016_LH470_B&H Council_Editorial 09/04/2010 15:45 Page 2
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BRIGHTON&HOVE CITY COUNCIL
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Simply the best Brighton & Hove City Council’s new services with landlords in mind
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elping landlords get their voices heard and making best use of the city’s housing – that’s the aim of a new range of services set up by Brighton & Hove City council. A dedicated telephone line is now available for landlords to call with any enquiries about housing benefits, grants, acquisitions and help with empty properties. Access this service by dialling 01273 290519. There’s also a new online landlord forum, where landlords can express their views, seek advice, exchange ideas and request information. A housing benefit enquiry board has also been established, where changes in legislation will be published and general enquiries answered. Go to http://forums.brighton-hove.gov.uk and follow the registration instructions to join today. These new services are being funded by the council and the BEST (Brighton & East Sussex Together) partnership – a project which includes all East Sussex authorities aimed primarily at providing assistance and support to private sector landlords. Brighton & Hove City Council has also revised their successful leasing scheme to enable landlords who lease to the council to do so for much longer periods, even entering into agreements for up to 25 years. Councillor Maria Caulfield, the council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Private landlords are vital to the city’s housing mix and we’re keen to work with them to make sure we’re doing all we can to support the sector. We have close links with hundreds of landlords already through our leasing, direct letting and landlord accreditation schemes, and these new services aim to build on that and help us reach out to more landlords.” Stephen Gill of Martin & Co Lettings Agents has already felt the benefit of working with the council. He said: “For a successful company like Martin & Co to keep its market lead, we need to work closely with all sorts of partners. Our developing relationship with Brighton & Hove City Council is delivering for us, delivering for the council and delivering for landlords.”
Local landlord Alfred Haagman has benefitted from the council’s leasing and direct lets schemes and said: “In the current climate, certainty is a valuable commodity, and the guarantees which come with leasing are great for my business. But having the option of letting my properties direct to tenants from the council gives me a zero cost alternative, protected by the council’s damage deposit guarantee.” The leasing scheme is open to all landlords with properties which meet the criteria. They also offer a free tenant matching service which provides landlords with a property damage guarantee as an alternative for landlords who want to manage their own properties hands-on. For more information contact 01273 290519.
Shades ahead
Embrace the lighter evenings with Kelly Hoppen’s designs at Shutterly Fabulous
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ritish summertime is officially here, so it’s time to start making the most of the longer and increasingly balmy days. If you’re thinking of giving your tired windows a new look, shutters can offer you an ideal balance between style and functionality. Brighton-based Shutterly Fabulous has joined forces with leading interior designer Kelly Hoppen to develop a new and exclusive line of shutters that will add the ultimate designer touch to your home. The range is available in three sophisticated finishes and Kelly’s trademark neutral shades, ranging from pure whites to elegant taupes and greys, as well as contemporary black lacquers. Aside from giving your home a smart touch, shutters are a wonderful way of maximising the extra daylight, aiding ventilation and blocking out the harsh summer heat without compromising privacy in your home. Better still, your furniture, carpets and art are better protected against fading in the sunlight. As a result, shutters provide the right balance between natural light and solitude while delivering a more attractive alternative to traditional blinds. Shutterly Fabulous is also the only full service shutter company in the UK to sell FSC-certified shutters. They offer a high quality product in an array of styles, and the shutters can be designed to fit almost any space, including attics. Their custom colour service allows customers to actively participate in the design process. As an added extra, Shutterly Fabulous offers free-of-charge Quick Fix temporary blinds while your bespoke shutters are being designed. Kelly Hoppen Shutters, 01273 427986, www.kellyhoppenshutters.com