SAFER COMMUNITIES
TENANTS’ RIGHTS
If you are a tenant in privately
rented property you have rights to:
■
Live in a property that is safe
and in a good state of repair
■
Know who your landlord is
■
Live in the property
undisturbed
■
Be protected from unfair
eviction (you do not have to
leave immediately because
the landlord tells you to) and
unfair rent
■
Have a written agreement if
you have a fixed-term tenancy
of more than three years.
For more information visit:
www.ealing.gov.uk/housing
and click on ‘Private housing’ in
the vertical list of options.
EMPTY PROPERTY GRANTS
Ealing Council offers discretionary
grants of up to £15,000 to assist
landlords with properties that have
been empty for six months or more.
Grants are issued on the condition
that homes are brought up to
standard and then let through the
council to families in urgent need
of decent housing. The council also
operates a free matchmaker scheme
which links up owners of empty
properties with potential buyers.
Find out more at www.ealing.gov.uk
LICENSING PRIVATE SECTOR
As already stated, most landlords
are responsible and more and more
are becoming accredited. However,
some landlords and some properties
fall below the required standards.
And 11 private landlords have been
prosecuted by the council as a result
of complaints made in 2014/15.
Therefore, the council is looking
to improve the overall standard of
privately rented homes in the borough
and earlier this year conducted a public
consultation on proposals to introduce
two new private rented licensing schemes.
Under the suggested licences,
landlords would have to comply with
several conditions relating to the
management and condition of the
property, including gas, electrical, fire
safety and the facilities provided. A
written tenancy agreement would be
required and the landlord must take
action against any anti-social behaviour.
The consultation ended in April and
a report is due to be discussed at a
cabinet meeting in July.
‘IMPROVING THE QUALITY’
Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet
member for safety, culture and
community services, said: “We are
responding to the housing crisis
by increasing the supply of decent
homes. This includes bringing empty
homes back into use, and improving
conditions in the private rented sector
through accreditation and licensing.
Recognising that we need to support
both residents and landlords is helping
to improve the quality of housing
and neighbourhoods.”
Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/housing
around ealing
Summer 2016
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