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News release

National Landlords Association responds to Walker Review on water

11 December 2009

Vincenzo Rampulla, Public Affairs Officer, National Landlords Association, responding to The Walker Review of Charging for Water’s recommendations today:

"The National Landlords Association (NLA) welcomes the Review’s recommendations which would stop water companies from simply passing bills to unsuspecting landlords when tenants’ fail to pay for the water they use.

"We have worked closely with Government and the water industry to ensure that the Review’s recommendations represent a good compromise that will end the ambiguity that water companies face about who is actually liable for the bill.  

“The NLA thinks it is absolutely right that landlords must not be held responsible for their tenant’s water usage. Government should act on the Review’s recommendations.”

* The NLA surveyed 1,000 landlords from around the UK who operate 13,000 LHA tenancies. The total rent arrears accumulated by these landlords since the introduction of LHA is £4.4 million, or an average of £4,400 per landlord. According to the Government there are almost 675,000 LHA tenancies. Assuming the NLA research is representative of the total LHA sector, rent arrears across the UK could be in excess of £220 million.

Learn more about the NLA campaign on LHA.

All media enquiries to:
Steven Hilton
Media Relations Manager, NLA
Email:
Tel: 020 7840 8906
Mob: 07508 031 084

Notes to Editors:
Representing landlords from all over the UK, the National Landlords Association (NLA) is the leading organisation for private-residential landlords. It 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. The NLA helps landlords make a success of their lettings business by providing a wide range of information, advice and services. It seeks to raise standards in the private-rented sector while aiming to ensure that landlords are aware of their statutory rights and responsibilities.