Landlords Urged to Report Rents to Local Valuation Office

Landlords are being encouraged to report the level of rent on their properties to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to help local authorities determine average market rents in their area.

The National Landlords Association (NLA) says it is vital local authorities know what market rents are, so they have accurate statistics on the state of the local private rented sector.

Market rents are also used to determine the amount of local housing allowance (LHA) which is paid to tenants on benefits.

The cuts to LHA will see payments based on the 30th percentile of local rents, rather than the previous 50th percentile.

David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, commented:

“It’s important that local authorities have an accurate picture of the rental market in their area to help them set their LHA payments, and they rely on voluntary reporting by landlords.

“With rents increasing because of higher demand on the private rented sector, this will help ensure tenants on benefits receive what they are entitled to.

“It’s very easy for landlords to report their rents and they can be sure that the information is held confidentially by the Valuation Office Agency.”
 
Landlords can report their rents to the VOA by filling in the lettings information and collection form and emailing, posting or faxing it back to them.  More information can be found on the VOA website.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:
Dane Svenson, Press Officer
0207 840 8925
dane.svenson@landlords.org.uk


NOTES TO EDITORS:
The National Landlords Association (NLA) is the UK’s leading organisation for private-residential landlords. It has over 20,000 paid-up members, ranging from full-time landlords with large property portfolios to those with just a single letting. NLA membership helps landlords make a success of their lettings business by providing a wide range of information, advice and services. The NLA campaigns for the legitimate interests of landlords by seeking to influence decision-makers at all levels of government and by making landlords’ collective voice heard in the media. It seeks to raise standards in the private-rented sector while aiming to ensure that landlords are aware of their statutory rights and responsibilities. Based at its head office in Central London, the NLA currently employs over 40 full-time staff and has a network of more than 40 regional representatives and branches throughout the UK.