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Landlords
F o r u m
MINUTES OF BRADFORD LANDLORDS FORUM
10 OCTOBER 2002 AT SHIPLEY TOWN HALL
PRESENT: Chair: Denise Thomas
Secretary: Michael Patchett
Samreen Khan George Laslo
Simon Brayshaw Carol Brook
T A Callan John Stather
Kath Worsnop Wayne Noteman
G W Headley R Browne
Brian Jennings J Beanland
Janet Green David Scargill
Simon Callaghan Maurice Ridgeway
Adam Varley David North
Rifat Dad Lorna Frost
APOLOGIES: Ian Jackson C Holmes
J Massam M Mac-Kenzie Rowley
ACTION
1 MINUTES OF LAST MEETING (ACCURACY AND MATTERS
ARISING)
1.1 Item 2.2 – M Patchett is still waiting for notification of dates for Bradford RD
Housing Partnership meetings. RD is to follow this up.
1.2 Item 7.2 – Recommend contractor’s list
AV has prepared this and left it with the signing in book.
1.3 Item 7.4 – E-mail address
AV reported that this is working now.
1.4 Item 6.0 – Market Rents
AV had no further information on this.
1.5 Item 9.0 – Any Other Business
Denise Thomas reported that she had samples of the fire resistant
materials if anybody was interested.
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ACTION
2.0 SECRETARIES REPORT
None.
3.0 CHAIRS REPORT
None.
4.0 INSURANCE AND THE LANDLORD
4.1 Carol Brook (Bush and Associates) based in Halifax did a presentation
on the type of work carried out by her firm. They are Independent
Insurance Advisers, specialising in commercial insurance and personal
insurances.
4.2 CB explained the factors which affect premiums.
CB left a brief summary of the works carried out by her firm and her
contact details.
CB was thanked by all for attending.
5.0 THE NFRL (NATIONAL FEDERATION OF RESIDENTIAL
LANDLORDDS) AND STARTING A LANDLORD ASSOCIATION
5.1 John Stather (Recruitment Co-ordinator) provided detailed information
on NFRL and the benefits of setting up a Landlords Association.
5.2 NFRL was started in 1996.
It is recognised by Central Government as a key consultant on major
issues eg. health and safety, rent control and the proposed changes to
the law on tenancies.
5.3 NFRL has 35 affiliated landlord associations, with a total of over 10,000
members.
5.4 NFRL has been involved in many Housing Benefit policy issues:
a) successfully fought against single room rent being extended to all
persons over 25 years old
b) many local successes on local authority policy on overpayments.
c) now involved in quarterly meetings with Housing Benefit Policy
Groups.
5.5 The National Code of Practice was commended by DTLR in September
2000.
5.6 NFRL has members on the National Accreditation Steering Group.
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ACTION
5.7 A website for NFRL is being introduced. Local associations are linked to
national site, local Council’s can link to local association sites.
5.8 J Stather was thanked by the Chair for attending and for giving a very
informative presentation.
DT to speak to AV re Landlord’s Association. There is a launch for
Landlord’s Association in Sheffield on 6 November 2002.
6.0 BESTBDHOMES – BRADFORD COUNCIL’S ACCREDITATION
SCHEME
6.1 AV reported that the Landlord’s Consultative Group had met and
discussed the Bronze Code of Standards for Accreditation. Copies of
the Code were available. AV requested any comments before the 15th
October 2002.
6.2 AV explained to the meeting that the launch date for Accreditation would
be on 9 December 2002.
6.3 AV explained the different incentives of joining the BestBDHomes
Scheme.
- Advertising the properties on the Homehunter website.
Homehunter is a well funded and professional website.
BestBDHomes will be advertised in the Telegraph and Argus as
part of regular Homehunter features.
- Housing Benefit Hotline – This is likely to run Tuesday to
Thursday 4-6pm. This will be on a trial period and expanded or
contracted according to its use.
- Certificates and stickers will identify accredited properties.
- Discounts from sponsors.
- Legal forms/Notices at a small charge. This will be developed
with Unipol and hopefully available by January 2003.
- Mediation Service – tenants will be encouraged to use this rather
than the traditional ‘environmental health’ enforcement service.
- Free for the first year for all.
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ACTION
7.0 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None.
8.0 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
To be arranged.
9.0 HOUSING BENEFIT UPDATE
9.1 Housing Benefit staff are to meet the rent service and raise some of the
questions that are asked at the Forum, ie. will rent levels increase if
housing prices continue rising?
- M Ridgeway and S Callaghan explained that new claims are
reviewed usually within 2 days and 60% of new claims are sent
back due to lack of information.
The meeting closed at 4.40pm.
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