Flagship UKIP Council leads on tackling rogue landlords.
Published Jul 14, 2017
Chris
Wells, who leads UKIP's flagship District Council, addressed a conference in
London today about their successes in tackling rogue landlords. He
stated:
"Thanet is an area of surprising contrasts, where edgy creative communities rub shoulders with the worlds largest offshore wind farm and some of the most deprived communities in the country, right here in south east England. There are massive opportunities for investors: we have the fastest growing house prices outside London; the best value in Kent at an average of £231k; and the fastest growing tourism industry in the U.K."
"Thanet is an area of surprising contrasts, where edgy creative communities rub shoulders with the worlds largest offshore wind farm and some of the most deprived communities in the country, right here in south east England. There are massive opportunities for investors: we have the fastest growing house prices outside London; the best value in Kent at an average of £231k; and the fastest growing tourism industry in the U.K."
But
in contrast, some of Cliftonville is the 4th most deprived community nationally,
with over 50% of all complaints about housing conditions coming from an area of
around 30 streets and 3,300 dwellings, 70% of which are in the private rented
sector, dominated by large buildings subdivided into small flats and HMOs, with
out-of-area portfolio landlords marked by poor standards of property
management.
"Which explains succinctly the rationale for our Rogue Landlord Initiative, backing up the policy framework intended to improve general conditions in this area."
During an intensive 10 week crackdown, multi-agency teams inspected more than 200 homes; issued 100 breach of licensing condition notices, and 30 statutory housing notices; undertook 6 dawn raids; started 2 prosecutions; and made over 100 multi agency referrals.
"There are real community costs in tolerating areas like this, which present some of the lowest residential values in Kent; high levels of housing benefit (70% of private rented tenants); constant churn through short term letting policies; more than twice the local level of empty properties, higher than average unemployment and anti social behaviour complaints; and life expectancy 8 years below the all England average."
"Anything and everything we can do to eradicate these difficulties will improve life for our communities and their prospects for the future. So, rogue landlords beware, we are on your case and at your doors, today and tomorrow until you clean up your act."
"Which explains succinctly the rationale for our Rogue Landlord Initiative, backing up the policy framework intended to improve general conditions in this area."
During an intensive 10 week crackdown, multi-agency teams inspected more than 200 homes; issued 100 breach of licensing condition notices, and 30 statutory housing notices; undertook 6 dawn raids; started 2 prosecutions; and made over 100 multi agency referrals.
"There are real community costs in tolerating areas like this, which present some of the lowest residential values in Kent; high levels of housing benefit (70% of private rented tenants); constant churn through short term letting policies; more than twice the local level of empty properties, higher than average unemployment and anti social behaviour complaints; and life expectancy 8 years below the all England average."
"Anything and everything we can do to eradicate these difficulties will improve life for our communities and their prospects for the future. So, rogue landlords beware, we are on your case and at your doors, today and tomorrow until you clean up your act."
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