Leeds Landlord Accreditation scheme is a voluntary scheme that private residential landlords are encouraged to join.
Aims of the scheme
The aims of the scheme are to encourage, acknowledge and actively promote good standards of privately rented accommodation and to assist landlords and tenants to undertake their respective responsibilities to each other.
We will be pleased to give guidance to landlords about the standards required by the scheme.
The scheme also encourages and acknowledges responsible behaviour by tenants through an Accredited Tenant Scheme.
The scheme comprises an element of self-regulation and accordingly relies on a degree of goodwill and trust on the parts of landlords, tenants and the Local Authority.
The scheme applies to the private rented sector only, and not to Local Authority owned or Housing Association properties where other Service Level Agreements apply.
It is a requirement of the scheme that the physical condition of properties, the level of provision of basic amenities and management practices, are fair and reasonable, and not liable to be prejudicial to the health, safety and welfare of tenants or the community.
Signatories to the scheme must ensure that in addition to complying with the requirements of the scheme, they also comply with their legal obligations in respect of the health, safety and welfare rights of their tenants.
Compliance with the scheme will ensure that:
- Landlords, tenants and community members enjoy the benefits of good property conditions, competent management standards and considerate neighbourly behaviour;
- Misunderstandings and disputes are reduced;
- Where problems do occur they are promptly resolved.
How the scheme operates
On application, landlords will:
- For the sole purpose of enabling random compliance checks to be carried out, provide the Council with a list of properties they own which will be held in strictest confidence by the Council;
- Provide access to properties for the Council or its agents to carry out compliance checks;
- Ensure that properties are not in a condition that is liable to be hazardous to the health and safety of tenants, visitors or members of the community;
- Ensure that all their properties meet the requirements of the Scheme, or alternatively………..
- Where a minority of a landlords’ properties are not fully compliant, apply to the Council for a concession and agree a Property Improvement Plan to improve, within a reasonable timescale, any property that does not fully meet the requirements of the Scheme, and accordingly inform any prospective new tenants of this arrangement;
- Participate in and promote the Accredited Tenant Scheme;
- Be committed to partnership working;
Accredited landlords
On receipt of an application for accredited landlord status, the Council will undertake a checking procedure to be satisfied, as far as is reasonably practicable, that the landlord is responsible, competent and suitable to be a member of the scheme.
Following successful checking, and satisfactory outcomes to some random property condition and management compliance checks by the Council, owners will be awarded the status of accredited landlord.
For those signatories complying with the scheme, the Council will provide a package of inducement benefits exclusively available to participating landlords and designed to enhance their business and provide access to a range of Council Services.
Contact:
Leeds City Council
Health and Environmental Action Services
Leeds Landlord Accreditation Scheme
Micklefield house
New Road Side
Rawdon
Leeds
LS19 6DF
Telephone: 0113 2476135
Please go to the download documents box on the right hand side of this page and select the relevant list, list of Benefits for Landlords or Tenants.
Accreditation networking
Many Accreditation Schemes operate around the United Kingdom. The National Accreditation Network is an organisation set up with Government backing to publicise, promote and share good practice in private rented sector accommodation.