A report providing an update on the Reading Rent with Confidence Scheme and the new website – www.rrwc.org.uk.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report which provided an update on the Reading Rent with Confidence Scheme and the new website – www.rrwc.org.uk.  The report explained that the purpose of the scheme was to accredit properties and their landlords, and to encourage landlords to work with the Council to provide good quality accommodation to its tenants in the private rented sector along with good management services.

The report stated that the Reading Rent with Confidence Scheme formed part of the Housing Charter that had been launched in 2016 and aimed to give tenants in the private rented sector greater confidence in the properties they rented, raise standards and enable landlords to market good properties to those tenants.  The Council had submitted a successful bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to create a stand-alone website, which was interactive and simplified the accreditation process, and 12 animated videos to inform tenants about the safety standards they could expect in a privately-rented home.  The website and the Reading Rent With Confidence Scheme would be launched early in 2022 and a further report would be submitted to the Committee.

Resolved –

(1)        That the report be noted;

(2)        That an update report be submitted to the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee meeting to be held on 10 March 2022.