What one change would you make to the private rented sector?

We asked a few of the speakers at our Conference on the 17 November

"If you could make one change to ensure that the private rented sector in NI is Fit for the Future, what would it be?"

Ben Beadle is Managing Director at TDS NI. As well as being head sponsor for the conference, Ben will be speaking about the role and impact of the tenant deposit scheme in Northern Ireland. He will also be hosting one of the afternoon workshops ‘Be the adjudicator’.

"All tenants in rented accommodation, who pay a deposit to a landlord or letting agent, should be afforded the benefits of deposit protection. Currently the legislation is not retrospective meaning some tenants may not be protected owing simply to when their deposit is paid. Making sure all deposits are safeguarded means tenants know their money is safe and both sides benefit from a speedy and impartial dispute resolution mechanism in case its needed."

Anthoney Quinn is the Principal Environmental Health Officer at the London Borough of Newham Council, in East London. He has specialised in Private Sector Housing Licensing over recent years. He has assisted in development of Newham’s Borough Wide Property Licensing Scheme.

"The one change I would do to ensure the private rented sector is fit for the future, is to make it very unprofitable for criminal landlords to operate and break the law by allowing tenants to live in unsafe and un-healthy conditions. This would hopefully make them act more professionally in the way they conduct their business, leading to an increase of standards in their properties and the way they deal with tenants."

John Bryson is a Heath and Housing Consultant. John has worked for the University of Warwick providing training for professionals involved focusing on the principles of good housing enforcement.  He has also assisted in a number of health and housing research projects. 

"The introduction of legislation to include the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) would provide the opportunity to significantly improve housing conditions in the PRS.  The fitness standard is quite basic and outdated and does not include some of the most significant hazards in the home.  The HHSRS focuses on the health effects due to housing defects and results (in England) have shown that due to housing standards being significantly improved then existing and future tenants’ health prospects will also improve.  The real cost of poor housing is a financial burden on society generally and the health service specifically so introducing HHSRS to tackle poor housing would not only be good news for tenants but also for politicians!"
 

Private Rented Sector Conference - Fit for the Future? on the 17 November

The private rented sector in Northern Ireland is set to continue to grow, and it is essential the sector is ready to meet this demand. Housing Rights conference looks soley at the private rented sector and how we can make sure it is fit for purpose.

Speakers include Ben Beadle (Tenancy Deposits NI), Mark Bonner (Places for People), John Bryson  (Housing, Health and Regeneration Consultant), Raymond Crooks (Chairperson of Landlords’ Association of NI),  Jonathan Elliot (Electrical Safety First), Nicola Farrell (Homes for Good), Professor Paddy Gray (University of Ulster), Senator Aideen Hayden (Chairperson of Threshold & Senator in Seanad Éireann), Professor Peter Kemp (University of Oxford), Professor Christine Liddell (University of Ulster), Anthoney Quinn (London Borough of Newham).

£110 for members of Housing Rights and £140 for non members. Book now.