News from the Residential Property Investor, the bi-monthly magazine for RLA members other artilces from the August / September 2001 issue RPI news archive

Security bye-law considered - August / September 2001

Private landlords in Sheffield could face being forced to upgrade security at their rented homes thanks to a proposed new bye-law.

The local council, in conjunction with the police, says it wants to ensure that levels of security in the private rented sector at least match those seen in council housing schemes.

DC Lynda Jackson, a crime reduction officer, confirmed that the local authority was looking at ways of improving the security of rented accommodation. 'We are currently looking at how we can get the bye-law passed. It will be a long and drawn out process but not impossible'.

Most landlords already take security seriously but there was a 'relatively small number still giving cause for concern', she said.

Attention is being directed particularly at student HMOs ­ the city has some 25,000 students. Improving security at these properties is regarded as 'important' because many students have valuable goods from personal CD players to computers, all of which can be carried relatively easily.

The proposed bye-law would not only cover security but also issues such as garden maintenance in areas where there is a high number of rented properties.
 

other artilces from the August / September 2001 issue

• Getting off benefits
• Byers 'entices' investors with HB conditions
• Dispersal policy driven by 'cheap accommodation'
• Void calculation held to be void
• Stormy times for policy holders
• Security bye-law considered
• Independent insurance advice
• Mixed messages on house prices
• In brief