The Private Rented Sector on the Isle of Wight plays a vital role in providing an alternative for people who don't want, or cannot afford to buy their own home and for people who do not qualify or are unable to wait for a socially rented tenancy.


There are many reasons why people become private landlords, these can include;
- Letting as a business
- Buy-to-let as an investment
- Buying a flat for students to share
- Letting your previous home when you move away
- Accommodation for employees, from estate workers to au pairs
- Taking in lodgers to help pay bills


Most landlords have a very professional approach to letting property and provide high quality, well-managed accommodation. As there are a variety of ways people become landlords, there is inevitably a range in management styles and property conditions. Many people might not think of themselves as a landlord and may be unsure what they should be doing legally, to protect themselves and their tenants.


The Isle of Wight Council is committed to ensuring that landlords and their agents are kept up to date with housing law, good practice, initiatives and to provide opportunities to talk to us. This section of the website contains information for landlords on the island as part of this process.


For more information on the tenancy deposit protection scheme which came into effect from April 2007, please click here.


Since April 2008, the way Housing Benefit is calculated and paid has changed and the Local Housing Allowance was introduced, for more information on whether this affects you, please visit the Housing Benefit Departments pages.


The council is keen to work with private landlords to overcome some of the difficulties that our clients face in accessing the private sector. With this is mind the Council has developed the ‘Find A Home’ Scheme. Please use the link on the left to find out more details about our new scheme.


Communities and Local Government have introduced measures in England and Wales to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings, including:
introducing energy performance certificates for properties providing A-G efficiency ratings and recommendations for improvement
requiring public buildings to display energy certificates
requiring inspections for air conditioning systems
giving advice and guidance for boiler users

By October 2008 all properties - homes and commercial - when bought, sold, built or rented will need an Energy Performance Certificate .

Each year the Isle of Wight Council hosts several Landlods Fairs, in which landlords or those interested in becoming a landlord are invited to attend. They are open events enabled to keep landlords and agents informed of changes in the law, services of the Council and initiatives. They usually take place in the evening at a central location, previous fairs have included presentations regarding:


Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing
Local Housing Allowance
Find a Home Scheme
Fire Regulations
Supporting People


The next Fair is being held on 30th September at 6pm at the Quay Arts Centre, Newport. The Fair will include presentations on the introduction of the new energy performance assessment criteria which comes into affect for the private rented sector on 1st October 2008.
If you would like to reserve a place, please contact the Housing Needs department on housing@iow.gov.uk or (01983) 823040.

To help landlords find out about the changes to legislation and to encourage good practice by landlords sharing their extensive knowledge, the Isle of Wight Council have set up a Landlords Forum which is held several times a year.


The Landlord Forums are round table discussions between landlords, agents and representatives from the Council and whilst the Forum is facilitated by the Council it has an independent Chair person elected by the Forum.


The purpose of the forums is to discuss issues affecting the housing sector and how to best tackle them. This process also includes how the Council might be able to assist landlords to relieve these issues.


The forum is also instrumental in deciding what topics are presented at the Landlords Fairs and arranging guess speakers.


Following on from the successful Landlord Fair in March 2008, a Landlords Forum was held on the 4th July. During which the Chair was elected and delegates were updated on the progress of the new Local Housing Allowance. The council also offered delegates the opportunity to provide input into their new 5 year Homelessness Strategy.

It was agreed that there should be two forums per annum, therefore the next meeting will take place in September 2008, more details will be posted here nearer the time.