Renting to the council

Jowo_2

mattygg wrote: »

Can anyone who has a bit of experience in this area let me know the proceedures for this. What I would have to do (apart from electric and gas certificates). Also what would i be liable for in the house, as opposed to the council.

They will vary from social housing provider to social housing provider. But they'll probably want proof of ownership, proof of consent to let from the lender, proof of insurance. Some will want the landlord to provide it furnished at the outset and will hand it back empty, some will furnish it themselves. Others will insist the landlord does extra health and safety work on the property, such as the removal of internal locks, filling of a pond, removal of glass shelves and so forth (far in excess of that required in a private rental).

The private sector lease will specify exactly what the landlord and council are responsible for - no one can tell you until you receive a copy and then you'd want a housing solicitor to check it and tell you why it is unfair compared with a conventional AST between landlord and tenant.

The landlord remains responsible for any standard landlord type repair costs to the infrastructure, such as repairs to the plumbing, heating, electricity and so forth, unless its been caused by tenant behaviour (which is hard to prove). The social housing provider usually isn't responsible for any kind of decoration or floor coverings. There is usually a cap which means the social housing provider will only pay a small sum back to the landlord for any damage made to the property when it is returned.

In my friends case, Brighton and Hove council was supposed to be responsible for all repairs caused by the tenants behaviour but simply handed back in a semi-trashed condition, aware that they'd capped the compensation level to two months rent (which made little dent in the eventual costs) and that this excluded any damage to decoration and floor covering, according to the terms of the lease. Also, they dismissed a lot of the other damage as 'fair wear and tear' including scratches on the bath made with a sharp instrument, ripped off window stays, internal locks and so forth which is an insult to the definition of FW&T.

The council also forgot to arrange the last gas safety certificate which put my friend at the risk of being prosecuted, plus previously the tenants refused to cooperate with a gas engineer visit - this is ultimately the responsibility of the landlord but it does indicate why it is so risky to hand over the property to a disorganised apathetic organisation who are going to use it to house newly released prisoners.

The council did not provide any inspection reports which is why my friend was unaware about the poor DIY performed by the previous tenants, their keeping of pets, installation of a satellite dish, broken windows, smashed doors, broken bathroom fan, leaking bath and so on. The plumber who came back to do some repairs after the tenants left, had undertaken some work for the previous tenants, too, and revealed they openly smoked drugs in front of their child when he was there.

Like Clutton, I think you are dazzled by the LHA rates oblivious to the fact that you are far more likely to get the property back in an unacceptable condition and will have signed a lease which limits your redress.

Instead of calculating the LHA you have to calculate how expensive it will be, if like my friend, you rent out the property to Brighton and Hove council under their private sector leasing who say they will manage the tenants and the repairs but don't do either and regard the landlord as a nuisance, regularly ignoring all the reports of damage and anti social behaviour made against them by the neighbour and freeholder.

Once my friend got their keys back, I had to call in a glazier, electrician, plumber, carpet fitter, handyman/decorator, chimney sweep and kitchen fitter to rectify the damage and restore it back to its original condition, plus return lots of letters to debt collectors seeking the former tenants.

Brighton and Hove council temporary accommodation. Brighton and Hove council private sector lettings. Brighton and Hove council management agreement scheme.

LisaGTR

Hi, I am considering going onto the scheme in Scotland. I am considering it as the council pay more than what I can get in a private let due to the area turning into a 'hard to let' area. I have called all the big mortgage lenders and cannot find any company willing to touch the mortgage.

Does anyone know of any companies that would accept this mortgage type?

Thanks in advance

queenieplum

I just wanted to let you know that I am currently renting to the council and its working out very well (its not all doom and gloom!). I have landlords insurance which covers me for everything and glad I went down this avenue. They guarantee the rent even if the property is not occupied.