What to do if things go wrong.

Accreditation status will be refused if:

• You do not meet the fit and proper person criteria (see section 14 of the Code of Conduct)
• The Landlord or Agency have a history of non-compliance in relation to property condition or management standards.  This will include the service of statutory enforcement notice (or prosecution) or penalty notices in a period of 12 months prior to the application of accreditation being received.
• The Landlord or Agency has been refused a HMO licence or their licence has been revoked.
• If we receive an application and payment and you do not meet the above conditions you will not be refunded your application funding.
• or if already suspended as set out below

 Appeals procedure

• Applicants who disagree with the decision to refuse or revoke accreditation can appeal in writing to the Housing Team Leader within 10 working days. If they continue to disagree with the decision a final written appeal can be made within 10 working days to the Housing Service Delivery Manager.

 Suspension of a Landlord

• Where an accredited landlord falls below the required standard as set out in the code of conduct, they will be written to and asked to resolve all outstanding issues, condition of property complaints, reports requested etc. within 14 calendar days.
• Failure to resolve and reply to the letter/email may result with the landlord being suspended from the accreditation. Whilst suspended, landlords must not advertise that they are part of this scheme.  The suspension will remain until the issue has been resolved to Telford & Wrekin Council’s satisfaction. A letter outlining the actions required will be provided for the landlord in order to re- join the scheme.
• A second suspension will result in a minimum exclusion from the scheme of 5 years. If a landlord during the membership has any of the following:
• The landlord is not a fit and proper person
• The applicant has a history of non-compliance in relation to property condition or management standards.  This will include the service of statutory enforcement notice or penalty notices in a period of 12 months prior to the application of accreditation being received
• The applicant has been refused a HMO licence of their licence has been revoked.
• If there is a serious breach of the scheme that will put Telford and Wrekin Council in to disrepute, this will result in the immediate removal from the scheme and all benefits.  This will include but not exhaustive to:  any prosecutions for criminal activity, confirmed negative press coverage including on social media. 
• No refund will be provided following suspension or removal of this scheme.

 Suspension of an Agent

• If an accredited agent fails to meet the standard required, a meeting will be held at their local office in order to resolve any issues.
• If there is not a measured improvement after 28 days, the letting will be suspended and an action plan will be provided. Whilst suspended, the letting agent must resolve all condition of property complaints informally and within the time scales set out in this document. Their performance will be monitored and will help determine if they are suitable to re-join. Whilst suspended, the letting agent must not advertise that they are part of this scheme on their website or office(s).
• The T&WAS webpage will be updated to remove them from the list.
• If there is a serious breach of the scheme that will put Telford and Wrekin Council in to disrepute, this will result in the immediate removal from the scheme and all benefits. This will include but not exhaustive too:  any prosecutions for criminal activity, confirmed negative press coverage including on social media. 
• There is a ‘3 strike and suspension rule’ for of non-serious breaches of the scheme. A written warning will be given, stating there has been a breach and the number remaining.
• After 3 breaches within the accreditation period, this will result in a suspension until the end of the 5 year period.
• No refund will be provided following suspension or removal of this scheme.