Council will use a third-party firm for inspecting rented homes

surely all this is irrelevant if the tenant themselves does not grant access? They have a right to refuse anyone entering (even the property owner and we have all had experience of this probably).

In this case knowing it is not even a council official, if I were the tenant I would flatly refuse myself point blank.

one company tendered and one company chosen – brown envelope/council buddy I suspect???

This will be interesting,
3 inspections over 5 years. What we gonna’ do then when we can clearly see the tenant is wrecking something? We now have evidence off the Council’s own inspectors that we can now evict when the same Council say We can’t take her Mick cause she said she hasn’t damaged anything.
And more rent increases to fix the repeating damage by same tenant.
Don’t cry when u get what u wished for Peterborough.

Here is one of my tenants this week to Nottingham City Council Selective Licensing Inspection, newest at top:

Hello Mr XX

My colleague, XXX, has passed on your complaint to me as I am duty officer for today. First of all please accept my apologies for any undue worries caused by any actions on our part. That certainly was not our intention and we sincerely apologise for any offense it has caused. I can appreciate that you must be incredibly busy being a single parent and so we do not want to cause any inconvenience to you.

Would it be possible for you to ring me on 07971 XXX please so that I may discuss the matter in person, and hopefully clear up any concerns you may have about the licensing scheme and the inspections we carry out? We appreciate that not everyone is happy with the scheme but I would like the opportunity to answer your questions if possible.

Many thanks and kindest regards,
XX

Regulatory Compliance Officer

Communities | Communities, Environment and Resident Services | Selective Licensing (part of Safer Housing)

+ Nottingham City Council, C/O Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG

*[email protected]

From: XXX
Sent: 21 June 2023 09:30
To: XXX
Cc: Mick Roberts [email protected]

NottmRenters

—–Original Message—–
From: XXX
Sent: 20 June 2023 17:28
To: XXX
Cc: Mick Roberts

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 22/06/2023 – 12:29
Well said DSR,

I’ve just said the same.

iHowz are lobbing to get all licencing schemes to follow the Southampton model, where landlords can choose an independent surveyor or the council can inspect. It is notable that the costs of their scheme are significantly lower.
https://www.southampton.gov.uk/housing/landlords/houses-multiple-occupation/licence-fees/

Ideally, many of the licencing requirements can be covered using the property portal, but don’t hold your breath.

Reply to the comment left by Rod at 22/06/2023 – 12:52
Great info as usual Rod.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 22/06/2023 – 12:36
hahahah – nice one Mr Tenant!

Tell the council exactly how it is. The actual action of getting into a property is exactly what any twonk who is instigating SL has failed to take any account of at all. The tenant.

I have discretely mentioned in my chats with my tenants (in areas which SL is now coming in) that they do not have to let anyone in unless they want to.

I assume Mick that Notts SL means they contact you to gain access in the first instance and not the tenant directly? I have still to apply for the Bham SL (still getting all the details together to find out exactly what it means etc) but from what I can see so far they dont ask for tenant specific details so any request for access has to go through the licence holder first?

Thanks Mick.

You’re doing a great job too with your tenants.

No chance of local authorities apologising when they realise how much damage this unfocussed approach causes, unlike Sheffield following their great lumberjack project which saw all those trees felled.

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 22/06/2023 – 13:16

Exactly DSR,

Me & my big Landlord Mate Pete sat down about 4+ years ago with new head of compliance for Licensing (I’d know him through the Council in other roles for 20+ years-good man) & we jostled backwards & forwards with him saying we going in if we want & we said u CANNOT if no crime has been committed & tenant don’t want u in & finally he said Oh I see, u mean if the tenant doesn’t want us in? Bingo. Lot of em have come from the older HIMO’s where tenants wanted Inspectors in. And think all Landlords are bad.
My very first conversation with Head of Licensing over 5 years ago He said What u get on with all your tenants? I can’t believe it & he laughed. They genuinely did think all tenants hated Landlords. They got a shock with me & many others.

When some of my tenants aren’t fussed either way, I say u know how u paying £200pm less than anyone else, well if they come in & they say U must have this & that 2023 New build standard, well I can do that, but only on a 2023 rent. Not blackmail but the truth. And my houses are good as are many. But we all know, getting to EPC C-A is gonna’ cost.

Well DSR, Licensing emailed me directly with this:

Selective Licensing – Notification of intended entry – XXXX
Dear Sir/Madam

Housing Act 2004, Part 3 Selective Licensing – Notification of intended entry

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ATTACHED – DO NOT IGNORE

This email is in relation to the property known as:

XXX

Please find attached notification that the above property will be inspected by an officer of this department at the time and date stated in the letter.

You are not required to attend the inspection however if you wish to attend the visit with us, you must give your tenants 24 hours’ notice in writing. Please note the inspection might take 30 to 60 minutes.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the office directly.

And then DSR with an attached letter:

14 June 2023
Housing Act 2004 Section 239
Selective Licensing
Notification of intended entry to property
XXXX
I write to inform you that we intend to visit the property known as XXX on 28 June 2023.
As you are either the licence holder, manager or owner of the property, this letter is to give you prior notification of our visit. The purpose of the visit is to check that the licence conditions are being complied with.
We’ll also assess the housing conditions at the property, in accordance with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). If hazards are identified the Council may be under a duty or have the power to serve an enforcement notice under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004. If we do, we’re entitled to demand expenses from you; this is currently £350. You can find a landlord’s guide to HHSRS here by entering this URL into your web browser: goo.gl/mVmbxb
If you wish to attend the visit with us, you must give your tenants 24 hours’ notice in writing.
Should you wish to discuss, please do not hesitate in contacting me directly.
Yours faithfully

At that time DSR, I didn’t know until tenant told me, that they also write tenant a letter.

I’ve had brief words with some head of Birmingham Licensing & she does not seem happy bunny when Landlords & tenants find fault with Licensing & she genuinely believes all houses & Landlords are gonna’ be bad & the Council is the savior.

The only problen with the tenant not allowing access for inspection is the council will simply not give/renew a licence for the property, waht happens then ?