PLACE GROUP UK
LONDON STUDENT HOUSING GROUP
WELCOME TO THE COMPLIANCE PAGE
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
This page contains compliance information which may be relevant to prospective tenants. We also suggest you read the "why rent from place homes" information on our main web site by clicking here, relevant information on our London Student Housing Group web site by clicking here and also the "about place4students" information on our place4students web site by clicking here. Additional information can be found on our other London Student Group sites, London Student Landlords and London Student Rentals.
STATUTORY COMPLIANCE:
We are registered with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) under the Consumer Credit Act and with the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act. We are registered with (and exchange information with) Experian, the main UK credit reference agency. We are also registered with the OFT under the Money Laundering Regulations.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND COMPLAINTS HANDLING:
We are members of the National Landlords Association and Accredited under the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme. This is run jointly by the University of London and also the London Borough of Camden.
We have a complaints handling procedure. All existing and prospective tenants benefit from the fact that we are a member of the Surveyors/ Property Ombudsman Service which is a government approved dispute resolution scheme operated on behalf of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and which may be able to help with any complaints if we are unable to.
The Surveyors/ Property Ombudsman Service is approved by the Office of Fair Trading, is entirely independent, and provides a free service investigating complaints fairly by listening to both sides of the story and looking at the facts.
All existing tenants benefit from the fact that we are also a registered housing provider and member of the separate Housing Ombudsman Service. The Housing Ombudsman Service is only able to look at complaints about registered housing providers, is government backed, free, independent and impartial and deals with complaints and disputes affecting a wide range of property issues. The Housing Act 1996 (amended by the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008) requires all social housing providers to belong to the Housing Ombudsman Service. It includes all providers registered with the Tenant Services Authority, such as landlords, managing agents, and developers. The Housing Ombudsman Service also covers non-social housing providers who have joined it voluntarily.
Our CEO is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. All tenancy deposits are protected through My Deposits a government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme.
DEBT RECOVERY AND LITIGATION:
We will pass more serious debt recovery and litigation, together with Council Tax and HMO compliance matters to our separate in house legal and compliance department which is registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The department acts exclusively for Place Group UK together with any holding, associated or subsidiary businesses (and any businesses in which Place Group UK may by way of joint venture have an interest) and for the managers of those businesses.
HMO MANAGEMENT:
All houses under our management are managed in accordance with the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
All houses under our management (including those which are not subject to mandatory licensing under the 2004 Housing Act) meet the Amenity Standards required by the 2004 Act and set out in the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Misc Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended by The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Additional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007.
We have regard to the principles of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) guidelines for Houses in Multiple Occupation and we comply with the Housing Act Part X and Building Regulations as regards room sizes. Most of our houses are over 100 years old, and so where any property does not comply with the latest standards (other than issues of safety, where we will always comply) we advise tenants in advance so they can make an informed decision
We are a member of the Respect ASB Charter for Housing and have a written and accredited policy of encouraging individual and community responsibility amongst our tenants and their neighbours for good behaviour.
We do not let any properties in breach of the requirements of the London Borough of Haringey Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Haringay area) Scheme 2011 effective from 01 October 2011.
We are recognised and registered as a commercial "essential service" provider by the London Borough of Haringey.
PLANNING LEGISLATION AND SHARED HOUSES:
We do NOT let any property in breach of our legal obligations under the revised Planning Use Classes Order effective from 06 April 2010 and revised on 01 October 2010. [Town and Country Planning S.I. 2010 No.653 as amended by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No2) (England) Order (2010 No.2134)]. This means that our shared houses are ALL properly insured, properly managed and fully legally compliant.
INSURANCE:
We carry property owners public liability insurance per house of £5 million.
We carry landlords legal protection insurance to cover our external legal and other costs arising from pursuing claims in respect of physical damage to our properties, arrears, evictions and / or defending any civil and / or criminal allegations and claims against us. We also carry separate insurance to cover our external legal and other costs arising from pursuing claims against commercial suppliers for breach of contract.
Property, legal and public liability insurances are managed for us by our Direct Group Property Services. If we have to pursue (or defend) serious claims involving any tenant or previous tenant, conduct of the matter may be referred to our insurers.
With very few exceptions, essential electrical domestic appliances (washing machines and fridges) and all heating and hot water systems are insured through Domestic and General. Unless tenants are negligent or deliberately misuse or vandalise these items, any repair costs should be met by the insurers. In cases of extreme urgency we may instruct repairs outside the insurance and meet the costs as part of our overheads.
FINANCIAL:
We carry property owners tax investigations insurance.
Our accountants are Kingston Smith LLP, one of the largest UK accountants, now the largest non national firm, with 6 offices.
Our main bankers are National Westminster Bank PLC.
Electronic Business and Credit/Debit Card Security:
Compliance statements outlining our Electronic Business policy, our complaints handling procedure and also our Credit/Debit Card Security policy are separately available to view and download.
[References to "we" "our" etc is intended to refer to all registered trading styles and our CEO in the case of personal professional body registrations where a named principal is required.]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
This page contains compliance information which may be relevant to prospective tenants. We also suggest you read the "why rent from place homes" information on our main web site by clicking here, relevant information on our London Student Housing Group web site by clicking here and also the "about place4students" information on our place4students web site by clicking here. Additional information can be found on our other London Student Group sites, London Student Landlords and London Student Rentals.
STATUTORY COMPLIANCE:
We are registered with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) under the Consumer Credit Act and with the Information Commissioner under the Data Protection Act. We are registered with (and exchange information with) Experian, the main UK credit reference agency. We are also registered with the OFT under the Money Laundering Regulations.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND COMPLAINTS HANDLING:
We are members of the National Landlords Association and Accredited under the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme. This is run jointly by the University of London and also the London Borough of Camden.
We have a complaints handling procedure. All existing and prospective tenants benefit from the fact that we are a member of the Surveyors/ Property Ombudsman Service which is a government approved dispute resolution scheme operated on behalf of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and which may be able to help with any complaints if we are unable to.
The Surveyors/ Property Ombudsman Service is approved by the Office of Fair Trading, is entirely independent, and provides a free service investigating complaints fairly by listening to both sides of the story and looking at the facts.
All existing tenants benefit from the fact that we are also a registered housing provider and member of the separate Housing Ombudsman Service. The Housing Ombudsman Service is only able to look at complaints about registered housing providers, is government backed, free, independent and impartial and deals with complaints and disputes affecting a wide range of property issues. The Housing Act 1996 (amended by the Housing & Regeneration Act 2008) requires all social housing providers to belong to the Housing Ombudsman Service. It includes all providers registered with the Tenant Services Authority, such as landlords, managing agents, and developers. The Housing Ombudsman Service also covers non-social housing providers who have joined it voluntarily.
Our CEO is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. All tenancy deposits are protected through My Deposits a government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme.
DEBT RECOVERY AND LITIGATION:
We will pass more serious debt recovery and litigation, together with Council Tax and HMO compliance matters to our separate in house legal and compliance department which is registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The department acts exclusively for Place Group UK together with any holding, associated or subsidiary businesses (and any businesses in which Place Group UK may by way of joint venture have an interest) and for the managers of those businesses.
HMO MANAGEMENT:
All houses under our management are managed in accordance with the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
All houses under our management (including those which are not subject to mandatory licensing under the 2004 Housing Act) meet the Amenity Standards required by the 2004 Act and set out in the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation and Other Houses (Misc Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended by The Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Additional Provisions) (England) Regulations 2007.
We have regard to the principles of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) guidelines for Houses in Multiple Occupation and we comply with the Housing Act Part X and Building Regulations as regards room sizes. Most of our houses are over 100 years old, and so where any property does not comply with the latest standards (other than issues of safety, where we will always comply) we advise tenants in advance so they can make an informed decision
We are a member of the Respect ASB Charter for Housing and have a written and accredited policy of encouraging individual and community responsibility amongst our tenants and their neighbours for good behaviour.
We do not let any properties in breach of the requirements of the London Borough of Haringey Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Haringay area) Scheme 2011 effective from 01 October 2011.
We are recognised and registered as a commercial "essential service" provider by the London Borough of Haringey.
PLANNING LEGISLATION AND SHARED HOUSES:
We do NOT let any property in breach of our legal obligations under the revised Planning Use Classes Order effective from 06 April 2010 and revised on 01 October 2010. [Town and Country Planning S.I. 2010 No.653 as amended by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No2) (England) Order (2010 No.2134)]. This means that our shared houses are ALL properly insured, properly managed and fully legally compliant.
INSURANCE:
We carry property owners public liability insurance per house of £5 million.
We carry landlords legal protection insurance to cover our external legal and other costs arising from pursuing claims in respect of physical damage to our properties, arrears, evictions and / or defending any civil and / or criminal allegations and claims against us. We also carry separate insurance to cover our external legal and other costs arising from pursuing claims against commercial suppliers for breach of contract.
Property, legal and public liability insurances are managed for us by our Direct Group Property Services. If we have to pursue (or defend) serious claims involving any tenant or previous tenant, conduct of the matter may be referred to our insurers.
With very few exceptions, essential electrical domestic appliances (washing machines and fridges) and all heating and hot water systems are insured through Domestic and General. Unless tenants are negligent or deliberately misuse or vandalise these items, any repair costs should be met by the insurers. In cases of extreme urgency we may instruct repairs outside the insurance and meet the costs as part of our overheads.
FINANCIAL:
We carry property owners tax investigations insurance.
Our accountants are Kingston Smith LLP, one of the largest UK accountants, now the largest non national firm, with 6 offices.
Our main bankers are National Westminster Bank PLC.
Electronic Business and Credit/Debit Card Security:
Compliance statements outlining our Electronic Business policy, our complaints handling procedure and also our Credit/Debit Card Security policy are separately available to view and download.
[References to "we" "our" etc is intended to refer to all registered trading styles and our CEO in the case of personal professional body registrations where a named principal is required.]
DOWNLOAD MAIN COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS HERE
[A separate "compliance access" password applies for compliance downloads. Your "current students password" does not access this area. Please email for "compliance access" approval]
Rentals Lettings Housing and Accommodation for Students at University of London, City University, London Metropolitan University, University of Westminster and Middlesex University, in Manor House N4, available direct from London Student Housing Group. London Student Housing Group is part of Place Group UK, one of London’s most successful private property groups. Housing and Accommodation for Students at University of London, City University, London Metropolitan University, University of Westminster and Middlesex University, in Manor House N4, available direct from London Student Housing Group. London Student Housing Group is part of Place Group UK, and is registered with City University, London University, London Metropolitan University, Westminster University and the College of Law Housing Services.
