Council scheme interests landlords

Landlords in Cheshire have the chance to get interest free loans if they work with the local council in improving standards for tenants.

The good news for landlords comes from Halton Borough Council which covers the towns of Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire. The council is keen to work with residential landlords in the area, recognising their role in the already burgeoning private rental sector.

To support what the council describe as “decent” landlords they have launched an Accreditation Scheme. The enticements for landlords to sign up to the scheme range from interest free property improvement loans to the granting of a “quality mark” for their properties. Discounts on goods and services from local and national businesses are also mentioned. It is unclear if discounts on landlord insurance policies are part of the package.

Tom Reynolds, a representative of the National Landlords Association, said “I have been pleased to sit on the Accreditation Scheme Focus Group consisting of Halton council officers and local landlords producing the standards for the scheme. The resulting scheme’s standards reflect the level of professionalism which should already be sought by all good landlords and the incentives are real and valuable. I urge all local landlords to join the scheme”

This is not the first such scheme in the area, similar landlord/council link ups are already in place in Burnley, Blackburn and Greater Manchester.

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