Council officers in Boscombe will be working with the owners of all kinds of rented accommodation in the area to see if improvements are needed and how quickly they can be carried out. There are in excess of 1,300 privately-rented properties which have been identified as being below standard in what is the most deprived area in the south west.
The inspections will begin later this month in a bid to improve standards and the council will be advising private landlords about providing their tenants with adequate heating, access to amenities, and making sure that their property is well maintained. The council want to send a clear message that it will not be acceptable for tenants to live in properties that are well below the acceptable standard. Residents recently launched a petition calling for an increase in inspections and they are delighted that the council is taking action. The local council want to work in partnership with local landlords to help raise the standards of living conditions for Boscombe residents. Many of Boscombe’s rented homes are owned by Dave Wells Properties who protect all of their dwellings with buy to let insurance as a matter of course, and keep an on call maintenance team at the ready. The company has welcomed the initiative.
Steve Wells, of Dave Wells Properties, said “We are well aware of these inspections, which are part of Bournemouth council’s work to regenerate Boscombe and improve standards. We’ve had dialogue with Bournemouth council already and this is an initiative that we welcome as we are continually investing in and improving our properties.”
A spokesman for Boscombe Area Regeneration Group said that Boscombe Spa and Gardens are a wonderful example of what can be achieved with the right level of investment and community commitment, and that dialogue between all concerned parties will foster better conditions for everyone.