Your Officer Team 2011/12
Latest Video
Follow Us!
'Like' Us!
► Housing Help
Is your house Accredited?
Is the house you’re looking at owned by an Accredited Landlord and/or being Let by an Accredited Letting Agent?
If you’re not sure, contact the ARC located at the Guild or University Housing Services. Alternatively visit the Midland Landlord Association Service website for more details: www.mlas-online.bham.ac.uk . This site also holds a list of accredited agents.
The Scheme forms a housing standard that landlords and letting agents agree to meet. This gives a standard to meet in terms of the quality of the property and the way they do business with their tenants. It is a voluntary standard and chances are that if the landlord and agent are not accredited then you run the risk of becoming a tenant of a property with low standards.
| Only accredited landlords can advertise on the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University websites |
 |
A scheme to recognise and promote good landlords who provide their tenants with high quality, safe accommodation. |
For more information check out www.mlas-online.co.uk
|
Supported by |
|
Does my house need a licence?
Has the house you’re considering got three floors (including a loft-conversion) has shared bathrooms and a kitchen and is it going to be resident to five or more people?
If the answer is yes then this property is considered a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) and by law the landlord needs to have been licensed by Birmingham City Council. This is a legal responsibility of the landlord and ensures the property meets certain standards; with a fine of up to £20,000 for non-compliance. If you have any doubts about whether your property is licensed or not then contact the Community Wardens or call the Private Tenancy Team at Birmingham City Council (please see contacts page).
Gas Safety Certificate
Your landlord, by law, has to arrange for your gas appliances (i.e. gas boiler, gas fires) and flues to be safety checked every 12 months and a copy of the certificate to be available for you when you sign the contract. Also when a new annual check is completed and you are still resident then you are entitled to a copy within 28 days.
This safety check also needs to be completed by an engineer registered with Gas Safe Register (see link below) formally CORGI.
If you suspect a safety check has not been carried out, your certification is out of date or suspect work has been carried out by a non-approved person then report it immediately as quite simply your life depends on it. Please see contacts section.
For further information see:
Gas Safe Register: http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/default.aspx
