by Terry Cunnew
Westminster City Council has pre-empted the Government’s plans to implement the proposals of the Nugee report on the management of private blocks of flats.
A voluntary code of conduct — which has the support of such major Westminster landlords as the Grosvenor and Cadogan estates — was launched this week by the council’s housing committee chairman, Patricia Kirwan.
Westminster gave evidence to the Nugee Committee and a number of the council’s proposals were adopted, including that of giving tenants first refusal when landlords propose to sell. This is regarded as the most important of the 25 clauses in Westminster’s voluntary code.
On the question of communications, the code requires that landlords should have a registered address in England or Wales to which documents can be served and that the landlord’s name and address should appear on rent and service charge documents.
Lessees and tenants are to be notified by the existing landlord within 28 days of a change of ownership, giving the name and address of the new landlord, while tenants are to be required in turn to inform the landlord within 28 days of any assignment or change in occupation details.
Managing agents should be located within a reasonable distance of the premises, and residential buildings or residential parts of buildings should be managed by one agent who is clearly responsible to the landlord and who is accountable to the occupiers.
There should be regular communications between landlord and occupiers on matters relating to management, with an identified officer within the landlord company having authority to deal with complaints.
The formation of residents’ associations is to be encouraged and landlords should be prepared to discuss with them, on a regular basis, matters of management and maintenance.
Such associations should play a greater role in these and other areas such as planned works and related expenditure.
Westminster housing director Graham England says that the council is now looking for a wider public debate in the city as thinking evolves.
The council’s initiative won considerable support at meetings with landlord, management and occupier groups, including the Federation of Private Tenants’ Associations and the Paddington Federation of Residents’ and Tenants’ Associations.
The council, says Mr England, was impressed by the constructive approach of almost all concerned. The voluntary code is now to be circulated for formal ratification and further group meetings are to be held under council auspices.
In addition to regular informal meetings with owners’ and occupiers’ groups over the next few months, it is also planned to invite their representatives on to the council’s private housing subcommittee.
