leasing, rent deposit schemes etc

Hi,

At present in Plymouth we pay £35 for gas safe inspections between every occupancy in our PSL properties. Occupancies typically last between 1 and 6 months, last year we spent over £2.5k on inspections.

Gas Safe inspections must be undertaken atleast once every 12 months according to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regs 1998. Section 226 of the regs recommends that the pipework is tested prior to re-letting although this is not statute.

The mananing agent insist that they have to test during each void, however another local agent has informed me that they don't bother. If there is a gas problem and the property wasn't re-tested prior to letting then the LA can be prosecuted.

Hi Guys

There are plenty of examples of social lettings agencies on the web but rather than trawling through them all I thought I would ask if anyone has experience of particular schemes that are considered good practice?

I am particularly interested in how the agency in question was set up, funding sources etc. and so it would be useful if said scheme had any reports to that effect.

Thanks

Hello,

I am investigating ways of minimsing losses from former tenant arrears and thus I would be very grateful for some advice on how other local authorities tackle this issue. Do you take legal action on former tenants or do you write-off arrears if they are not paid? Perhaps you seek legal advice if the debt be significant and if so what value do you consider to be significant?

Any response would be much appreciated.

Regards

Daniel Thorning

We're a new Empty Property Team in a Local Authority and are looking at a toolkit of solutions to deal with empty properties.

As part of the range of tools, we want to consider setting up a private sector leasing scheme but don't want to re-invent the wheel.

Have other authorities done this?
What lessons/advice could you give us?
How did you approach a PSL scheme?

Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve Eaves