The Swindon Borough Council Landlord Accreditation Scheme aims to provide recognition to landlords who achieve a decent standard of letting which meets or exceeds all legal requirements relating to the following criteria.

Tenancy Agreement

Landlords must provide a written tenancy agreement that clearly sets out the terms of the tenancy. Both parties must hold a signed copy of this agreement. The amount of rent to be paid must be specified, including whether this includes payment for such items as Council Tax, water rates, etc.

Ownership Details

Landlords must give tenants their full name and address and that of any managing agents. At least one contact must be within the UK.

Complaints

Tenants must be given the name and telephone number of the person they may contact at all reasonable times to report defects with the property.

Access

Tenants must be given at least 24 hours notice prior to the landlord inspecting the premises except where this is impracticable and that the tenants privacy and entitlement to freedom from unnecessary intrusion is respected.

Deposits

Reasons must be given in writing if any part of the deposit is withheld.

Regaining Possession

Landlords must not resort to any unlawful means to regain possession of their property. In most cases a court order will be required to regain possession of the property where tenants refuse to leave. See fact sheet

Repair And Maintenance

A good standard of repair and maintenance is required. The guidance on this standard is contained within Fact Sheet 7 and Fact Sheet 8, Guidance For Landlords Inspecting Their Property.

All premises must be fit for human habitation; this means it must:

• Be structurally stable
• Free from serious disrepair
• Be free from dampness prejudicial to the health of the occupants
• Have adequate provision for lighting, heating and ventilation
• Have an adequate piped water supply of wholesome water
• Have satisfactory facilities for the storage, preparation and cooking of food including a sink with hot and cold water
• Have a suitably located water closet for the exclusive use of the tenants
• Have a suitably located fixed bath or shower and wash hand basin with a satisfactory supply of hot and cold water for the exclusive use of the tenants
• Have an effective system for draining foul, waste and surface water

In addition, houses in multiple occupation must:

Comply with the Council’s standards for the provision of amenities and space. Follow this link to the page containing the adopted standards for HMOs.  

• Have adequate and properly maintained means of escape from fire and other fire precautions as directed by the Council.

Cleanliness And Decoration

Both the interior and exterior of the property including any gardens/yards etc must be in a clean, tidy and well-decorated condition at the beginning of the tenancy.

Any communal areas that are the landlord’s responsibility must similarly be properly maintained.

Certificates

Each property must have a satisfactory annual gas safety certificate covering all gas appliances in the property.  A CORGI registered contractor must provide this.  A copy of this certificate must be made available to each tenant.

Houses in multiple occupation must have annual test certificates indicating that the fire alarm and emergency lighting system has been examined by a suitably qualified person.

Personal Landlord Criteria

To qualify as an accredited landlord, none of the following must apply:

Conviction for harassment or illegal eviction within the last 10 years.

Failure to comply with a Statutory Notice relating to the standard for management of Houses In Multiple Occupation or a Repair Notice which resulted in a successful prosecution or works being carried out in default in the last 10 years.

Conviction for Housing Benefit/Council Tax fraud within the last 10 years.

Conviction for non-compliance with a Planning Enforcement Notice relating to a residential premises within the last 10 years.

Useful Fact Sheets

The following factsheets and specimen forms, etc are available as downloadable PDF files:

• Landlord Accreditation Guide
• Private Sector Leasing - Introduction
• Public Sector Leasings - Furniture and Furnishings
• Specimen of Lease
• Specimen of Non-secure Tenancy Agreement
• Public Sector Leasing Property Standards
• Self Certification Form...HMO
• Self Certification Form...Single Family Occupation
• Landlord Accreditation Audit
• Planning Issues Fact Sheet
• Building Regulations Fact Sheet
• Condensation & Mould Growth Fact Sheet
• Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet
• Housing Benefit Fact Sheet
• Grounds For Possession Fact Sheet
• Landlords Self Inspection Guidance...Single Family Occupied
• Landlords Self Inspection Guidance... HMO
• Tenants Information Sheet for display or handout

Service Request Form

If you would like us to contact you, to notify us of an issue you are concerned about, or to request a service from us, then please complete a Service Request Form.

The form is available as a downloadable PDF file:

Service Request Form

Further Information/Contact

Please telephone Susan Maggs, Lead Officer for the Landlord Accreditation Scheme, on 01793 466104 or e-mail her at smaggs@swindon.gov.uk.