Release Date:  08-May-2008

COUNTRY'S BIGGEST COUNCIL RUN LANDLORD EVENT - EXPO - MARKS ITS EIGHTH YEAR

Thursday 15th May sees the largest free event for landlords in the South West, and the biggest local authority-organised event in the UK. It will be jointly organised by Bristol City, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset Councils, together with the Bristol Association of Letting and Managing Agents (BALMA).

Landlord Expo 2008 will take place at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Filton Road, Hambrook from 1.00 pm - 8pm . This free event is aimed at anyone who is already a landlord or letting agent, or anyone considering entering the private rental market.

With information stands, seminars and demonstrations, the annual event informs private landlords, letting agents and other investors of the wide range of commercial and council services available to them. It is also an excellent chance for those involved in the private rented sector to meet and network.

The first Landlord Expo was held in 2000, and before that there were Landlord Fairs going back to 1996. 2003 saw the Expo move from The Council House to its new home at the Holiday Inn, Filton Road, Bristol. The event has proved increasingly popular with visitor numbers growing from 270 in 2003 to last year's peak of 600. Landlord Expo has been sponsored for the last three years by Netrent.co.uk, the UKs largest independent lettings website.

Among the wide range of exhibitors are:

·Local Housing Allowance
·Financial - buy to let and insurance services
·Domestic Energy Assessors
·Accountants and solicitors
·Letting agents and property managers
·Fire detection and security systems
·Electrical, gas and locksmith services
·Avon and Somerset Police
·Avon Fire and Rescue
·Bristol Association of Letting and Managing Agents (BALMA)

There will also be seminars on various subjects, including: Finance for Landlords, Tenancy Deposit Protection, Energy Performance Certificates, Avoiding Bad Tenants, Local Housing Allowance and Tax Mitigation.

For the first time the local authorities who surround the West of England Group area have been invited to participate and become involved in the Expo - Forest of Dean, Stroud, Cotswold, North Wiltshire, West Wiltshire, Mendip and Sedgemoor. It is hoped that this will lead to a larger event covering an even wider region in future years.

Every landlord or agent attending will receive a copy of the new second edition West of England Landlord Manual - a comprehensive 80-page guide to the business of being a landlord in the private rented sector. This second edition, aimed specifically at landlords in the West of England region, is being launched at the event, so this will be the first opportunity to obtain a copy.

Cllr Judith Price, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “It is very encouraging to see this informative event growing in popularity and being so well supported by neighbouring councils and sponsorship. Bristol City Council is dedicated to creating better neighbourhoods, and landlords have a key role in achieving this. The council has an important role to play in the private rented sector, and our Private Housing Support Team provides information and advice to landlords, ensuring they are supported and encouraged to continue improving standards.”

South Gloucestershire Council’s Executive Member for Community Care and Housing Department, Councillor Matthew Riddle, said: "South Gloucestershire Council values the opportunity to work with our surrounding authorities on such a high profile and successful event. We are committed to supporting landlords and raising the standards in the private rented sector.  I would encourage any landlord or person who is considering becoming a landlord to attend this event which is free and provides such a range of excellent and up to date information."

Tony Hardacre of Stirling Student Properties says that every landlord should attend: "As private landlords providing accommodation for nearly fifteen years in different parts of the UK, we have been enthusiastic supporters of the Expo from the beginning. It is a regional focus and brings a wide range of information and services together in a particularly helpful way. The relationship between local councils and the private sector is very good in this part of the southwest and the Expo is an expression of that co-operation.”

To find out more, visit www.landlordexpo.co.uk or contact the Expo organisers on 0117 353 3865 or email info@landlordexpo.co.uk

Author:  Catherine Frankpitt

For all media enquiries relating to this press release, please contact Corporate Communications on 0117 922 2650.

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