Bid to improve rental properties in Carmarthenshire
A major programme is underway to improve standards in the private rented sector in Carmarthenshire.
Housing chiefs want to ensure that the county’s rental accommodation is of the highest quality for tenants.
They are working with landlords to drive up standards and stamp out potential hazards like fire safety, damp and mould, excess cold and electrical problems.
A Housing Health and Safety rating system is in place to identify issues in private rented properties.
And a Carmarthenshire Accommodation Accreditation Scheme has been set up to identify good landlords, agents and properties.
Regular landlord forum meetings are held and landlords and letting agents are encouraged to apply to the scheme.
Properties are assessed and included on the recommended database if they meet the required legal standards.
A programme is in place to inspect and license houses of multiple occupation in the county.
Housing officers work closely with landlords and give advice on raising standards, and in extreme cases, enforcement action is taken if hazards are not corrected.
The moves are part of a drive by Carmarthenshire County Council to deliver the best possible housing service.
There are nearly 8,000 private rented properties in the county, which play an important part in meeting housing need.
There has been a huge rise in demand from private tenants, from nearly 400 queries to more than 700 last year.
The council’s Head of Housing Services Robin Staines said: “We recognise that there are a significant number of good landlords and letting agents in Carmarthenshire.
“Private rented properties are very important in terms of meeting local need and we want to ensure that any that are let to families are of good standard.
“A great deal of progress is being made in improving standards even further in this sector, and we will continue to work with landlords to deliver improvements for service users.”
Housing Executive Board Member cllr Hugh Evans said: “We are committed to providing a quality private rented sector for tenants in Carmarthenshire.
“I am pleased that so much proactive work is being carried out to make improvements and monitor progress in the sector.
“This work will bring result in real benefits for service users.”
Housing chiefs want to ensure that the county’s rental accommodation is of the highest quality for tenants.
They are working with landlords to drive up standards and stamp out potential hazards like fire safety, damp and mould, excess cold and electrical problems.
A Housing Health and Safety rating system is in place to identify issues in private rented properties.
And a Carmarthenshire Accommodation Accreditation Scheme has been set up to identify good landlords, agents and properties.
Regular landlord forum meetings are held and landlords and letting agents are encouraged to apply to the scheme.
Properties are assessed and included on the recommended database if they meet the required legal standards.
A programme is in place to inspect and license houses of multiple occupation in the county.
Housing officers work closely with landlords and give advice on raising standards, and in extreme cases, enforcement action is taken if hazards are not corrected.
The moves are part of a drive by Carmarthenshire County Council to deliver the best possible housing service.
There are nearly 8,000 private rented properties in the county, which play an important part in meeting housing need.
There has been a huge rise in demand from private tenants, from nearly 400 queries to more than 700 last year.
The council’s Head of Housing Services Robin Staines said: “We recognise that there are a significant number of good landlords and letting agents in Carmarthenshire.
“Private rented properties are very important in terms of meeting local need and we want to ensure that any that are let to families are of good standard.
“A great deal of progress is being made in improving standards even further in this sector, and we will continue to work with landlords to deliver improvements for service users.”
Housing Executive Board Member cllr Hugh Evans said: “We are committed to providing a quality private rented sector for tenants in Carmarthenshire.
“I am pleased that so much proactive work is being carried out to make improvements and monitor progress in the sector.
“This work will bring result in real benefits for service users.”
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