-
Directory for Private Sector Tenants and Landlords
Directory for Private Sector Tenants and Landlords
The information on this page has been produced to help residents living in the private rented sector and their landlords to obtain information about security of tenure, repairs, rents, benefits and other housing related issues.
Remedies to disrepair and lack of facilities/adaptations?
Private sector landlords, tenants and homeowners with concerns about repairs, improvements and adaptations can contact both the Council’s Housing Advice and Options Service and the Property Inspection Team for help to identify solutions to a problem.Housing benefit and rent payment problems?
Private sector landlords and tenants with concerns about rent payments and housing benefit can contact the Council’s Housing Benefit and Housing Advice and Options Service for help.Council Tax payments problems?
Private and public sector tenants and homeowners with concerns about Council Tax payments can contact the Council Tax Office directly or any of the local advice services.Housing advice, tenancy relations problems and concerns about security?
Landlords and tenants from time-to-time do experience problems in lettings. Free help and advice is available to residents from the Housing Advice and Options Service. The Housing Advice and Options Service is able to help landlords and tenants by identifying a household’s security of tenure, confirming landlord and tenants obligations and helping to negotiate the resolution of any dispute such as those that might occur where rent payments are delayed.
Who to Contact:
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
For help with rent payments for households on a low income or in receipt of benefits.
Housing Benefit enquiries: 020 8547 5001
E-mail: hsngben@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Council Tax Benefit enquiries: 020 8547 5001
E-mail: ctax@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Open: Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm and Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
Revenue and Benefits Section
Guildhall 2
Kingston KT1 1EU
Housing Advice and Options Service
Provides housing advice to landlords and tenants in the private sector about a whole range of issues in private sector lettings including:
- setting up a tenancy
- requirements of notice and possession action
- help with benefits to pay a rent
- repair and safety obligations and help to remedy disrepair
The Service can also provide money advice to help prevent homelessness for households who rent a property or own their own home.
Housing Advice and Options Service
Guildhall 2
Kingston KT1 1EU
Phone: 020 8547 5003
E-mail: housingadvice@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Open: Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm
Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm
National Landlords Association (formerly Small Landlords Association)
Promoting the interests of private sector residential landlords providing advice, fact sheets, up-to-date legal and tax solutions.
National Landlords Association
78 Tachbrook Street
Westminster London SW1V 2NA
Phone: 020 7828 2445
Email: info@landlords.org.uk
Property Inspection Team
Provides help and advice to landlords, tenants and home owners in private sector housing concerning repairs, improvements and adaptations including:
- Disabled Facilities Grants.
- Houseproud Equity Release Scheme for improvements, repairs and adaptations.
- Empty properties - assistance is offered with Landlord Renovation Grants subject to letting arrangements through either the Private Leasing Scheme or Tenant Finder Service.
- Coldbuster grants for energy efficiency measures and home repair grants for small scale works.
- Licensing of larger houses in multiple occupation (three or more storeys).
- Investigation of complaints relating to disrepair, overcrowding, fire safety and lack of amenities or facilities and other housing hazards as specified in Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004 (Housing Health and Safety Rating System).
- Help and advice with home energy conservation.
- Pest control, public health nuisances
and matters relating to private sewers and drains.
Property Inspection Team
Guildhall 2
Kingston KT1 1EU
Phone: 020 8547 5003
E-mail: ENHousingStaff@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Open: Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm; Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm
Environmental Health
- Noise and pollution.
Environmental Health and Trading Standards
Guildhall
Kingston KT1 1EU
Phone: 020 8547 5002
E-mail: ehadmin@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Open: Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm; Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm
Tenant Finder Service
Free letting service for landlords providing help and support with:
- Finding tenants
- Property inspections and preparation of tenancies
- Schedule of conditions and inventory
- Payment of advance rent and deposit
Tenant Finder Service
Guildhall 2
Kingston
KT1 1EU
Phone: 020 8547 5003
Open: Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm
Friday 8.45 am to 4.45pm
Citizens Advice Bureau:
For free help and advice to landlords, tenants and homeowners on a range of issues including:
- Rent and mortgage payments
- Landlord and tenants rights
- Repair issues and benefit problems:
Phone: 0844 826 9701
Visit at the following office:
Citizens Advice Bureau (Kingston)
Neville House
55 Eden Street
Kingston KT1 1BW
Opening hours:
Please go to their website for details of opening hours:
Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness
Help and advice to homeless households and those threatened with homelessness including housing and welfare benefits, legal rights of occupation, housing options and hostel access service.
Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness
36A Fife Road
Kingston KT1 1SU
Phone: 020 8255 7400
E-mail: info@kcah.org.uk
Opening hours:
Full Advice Service
Monday and Thursday 10.00am to 1.00pm
Opening hours:
Hostel Placement Service
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10.00am to 1.00pm
The Rent Service - now transferred to the Valuation Office Agency
Enables tenants renting from a private landlord to calculate the possible amount of Housing Benefit available to them from their local authority
For information go to https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/Default.aspx - see related external links below.
Shelter
Advice and information to private and public sector tenants, leaseholders and homeowners about a range of issues affecting accommodation and preventing homelessness.
Shelter London
88 Old Street
EC1V 9HU
Housing Advice Helpline: Freephone (24 hours) 0808 800 4444
Available Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.00pm; Saturday and Sunday 8.00am to 5.00pm
E-mail: info@shelter.org.uk
Lease
Advice and information to leaseholders and landlords about leasehold issues including leasehold valuation tribunals, common-hold and right to manage, service charges right to manage, service charges, ground rent and forfeiture.
Leasehold Advisory Service
70-74 City Road
London
EC1Y 2BJ
Phone: 0845 345 1993
E-mail: info@lease-advice.org