PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation Sheffield

A dedicated team of Sheffield City Council officers are on the trail of rogue landlords who provide student housing in Sheffield and whose tenants are in properties which are unsafe or in poor repair, or abuse their tenants' legal rights.

A spokesman for Sheffield City Council Homes and Regeneration, said: "Private landlords have always played an important role in providing student housing Sheffield, and there is no doubt that the majority of them are providing an excellent service for tenants. We are always willing to advise and work with landlords who provide student housing in Sheffield and student flats in Sheffield, who may need some help with managing their properties and our qualified inspectors are there to provide technical advice. 

"But where the good name of the majority is being tarnished by a minority who do not take a responsible attitude towards their tenants' welfare, health and safety, we will resort to taking enforcement action against these particular providers of student properties Sheffield."

Peter Turkington is a private landlord, whose company, PC Properties, are a leading provider of student accommodation in Sheffield, managing around 70 properties which support 500 tenants. PC Properties are a founding member of the Student Landlord Association whose membership provide student housing Sheffield to over three thousand tenants. He said: "As a result of the introduction of the Housing Act 2004, our Landlord association began working closely with the local authorities Private Sector Housing department to assist in the implementation and simplification of the new legislation concerning houses in multiple occupation, particularly regarding student housing in Sheffield.  Sheffield student houses achieve the high standards required by both tenant and local authority. This new legislation has in the long run, clearly benefited both tenant and landlord, and the improved standards have without doubt contributed towards Sheffield being recently voted as providing  the best standard of student accommodation in the country. The Landlords and letting agents of Student accommodation Sheffield have achieved significant improvements in their standard of student properties Sheffield and level of service. I feel it important to state that these improved standards of student accommodation Sheffield could not have been achieved without the good working relationship which has developed in recent years with the local authority.

More recently, our focus has been centred on working with Sheffield City Council to address some of the issues associated with student flats Sheffield and in general student housing Sheffield which are located in residential areas, ie. anti-social behaviour, noise pollution , 'to let' signs, litter etc.

Despite the introduction of improved regulation, there are inevitably a very small minority of so called landlords who supply student accommodation in Sheffield, who refuse to comply with required standards, and who purposely evade the need to licence their properties.

As part of our continued and evolving partnership with the Council, our Landlord organisation is fully committed to assist wherever possible, in identifying any individual or organisation, who blatantly disregard their obligations towards the welfare, health and safety of their tenants occupying student accommodation in Sheffield  

The private sector has had to endure for far to long the presence of a minority of stereotypical, unscrupulous landlords who continue to compromise the integrity of the responsible landlord who provide excellent Sheffield student houses. We therefore very much welcome and fully support this latest initiative undertaken by Sheffield City Council".

The work done by the Council team includes inspecting and regulating private rented housing.  They are also responsible for regulating student housing in Sheffield, known as HMOs, some of which may need a licence. Under the law all rented houses of three or more storeys, and with at least five occupants, needs to be licensed by the Council. This means that Sheffield student houses and Student flats Sheffield have to be inspected to make sure they comply with standards such as fire regulations, as their occupants can be at greater risk.