The economic downturn has affected the housing and employment markets and led to new tenants seeking accommodation in the private rented sector, alongside students and other young people.  With the shortage of social housing, tenants may welcome the option of looking for accommodation in this sector, but often they are ignorant of their rights and responsibilities.

To help support these tenants, LACORS has developed a new advice leaflet which can be used by councils across the country.  It includes a 10-point checklist advising tenants on how to avoid the pitfalls of private renting.

The guide is a four page A5 leaflet, available in two formats as follows:

1.   A national version which is available in PDF format.  Hard copies can also be purchased from LACORS at a low price by completing the order form.  The minimum order you can make is 100 copies, and the prices are as shown.  Copies can be distributed through council offices, libraries, letting/managing agents and events staged for local tenants.  You will note that the order form also covers the Reluctant Landlord leaflet (which is the flip side to the tenant leaflet) and you are welcome to order some of these too. LACORS issued a national press release to promote this guide.

There is also a version available that has space to add your council’s contact details on the back. If you would like to have this version please email info@lacors.gov.uk.

However, if you use either the nation version, or chose to create a local version, we would encourage councils to issue their own local press release, highlighting how you are helping local residents to deal with the economic downturn.  We have produced a local press release which you may wish to use, it includes space for a quote from your local Portfolio Holder for Housing and can be altered or adapted as required. To obtain a copy please email Christopher.baylis@lacors.gov.uk.

If you media team wishes to speak to someone at LACORS, please direct them to Chris Baylis, LACORS’ Communications Officer on telephone number 0207 665 3846 or email him at Christopher.baylis@lacors.gov.uk.

You may place the leaflet on your council’s website immediately.  We hope you will find it useful and would welcome feedback.  If you want to contact a member of LACORS’ private sector housing team, please email housing@lacors.gov.uk or telephone 0207 665 3888.