The two options are:

1. Private sector leasing
2. Rent deposit scheme

Private sector leasing

We lease properties to house families who are in need of accommodation. We don’t lease properties directly from individual landlords; instead we have a contract with a number of managing agents, who lease the properties to us and provide the management service on our behalf.

To discuss renting your property contact one of our list of managing agents.

Contractual arrangements you make with a managing agent are between you and the agent - the council will not be part of this agreement.

Name	Telephone	Address
Balgores Property Group	020 8592 1038	293 Heathway, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 5AQ
Barry Stewart & Sons Limited	020 8591 5161	60 Longbridge Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 8RT
D & G Lettings Limited	020 8591 0321	2 The Triangle Tanner Street, Barking, Essex, IG11 8QA
Dabora Conway Limited	020 8989 5678	9 High Street, Wanstead, London, E11 2AA
Elliot Leigh Property Management Limited	020 8983 4444	466-468 Roman Road, Bow, London, E3 5LU
Exodus Housing	020 8252 0078	34-36 Woodlands Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 1JJ
Finefair Consultancy Limited	020 8554 0500	No 1 The Point, 420 Clarence Avenue, Gants Hill, IG2 6NS
Lettings International Limited	020 8554 9999	Wycliffe House, 245-24 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4TD
Theori Housing Management Services Limited	020 8988 1091	Olive Tree Centre, 472a Larkshall Road, Higham’s Park, London, E4 9HH
Vircap Estates	07973 631184	16-18 The Drive, Ilford, Essex, IG1 3HT
Wentworth Housing Limited	020 8478 4786	106 Ilford Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG1 2LD

Rent Deposit Scheme

Under the Rent Deposit Scheme the council bring together landlords/ managing agents who have available properties and prospective homeseekers.  

Landlords/ managing agents contact the local authority when they have a property, and they would like a prospective tenant. The council nominate applicants to view the available property and if both the landlord / managing agent and the prospective tenant wish to proceed with signing a tenancy the council assist in providing a package which includes rent in advance,  rent deposit which should be registered by the landlord within a recognised deposit scheme and an agreed incentive payable to the landlord/ managing agent in return for an assured shorthold tenancy with a typical duration of 24 months. The Assured shorthold tenancy agreement would be between the landlord / managing agent and the tenant with the council merely facilitating the agreement by bringing both parties together. The ongoing management of the tenancy would be between the landlord / managing agent and the tenant.

It is important to be aware the council do not offer ongoing tenancy management services. but may be able to provide you with details of services who do offer tenancy management functions

What we offer:

Should you have available residential properties to rent, we can offer:

• upfront negotiable rent payment to cover at least the first month’s rent
• upfront deposit payment to provide peace of mind in the unlikely event of damages
• upfront incentive payments (incentives paid only on 2-year tenancies)
• flexible terms on tenancy duration. We find many landlords prefer the security of a 24-month tenancy.
• quick letting times to reduce landlord void loss.

How the process works:

1. When you have available properties which require letting, please contact the council’s procurement officer with the following property details including,

• Full property address
• Current pictures of the property both internal and external clearly detailing the condition of each room.
• Number of bedrooms (including the number of doubles and single bedrooms)
• Property details, (for example 3-bedroom flat two double bedrooms 1 single bedroom located on the 3rd floor with access to a lift).
• Monthly rental charge
• Private Rented Property Licensing number including the landlord/ managing agent fit and proper person declaration. You must confirm if you require a licence to rent the property within the borough your property is located. If you are unsure as to whether the property requires a licence, you must check with the private sector housing department for the local authority in question. The local authority should also have details available online outlining the property licencing conditions. For example, if your property is located within barking and Dagenham your property must be licenced via the councils private rented licensing scheme, details of which can be found online at https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/private-rented-property-licensing
• Certificates (gas safe/ EPC, Electrical and any other documentation required under legislation)
• Date you will be holding viewings if applicable

2. Upon receipt of the property details to the local authority procurement Officer, a discussion will be held between yourself and the Procurement Officer on the agreed terms should LBBD provide a suitable tenant for the property (this includes the agreed monthly rent / deposit and incentive paid if applicable). Should agreement be reached on the terms for proceeding via the Rent Deposit Scheme the council will review their applicant register to identify customers requiring accommodation and ascertain the most suitable applicant. If suitable customers matching your requirements can be allocated to view the property you will be contacted to discuss and agree viewing arrangements.                                                            
3. As part of the viewing, you as the landlord/ managing agent decide which customer you would like as a tenant. Landlords/ managing agents are encouraged to conduct their own checks with the prospective tenant prior to issuing a tenancy to ensure you are happy to proceed with the tenancy. The landlord/ managing agent then signs an Assured Shorthold Tenancy with the customer.
4. After signing the tenancy, the landlord/managing agent submits one or two invoices depending upon the circumstances (for example one invoice for an incentive payment and one invoice for payment of rent in advance and deposit) to the local authority The council’s property procurement team processes the payment for the incentive and the councils Benefits Team processes the invoice payment for the rent in advance and deposit via Discretionary Housing Payment which is sent directly to the landlord/agent depending upon the circumstances. Please note it can take up to 14 days for payments to be issued by the Benefits team. The Procurement officer has no control over the timescale and the officer is not provided with updates from the benefits department on when the payment will be issued. This means the Procurement officer is unable to speed up the process of payment of confirm the exact date payment will be received. The tenant agrees ongoing payment arrangements with the landlord/managing agent and agrees a date to move into the property.

Frequently asked questions?

What information needs to be provided to let the property via Barking and Dagenham scheme?

For a property to be used for rental purposes it must meet specific standards, upon agreement between the council and yourselves to tenant a property via the Private Rented Sector Scheme, Barking and Dagenham council will request the following documentation-

• Electrical safety & appliance certificate (NICEIC)
• A valid Landlord / Homeowner Gas safety record certificate issued by a qualified Gas Safe Registered Operative
• A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued by a qualified Energy Performance Assessor
• Private Rented License Registration Number or Certificate including the landlord /property management fit and proper person declaration (these items are typically provided as part of the property licensing process; you must confirm if you require a licence to rent the property)
• Confirmation of property ownership, i.e., Land Registry or Solicitors completion letter. (Single landlords only)
• How to rent your home guide
• Confirmation of relevant building control or planning certification where required if your property has undergone conversion.
• Valid Invoice on company headed paper- if you do not currently produce invoices the council will provide you with Invoice Pro-forma for you to complete and return. This will be used to submit your request for payment to the councils Accounts for Payment team.

The above information is required prior to tenancy start date to ensure efficient payment processing. 

How long will it take to receive payment?                                   

 Landlords and suppliers typically receive payment within a maximum of 14 days of the letting being agreed. For your reference it is helpful to be aware there are likely to be two invoices which will need to be processed for your property letting, one invoice relates to the agreed incentive payment and the second invoice relates to rent in advance and deposit payment which is typically equal to one month rent. The council’s procurement team oversee the processing of payment of the invoice for the incentive payment and the Benefit department oversee processing of payment for the invoice for rent in advance and deposit. The Procurement officer you may be working with has no control over the timescale for processing of invoices and the officer is not provided with updates from the benefits department on when payment for rent in advance and deposit will be issued. This means the Procurement officer is unable to speed up the process of payment of confirm the exact date payment will be received.

Does the council provide ongoing tenancy support?  

It is important to be aware the council do not offer tenancy sustainment services because the local authority is not resourced to provide this level of support. It is therefore imperative you undertake your own checks to satisfy yourself you are comfortable in both progressing with and managing an assured shorthold tenancy with the prospective tenant.

What information is available for landlords in relation to renting a property to a tenant who is claiming universal credit? 

Details and advice on Universal credit for landlords is provided by the department for work and pensions who administer universal credit. information can be found online via the following link

https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/universal-credit-and-Willandlords/what-landlords-need-to-do/

Will the tenant be claiming universal credit, if so, will they be benefit capped?

If a tenant or their partner is working less than 16 hours per week and / or they are earning less than £617 per month it is likely the household will be eligible to claim Universal credit. If the household are not in receipt of benefits that may exempt them from the benefit cap (Please see below a list of benefits that may exempt an applicant from the benefit cap) then it is likely the household will be affected by the benefit cap. This means the level of financial assistance the household receives towards the cost of rent (known as housing element) is reduced ad the tenant will expected to make up the shortfall. It is worthwhile establishing with the tenant their financial circumstances and their means to cover the cost of rent before you enter an Assured Shorthold tenancy.

*Working tax credits / Carers allowance / Disability Living allowance / Personal Independence payment Employment and Support allowance / Armed forces independence payments

As a landlord if my tenant is claiming universal credit can I request rent payments to come direct to me?

The Department of work and pensions who administer Universal Credit have specific criteria around amending payment arrangements. If a tenant is in receipt of Universal Credit to assist with rent payments the presumption in the first instance will be that a tenant should receive rent payment and in turn manage payments to the landlord. Should concerns exist regarding the tenant’s ability to manage rent payments, either the landlord or tenant can issue a request for managed payments or rent arrears deductions. A link to the information provided online by the department for Work and Pensions is included below.

Universal Credit: Landlord request for a managed payment or rent arrears deduction - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

How does the benefit cap affect people moving into the private rented sector? The benefit cap implemented by the government has meant households must either be in employment of over 16 hours per month earning in excess of £617 per month or be in receipt of specific benefits which means they are exempt from the cap; it may be helpful to ask applicants the following to satisfy yourself applicants are not affected by the benefit cap. If an applicant answers no to each of the below questions and is not in full time employment it is likely they will be affected by the benefit cap.

Questions to ask-

• Do you get Working Tax Credit (Even if the amount you get is £0)?
• Are you of state pension age?
• Do you get Universal Credit because of a disability or health condition that stops you from working (this is called ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’)?
• Do you get Universal Credit because you care for someone with a disability?
• Do you get Universal Credit and you and your partner earn £617 or more a month combined, after tax and National Insurance contributions?

You are also not affected by the benefit cap if you, your partner, or any children under 18 living with you gets the following, are you in receipt of-

• Armed Forces Compensation Scheme?
• Armed Forces Independence Payment?
• Attendance Allowance?
• Carer’s Allowance?
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)?
• Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the support component)?
• Guardian’s Allowance?
• Industrial Injuries Benefits (and equivalent payments as part of a War? Disablement Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme)?
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
• War pensions?
• War Widow’s or War Widower’s Pension?

What is the local authority’s current property requirements?

Property bedroom sizes –1 /2 / 3 and 4 bedrooms.

Number of bed spaces- within 2 bed we need at least 1 double and 1 single bedroom / in 3 beds ideally at least 2 double and 1 single bedroom / in 4- bedroom at least 3 double and 1 single bedroom

Will the council consider converted properties – yes if the property has the appropriate planning consent where required and legal certification/ sign off from building control to use the converted spaces for the purposes we are being offered (e.g. – a property with a loft conversion needs evidence of sign off from building control that the loft can be used as a bedroom).

identifying households who are not benefit capped

Will the council consider properties with a dining room converted for use as a bedroom where the property has a separate living room- yes if the room meets the required space standards and there is a separate living room.

Maximum floor height the council will consider for flats with no lift in the block- 3 floors as within LBBD blocks without lifts are low and medium rise flats which are usually a maximum of 3 floors (Ground floor, first floor second floor, third floor).

I am interested in the scheme what do I do now?

Please email the property team via the below contact details expressing your interest and outlining any queries, details, or available properties. the property team can also be contacted via telephone 0208 227 2739 / 5082.

Helen.burke@lbbd.gov.uk  

Angela.nicholson@lbbd.gov.uk