Gold Standard Charter

Any landlord or managing agent who signs up to the Gold Standard Charter is publicly making a pledge to comply with these standards.

I agree to:

• be a member of a recognised landlord’s association/representative group or have a housing related professional qualification (landlords) and be a member of an accreditation scheme to help keep up to date with the law and best practice on housing
• have landlord insurance for the building and fixtures
• make it clear that the tenants’ need to insure their contents
• advertise my property honestly and legally
• put all tenants’ deposits in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme (TDP)
• publish any fire risk assessments for my properties online
• accept tenants who receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit

For my tenants I will provide:

• a clear written tenancy agreement
• a clear written description of who is responsible for paying Council Tax, utility bills, phone, broadband, satellite TV or other media services and any other regular charges known to affect the letting
• meter readings for them when the bills are transferred to them
• information on the location of meters and gas and water valves for emergency purposes and emergency contact details
• provide the tenant with the chance to carry out a joint inventory inspection at the start and end of the tenancy

I will give tenants a pack that includes: 

• a copy of How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England
• a schedule of conditions and/or inventory appropriate to the property concerned signed by both parties and including photos
• information on local and council services available to the tenant
• where to get mediation and tenancy advice
• contacts and information on how to arrange for bulk waste removal

I will ensure that tenancy agreements give clear and full information about:

• the responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant
• any restrictions

I will provide security of tenure by: 

• giving the tenant the choice of a fixed term tenancy of up to 5 years for security
• or a ‘periodic tenancy’ for flexibility after the initial 6 or 12 months of the tenancy ending successfully

Ending tenancies

I will protect tenants against harassment or illegal eviction and not evict tenants without an acceptable reason. 

Acceptable reasons for portfolio and single property landlords include: 

• tenant’s poor conduct
• the tenant is not occupying the property
• the tenant has breached the tenancy agreement
• rent is in arrears or often late
• the tenant has a relevant criminal conviction
• tenant displays relevant anti-social behaviour
• landlord needs to sell or completely refurbish the property
• the property is to be sold by the lender
• where there has been a change in the tenant’s status, for example the tenant is no longer a student and the property is purpose-built student accommodation
• the tenancy cannot legally continue or the landlord has been issued with an overcrowding notice. 

For single property landlords an additional acceptable reason is where you or a family member needs the accommodation for their own use and there are no other alternatives, for example for financial reasons.

I agree to enter into council supported mediation before taking action to terminate tenancies where there are issues with the tenant’s behaviour.

Increase the notice given for a tenant to leave the property by 1 month for each year the tenant has lived in the property, up to a maximum of 6 months.

Rent

I agree to keep rents and additional costs to a reasonable level by: 

• committing to charging rents that are as reasonable as their financial situation allows (being aware of the effect high rents have on tenants’ lives)
• not using letting agents who charge fees to tenants and will not charge any fees to tenants either
• ensuring that rent will not be increased more than once every 2 years
• giving 3 months’ notice of any rent increase, not charging tenants for the renewal of tenancy agreements

Rental properties

My property will be thoroughly cleaned at the beginning of a tenancy including:

• carpets and flooring
• bathrooms and kitchens
• furnishings and appliances included in the letting

I agree to provide a Decent Home (using the Decent Home Standard as a guide) that is: 

• free from health and safety hazards, for example, Category 1 hazards or significant Category 2 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System
• in a good state of repair
• has reasonably modern facilities and services
• provided with a reasonable degree of thermal comfort and have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of D or above

They will have:

• a planned programme to improve the energy efficiency of the building to achieve an EPC of B or C, as far as reasonably practicable
• a planned programme for maintenance and improvements, carried out as far as possible at times convenient for the tenant
• a gas service and repair contract (when there are gas appliances in the property)
• outdoor spaces (where appropriate) that are clean and safe with adequate fencing and paved areas
• draft proofing to all external doors and windows where necessary
• walls, floors, ceilings and fixtures that are in a good state of repair, clean and in reasonable decorative order.

Have any repairs carried out promptly: 

• emergency repairs defined as affecting health or safety, like a major electrical fault, or blocked toilet - repair to be carried out within 24 hours 
• urgent repairs defined as affecting material comfort like hot water, heating, fridge failure, serious roof leak - repair to be carried out within 5 working days
• non-urgent repairs defined as anything else that does not affect health and safety or material comfort - repair to be carried out within 20 working days

Gold Standard Charter Plus 

I have signed up to the council’s finders fee scheme to help people in housing need, in partnership with Southwark’s Housing Solutions service. 

This is an optional extra. If you sign up to this scheme as a GSC landlord you will not have to pay Part B of your licensing fee.     

If you sign up to the scheme, but not the GSC you will not be eligible for a GSC or finders’ fee discount on your licensing fee.