About Safe Suffolk Renters

Safe Suffolk Renters is a collaboration between East Suffolk Council and West Suffolk Council. Our aim is to support to landlords and tenants and achieve a private rented sector that delivers safe homes, enabling healthy lives.

Working collaboratively in East and West Suffolk

We will work to improve the standards of privately rented homes; providing training and information, supporting the private rented sector to flourish and self-regulate; resulting in healthier homes that meet the extensive legal requirements relating to housing.

We are committed to ensuring all landlords meet their responsibilities, as this helps protect tenants and supports the efforts of the many landlords who work hard to comply. Where there are serious or ongoing failures to meet these responsibilities, we will take appropriate enforcement action.

Strengthening Our Private Rented Sector

Safe Suffolk Renters provides tenant engagement support linked into the Housing Needs/Solutions teams of the two councils. We are also developing connections with health partners to provide support to residents who may be suffering ill-health made worse by poor housing.

Suffolk’s private rented sector (PRS) plays a vital role in meeting local housing needs and supporting the economy. But to truly thrive, it must offer safe, healthy, and affordable homes- and that requires collaboration across tenants, landlords, property managers, and councils.

Safe Suffolk Renters works in East and West Suffolk Council areas, and aims to build trust, improve housing standards, and foster long-term sustainability in East and West Suffolk.

Originally part of the Government’s Pathfinder programme covering the whole of Suffolk, we now continue forward as a partnership between East and West Suffolk Council.

Project Targets

Provide a single, trusted information hub for both landlords and tenants
Build intelligence on local housing stock to identify the worst homes
Understand local landlords better and build better relationships
Increase engagement with tenants
Educate tenants on rights and responsibilities to manage expectations
Promote self-regulation among property professionals
Link the sector with trusted partners to support business development
Empower professionals with knowledge and training
Increase legal compliance
Robustly enforcement against negligent and dis-engaged landlords

The Team

The team consists of Environmental Health Officers, Technical Officers, Engagement Officers, a Compliance Officer and Support Officers.

Our Team

Teresa Howarth

Strategic Lead – Private Sector Housing

Torben Wood

Senior Environmental Health Officer

Jennifer Lockington

Environmental Health Officer

Kathy Adamson

Landlord Engagement Officer

Gemma O’Neill

Landlord Engagement and Operational Support Manager

Ben Pirie

Environmental Health Technical Officer

Baz Spooner

Regulatory Compliance Officer

Harvey Brightey

Business Support Administrative Assistant

Three-Pronged Approach

The Safe Suffolk Renters initiative uses a three-pronged approach—Empower, Encourage, Enforce—to improve the private rented housing sector across Suffolk. Here’s what each element involves:

Empower

Providing the information and training to make informed decisions. Offering and supporting beyond the statutory requirements and making a lasting difference.

Encourage

Increasing confidence amongst landlords, property managers and tenants to make informed decisions. Support through education and outreach, helping improve property conditions and management practices.

Enforce

Robust enforcement to address noncompliance. This is in line with Government guidance to help drive up standards where opportunities to achieve compliance have not been taken.

Working Together for Better Homes

By sharing knowledge and building partnerships, Safe Suffolk Renters helps -tenants, landlords, and property managers to play their part in creating safe, happy, and healthy homes across Suffolk. We also engage with key partner agencies such as the University of Suffolk, voluntary sector organisations, Suffolk Public Health and health partners to share knowledge and learning and collaborate on joint initiatives delivering joined up ambitions.

SSR’s message is clear: awareness must lead to action

Every person deserves a home that is safe, healthy, and dignified. Through education, empowerment and enforcement, SSR is working to ensure that no tenant lives in conditions that threaten their health or their future.

The Renters’ Rights Act will come into force on 1st May

The Renters’ Rights Act will come into force on 1st May

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Safe Suffolk Renters

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Safe Suffolk Renters

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About Safe Suffolk Renters

Safe Suffolk Renters is a collaboration between East Suffolk Council and West Suffolk Council. Our aim is to support to landlords and tenants and achieve a private rented sector that delivers safe homes, enabling healthy lives.

Working collaboratively in East and West Suffolk