Home Information Packs The government recently decided not to go

							Home Information Packs                                       Future Leaflets
The government recently decided not to go ahead with         If you would like an article featured in the next leaflet
the idea of a full house condition report as a               please contact LouiseBiddiss on 01268 294056 or email
requirement for all house sales, however it still requires   louise.biddiss@basildon.gov.uk
all vendors to provide an energy efficiency rating
report, known as an SAP Rating.
                                                                                                                                                                            Homelink
Where a landlord or an estate agent find the SAP rating
of a property is low they can help to improve the
                                                                                                                                                                            Advice for private landlords
energy efficiency of the home and help to sell the
                                                                                                                                                                            and agents
property in a shorter period of time if the SAP rating
was increased through insulation and more better
heating.


More information on how to raise the SAP rating of
your property can be obtained from the Energy
Efficiency Advice on 0800 096 6356


Bedsit Accommodation
Since "Buy-to-let accommodation has become popular
many landlords have bought properties to rent out the
rooms as separate bedrooms with the tenants sharing
the bathroom and kitchen. If this applies to you must
comply with the Council's standards for houses in            S.I.L.T




                                                                                                                         PRODUCED BY BASILDON DISTTRICT OUNCIL MARCH 2007
Multiple Occupation (HMO) which cover things like            Basildon District Council,
amenities and fire precautions in bedsit                     St Martin’s Square,
accommodation.                                               Basildon, Essex,
If you have an HMO that is 3 or more storeys and             SS14 1DL
houses 5 or more tenants you must apply for a license
from the council .                                           or email your comments
For more information about the standards and HMO             louise.biddiss@basildon.gov.uk
licensing phone the Environmental Health dept on
01268 294280.                                                 LEAFLETS IN OTHER FORMATS
                                                              ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Empty Dwelling Management Orders                          Is it true that the council is not obliged to obtain a     New Scheme for Essex Landlords
On 6 July 2006 Empty Dwelling Management Orders           market rent?                                               NACRO is a specialist housing association that offers
(EDMO’s) came into force. They allow councils to take     This is untrue. If councils charge below a market rent     supported accommodation to young people and
over the management of some residential properties        they must compensate the owner with the difference         families across Essex. They have just launched a new
that have been empty for more than six months. Their      between the rent they charge and the market rent.          scheme called the Tenancy Triangle Scheme (TTS) to
introduction has been widely reported in the press and                                                               provide much needed additional accommodation. They
continues to promote much discussion and debate.          Is there a right of appeal for EDMOs?                      would like to hear from landlords who have one-
Some of the coverage in the press has been misleading.    Yes. There are several rights of appeal,ncluding a right   bedroom properties in any area in Essex.
Here are a few frequently asked questions.                of appeal against the decision to make an EDMO.
                                                                                                                     In return you will receive regular and guaranteed rent
Who decides if an Empty Dwelling Management               At present Basildon District Council has not issued any    payments and regular property inspections, plus your
Order should be made?                                     EDMO’s and looks at informal ways of bringing empty        council tax and utility bills will be paid.
A council cannot make an interim EDMO without             homes back into use first. This can be in the form a
getting approval from the independent “Residential        grant of up to £20 000. We are also looking to work        For further information please contact Val Hughes on
Property Tribunal Service”(RPT) who are a public body     with a Registered Social Landlord to offer a voluntary     01245 606010
that provide a fair unbiased service that is used by      management scheme whereby the owner leases their
thousands of landlords, Tenants and Leaseholders every    empty property to a Registered Social Landlord for an      Keeping Warm
year . They have a public enquiry line to answer          agreed period.                                             Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEAC’s) are a UK
questions, provide information about tribunal                                                                        network of 52 centres that offer an extensive range of
publications and explain how the tribunal system          If you would like further information about Empty          experience and expertise in energy efficiency.
works. The enquiry line number is 0845 6003178.           Dwelling Management Orders or other empty property         Since the network was launched in 1993, EEAC’s have
The RPT will decide if the order should be allowed, and   issues please contact:                                     advised approximately two million customers on how to
in doing so will make sure the Council has followed the                                                              save energy at home and reduce their heating bills.
correct procedures.                                       Mrs Louise Biddiss on 01268 294056
                                                          or email louise.biddiss@basildon.gov.uk .                  You may qualify for a grant, if you are on income
Can empty homes be taken over from as soon as                                                                        related benefits you may qualify for FREE insulation . If
six months from the death of an owner?                    Further information is also available on the Department    you would like to find out more call the Energy
No. Inherited properties are exempt whilst probate is     for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)                Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 096 6356 for free,
resolved and for a further six months after grant of      website at www.communities.gov.uk/emptyhomes               impartial advice.
representation has been obtained. In most cases the
property would continue to be exempt, for example if                                                                 If your tenant is on a low income or on certain types of
the property was marketed for sale or rent or if it was                                                              benefit they too may be able to claim a “warm front”
used as a holiday home.                                                                                              grant for insulation. Please call 08003162814 for more
                                                                                                                     info.