Private sector landlords and letting agents are being invited to a free forum to help them keep up-to-date with legal changes to the private rented sector.

Daventry District Council (DDC) has teamed up with DASH Landlord Accreditation to hold the event, which will take place at the Council Chamber in Lodge Road on Wednesday 2 May from 6pm to 8pm.

Aimed at residential landlords and letting/management agents who want to offer good and safe housing, it will be the first of a regular series of forums with the aim of providing the latest advice and support.

One of the focuses of the first event will be important changes to the licensing of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). The changes, which are being introduced on 6 April, will:

• Extend mandatory licensing to all HMOs that are occupied by 5 or more persons in two or more separate households;
• Introduce mandatory conditions in all licensed HMOs concerning minimum sleeping room sizes and maximum number of occupants;
• Introduce a mandatory condition in all licensed HMOs concerning the provision of refuse storage facilities.

The forum will feature presentations and advice from guest speakers about HMOs and other important information that all landlords should be aware of. There will also be opportunities for discussion and to network with other landlords.

Future sessions will be held every six months and will aim to cover a range of different topics.

The forums are being supported by DASH, which is the region’s leading provider of housing advice and information for the private rented sector.

Councillor Richard Auger, Health and Housing Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council, said: “The forum will advise landlords of important changes in legislation relevant to them, as well as suggesting services and schemes that can provide support.

“The aim is to bring landlords up-to-date with important information and offer good practice suggestions to help them comply with their legal responsibilities so they can continue to run a successful business.

“We want to develop collaborative relationships between housing landlords and letting agents and other agencies and organisations, so that we can all work together in the interests of protecting tenants.”

To register for the forum please email environmentalimprovement@daventrydc.gov.uk or phone 01327 871100. Landlords and letting agents who are unable to make this event can register an interest in attending future forums using the same contact details.