Episode 13 – Rising utilities bills and training latest

Rising utilities charges have been hitting the headlines for a number of months, and with the energy bills price cap set to rise from £1,277 to over £2,000 in April we look at how landlords – and their tenants – will be affected. Presenters NRLA Chief Executive Ben Beadle (@BeadleBen) and Richard Blanco (@richardblanco_) talk to landlord Elahe Taylor, who offers rentals with and without bundled bills about how she is planning to manage the impact of increased charges. They also welcome Susan Aktemel, of ethical lettings agency Homes for Good, to find out how tenants are coping with rising bills and what support Government could offer to help them. Elsewhere Catherine Behdad of the NRLA advice team talks about the hot topics on the phonelines throughout the month, including issues with gas and electricity bills. We also shine the spotlight on training. The NRLA has recently signed a new deal with Milton Keynes Council, which is paying for private sector landlords in the area to become members of the NRLA, where they can work to become accredited by the association. The move is part of a bid to drive up standards across the area and Ben and Richard are joined by Lucy Tucker, the council’s private sector housing manager, who talks about how the new partnership will work, along with local landlord Leah Musana who discusses the benefits of accreditation from a landlord’s perspective. If you enjoy the show, please spread the word on your social media channels using the hashtag #listenuplandlords.   For all podcast enquiries email [email protected]   ACCREDITATION: You can now pick up a CPD point to be used towards NRLA accreditation by listening to the podcast. To log your point, visit the accreditation dashboard in the ‘Your Account’ section of the NRLA website. Select ‘Other’ then ‘NRLA Podcast’ from the dropdown menu.  More information  If you would like further details on how to become accredited with the NRLA click here. For further details about bespoke training packages – which are available to groups and local authorities click here. Guest Biographies   Elahe Taylor Elahe began her rental business in South Manchester nearly 25 years ago, investing in two-bedroomed terraced houses to be let to families. After moving to the south-east she invested in licenced HMOs for students from the University of Hertfordshire. She is part of an accreditation scheme for landlords, called “PAL” (Partnership Accreditation for Landlords) established by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and the university and holds Gold status. Susan Aktemel Dr Susan Aktemel is Executive Director of Homes for Good Social Business Group. Susan started her career in adult education. In 1991 she committed to using her skills to help people improve their lives. From 1994-2012 she created and grew Impact Arts, now a leading, dynamic Scottish charity.  Susan then combined her property experience with her commitment to improving people’s lives to create Scotland’s first social enterprise letting agency, with the aim of changing the private rented sector for people who need homes most. Since 2014 she has raised over £17 million in social investment for Homes for Good, a whole of market letting agency, with particular interest in supporting people on low incomes. Lucy Tucker Lucy is private sector housing manager at Milton Keynes Council and has been instrumental in sitting up the training partnership between the local authority and the NRLA. Leah Musana Leah, from Milton Keynes, has been a professional landlord since 2015 and became accredited with the NRLA shortly thereafter. Her portfolio has grown to include standard buy-to-let properties, HMOs and a short-term accommodation business specialising in the corporate sector, which includes insurance companies and relocation agents.  She is passionate about raising the standard of accommodation in the private rental sector and her mission is to provide warm, safe and comfortable homes.