Landlords
Plymouth City Council recognises the importance of private landlords in meeting the housing needs of the city. We will work with you to ensure that Plymouth has sufficient safe and healthy housing to meet the needs of its people.
Landlord proficiency test
How good a landlord are you? Find out! It may also save you money on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing fees… and the test is free.
Together with other councils across the South West, we are supporting the Landlord Proficiency Test. This was devised by the West of England Housing Group (the councils within the area of Bristol). The Landlord's Manual has the information needed to pass the test (and help you manage your property). You can download this below, or if you prefer we can post you a hard copy. Please email us your request for this, together with your postal address.
Landlords manual [2MB]
Having passed the test, HMO licence holders qualify for a £30 discount off the licence fee. Please visit the cost page for more information.
You may also be interested in Landlord Accreditation which offers similar benefits. Please contact us for further information.
Advice and information
The Council publishes a range of information on various aspects of private letting. The following may be of particular interest.
Landlord's manual
This is a general guide giving landlords the basic information that they need to manage rented accommodation. Copies are available from our office, or they can be downloaded below.
Landlords manual [2MB]
Thinking about renting your home? [335KB]
Landlords introduction to private renting [1MB]
Policies and strategies
These set out the way the Council works with the private sector. Our Private Sector Housing Strategy provides an overall framework in which we work to improve housing in Plymouth. The Enforcement Policy describes how and when we seek to improve housing conditions, and the circumstances in which we would apply sanctions for this purpose (this is summarised in the Procedures and Policies leaflet). The Charging for Notices Policy sets out the circumstances when we can charge owners for our costs in taking the formal legal actions of serving statutory notices to address problems in housing conditions. Finally, the Assistance Policy sets out when financial assistance might be available for carrying out works.
These documents can be downloaded below:
Procedures and policies leaflet [819KB]
Charging for Notices Policy [27KB]
Charging for Notices Policy Report [32KB]
Assistance Policy [841KB]
Private sector housing strategy [687KB]
HouseLet
This is a scheme for bringing empty homes back into use. Properties are managed for landlords by Tamar Housing Association for a fixed period, providing a guaranteed rent. More details of HouseLet are available on our empty homes pages.
Private Rented Forum
We support the Private Rented Forum. This is a regular meeting of representatives of landlords associations, residential letting agents, Council departments and other agencies involved in the private rented sector in Plymouth.
The aims of the Forum are to:
- Discuss problems and issues in the private rented sector and try to reach consensus on how they can be resolved
- Provide access to relevant departments for private sector representatives to gain information on how Council operates
- Raise and improve the profile of the private sector in the city
Individual items of casework can not be brought unless they are used anonymously to illustrate a point.
The Forum will publish a downloadable newsletter after each meeting. This will help everyone working in the private rented sector.
If you have any general matters that you would like discussed at the forum, these can be included on the agenda. Please contact the Private Rented Team stating that this is a proposed agenda item for the Private Rented Forum. We will forward all such requests to the chair.
We are setting up a mailing list for all landlords who would like to receive this newsletter; please email the Private Rented Team with your details and how you would like to receive the newsletter (email or post).
Archive copies of the newsletter can be downloaded below.
Private rented forum newsletter - Issue twelve [52KB]
Private rented forum newsletter - Issue eleven [39KB]
Details of the membership of the forum, and its aims and objectives are available below.
Private rented forum charter [22KB] Table of forum members [36KB]Refuse collection
Below is various information about recycling and also a notice which can be used to remind occupiers of their responsibilities with regard to storage and disposal of waste. The collection day can be marked on this notice.
How to recycle your household waste [1MB]
Student recycling leaflet [934KB]
Recycling collection calendar [217KB]
Help keep Plymouth clean notice [55KB]
You can also visit our Find my collection day page.
Plymouth Access to Housing (PATH)
PATH is an independent organisation which works with tenants and landlords to help clients who would otherwise have difficulties in finding accommodation. In particular it operates the 'PATH Bond' to help clients who would not be able to pay a deposit when they take a tenancy. More information is available from the PATH website.