied homes.
The team can provide advice and support on issues related to empty homes, houses in multiple occupation, tenancy law, tenants refusing access, evicting tenants and anti-social behaviour.
We can also get involved if a tenant complains to us about hazards in the home or repairs that are needed. We can carry out an inspection under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).
You can read the full HHSRS guide for landlords here, which sets out all the landlord responsibilities for protecting tenants against potential health and safety hazards in their properties.
Preventing homelessness
Tamworth Borough Council also has a duty to help people who are at risk of losing their homes and will work with landlords where possible to prevent this from happening.
If a tenant says they can’t pay their rent, please encourage them to contact our housing solutions team on 01827 709486, or to seek advice from the Tamworth Advice Centre.
If a tenant receives Universal Credit or housing benefit, and they are eight weeks in arrears, you can apply to have the benefit paid directly to you. Please contact our benefits team to help you with this on 01827 709540, or via email: benefits@tamworth.gov.uk.
Landlord enforcement
The overall aim of the private sector housing team is to maintain and improve housing conditions in the town. Our approach is to achieve this through advice, information and assistance, wherever possible. However, we will seek to use our powers of enforcement if necessary.
We do this under the terms of our strategic housing enforcement, fees and charging policy.
Renters Reform Bill
This new Bill was presented to parliament in May 2023, proposing widespread reforms in the private rented sector, including the abolishment of ‘no fault’ evictions, more comprehensive possession grounds for landlords and stronger protection for tenants against 'backdoor' eviction. The government is also seeking to apply the Decent Homes Standard to the sector.
Read about the Renters Reform Bill here.
Redress scheme for property agents
If you’re an estate agent, letting agent or property manager dealing with residential properties, you must join an approved redress scheme.
A customer can complain to the scheme with any issues that have not been resolved between the two parties.
Visit this link for more information on redress schemes.
Contact
If you are a private sector landlord and need our help with any of the above, please get in touch.
Tel: 01827 709388. Email: Private-sectorhousing@tamworth.gov.uk.