We often report local authorities criticising the standards of letting agents and landlords – now here’s a quite different story.

Letting agents and landlords have been praised by Burnley council for their professional approach to looking after their properties and tenants.

Mujeeb Rehman, of RPC Lettings, has also become the first landlord to achieve the gold standard as part of the council’s Good Landlord and Agent Scheme, or GLAS.

He was joined by his colleague Carolyn Harry, Michael Green, of Belvoir Burnley, and Ryan McCormack, from Sycamore Letting Co Ltd based in Accrington, at a ceremony at Burnley Town Hall.

“Burnley Council works with private landlords to support them and encourage them to raise their standards. These three businesses deserve credit for being the first to be reaccredited under our new code of practice. It reflects their professional approach to how they go about their business and the fact they are committed to providing a top class service to their tenants” says councillor John Harbour, the council’s executive member for housing and environment. 

Accreditation schemes in the area started in the 1990s, particularly in the student sector, to recognise good agents and landlords who meet a set code of practice.

The council has been administrating a wider accreditation scheme in Burnley since 2001, attracting many landlords and agents. 

This summer the council launched a new code of practice to reflect changes in both legislation and best practice that are affecting the private rented sector.

Belvoir, RPC and Sycamore were all existing accredited managing agents and are now the first to be reaccredited under the new code. 

As well as meeting the standards of the new code the council has undertaken a “mini audit” of the businesses to ensure robust management procedures are in place.

The house condition standards within the new code go above and beyond the legal requirements of the current national standard and aim to ensure that tenants live in a safe and comfortable home that is well managed  For those landlords and agents  who reach the higher standard within the new code the gold accreditation award will be granted.