NWPOA

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:: Local Housing Allowance ::
Local Housing Allowance
Recently, the NWPOA conducted a survey of our members, regarding the losses which many of you had incurred as a result of the inadequacies of the Local Housing Allowance system.
We had an excellent response and we would like to thank all members who filled in and returned the questionnaires.
The results confirmed that a substantial amount of benefit is being claimed by tenants, but not being paid on to landlords as rent. In our area alone, our members lost over £110,000 in one year.
Members can be assured that we are using this information to good effect. We are the only landlords association in the country who has produced a detailed survey. On the strength of this, the British Property Federation will be using our data to compile a national press release, which will be issued this week, highlighting the losses being incurred by landlords.
There is growing pressure on the government to make drastic amendments to the system – not least to give tenants the choice to have the allowance paid direct to their landlord.
We will continue to publicise the problems created by the LHA system. There will be more news in our next newsletter.
Landlords Discontent over Registration Proposals
We included news of government proposals to licence all landlords, to create a public register of names and addresses of all rented properties in our last newsletter.
We have since met with the British Property Federation and other landlords associations. It is the view of most that creating such a database will probably benefit HM revenue rather than raise standards in rented properties.
This will be reflected in our reply to the government consultation.

Landlords face liability for tenants’ unpaid water bills under government proposal

Residential landlords could be made liable for unpaid water bills left by departing tenants under a government review of water charges. The proposals to make landlords liable for water bills at their properties have been drawn up by Ofwat. A spokesman said: “The occupier will always be the first person liable, but, as things stand, there is no incentive for the landlord to tell the water company who the occupier is and without this information the water company cannot bill anyone.”
The new rules, which would require primary legislation, would give landlords an incentive to provide details of the tenant or face paying an outstanding bill themselves.
The interim report of the Review will be published in a week’s time and essentially will contain three propositions that could impact on landlords, which would all require primary legislation to introduce….

i. To make it a legal requirement to identify the bill payer.
ii. To introduce the same liability tests for water rates as currently apply for council tax.
iii. To make it compulsory to charge the owner of the property for water in circumstances where accommodation is shared, predominantly in our sector that would be aimed at HMOs.

The water industry’s trade association has agreed to meet with landlords representatives to discuss these issues. This news has reached us from the British Property Federation and they tell us that if the Government did decide to act the Queen’s Speech is likely to contain a Flood and Water Bill, and so there would be the opportunity for them to tag something on to that.
million.
:: Added by Lynn SMith on: 02:07:09 ::

:: Members Meeting ::
Forthcoming events:

:: Members Meeting :: Thursday 17:04:08 at 18:30 ::
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane (off Hanover Street), Liverpool, L1 3BT
:: Full Details: John Jeps, Senior Tax Partner in John Jepps LLP -will give a presentation about Tax issues, in particular, new Capital Gains Tax rules and Tax mitigation.

There will also be up to date information on Local Housing Allowance, Licensing and other legislation.

Doors open 6.00pm
Tea and coffee served from 6.15pm
:: For more information please contact admin. 0845 456 1659
:: Added by nwpoa admin on: 15:04:08 ::

:: Members Meeting ::
Forthcoming events:

:: Members Meeting :: Thursday 17:04:08 at 18:30 ::
Venue: Quaker Meeting House, 22 School Lane (off Hanover Street), Liverpool, L1 3BT
:: Full Details: John Jeps, Senior Tax Partner in John Jepps LLP -will give a presentation about Tax issues, in particular, new Capital Gains Tax rules and Tax mitigation.

There will also be up to date information on Local Housing Allowance, Licensing and other legislation.

Doors open 6.00pm
Tea and coffee served from 6.15pm
:: For more information please contact admin. 0845 456 1659.
:: Added by nwpoa admin on: 15:04:08 ::

:: Liverpool Private Rented Sector Forum ::
The next meeting of the Liverpool Private Rented Sector Forum is to be held at the LACE Conference Centre, Sefton Park, Liverpool 17, on Tuesday 04 March 2008.

The event is free, but booking is essential as places are limited.
Please see Events Page for full details.
:: Added by Office Admin on: 18:02:08 ::

:: Tenancy Deposit Scheme Discount / Members Meeting ::
NWPOA have arranged to subsidise membership of the non-custodial scheme run by Tenancy Deposit Solutions. Our subsidy significantly reduces the initial registration fee.

NWPOA Members pay - £33.75
(Usual registration fee - £58.75)

In addition a fee of £30.00 is payable, per deposit registered. Deposit registration can be done online at: www.mydeposits.co.uk*

*In order to obtain the discount, members will need to contact the NWPOA office for a product code prior to registration.
0845 456 1659.

Next members meeting:Tuesday 30th October 07
The Quaker Meeting House, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT. 7.00 - 09.00pm Please see events page for further details and guest speakers.

Due to the postal strike, we have been unable to dispatch Journals and newsletters. We will do so as soon as the postal strike is resolved.

For further information regarding these or any other matters, please contact the NWPOA admin office on the above number.
:: Added by Office Admin on: 17:10:07 ::

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