Further information or advice can be found on the following websites:
GOV.UK
GOV.UK provides a wide source for information and online services. You can also find contact information for your local Councils.
GOV.UK uses a search facility to find information quickly – simply go to www.gov.uk and search for the area you are looking for.
Government Departments are being relocated to ‘Inside Government’ on GOV.UK and you can find the following on the links below:
Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG): www.gov.uk/dclg
Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC): www.gov.uk/decc
Department of Work and Pensions (DWP): www.gov.uk/dwp
Links on the Government portal:
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) checker
Free Home Fire Safety Checks
Home fire safety checks are available from your local fire and rescue service. To find your local fire and rescue service go to www.gov.uk
Crimestoppers
To report a crime or to give information about a crime anonymously: 0800 555 111 or use anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Student Crime Reduction advice
West Midlands Police Safer Students website.
Security Testing Standards – Secured by Design
This website lists approved companies and products. ‘Secured by Design’ (SBD) is a Police initiative to encourage the building industry to adopt crime prevention measures in development design to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime, creating a safer and more secure environment.
www.securedbydesign.com
Sold Secure
www.soldsecure.com
Thatcham
Thatcham work with manufacturers to improve and test security and safety designs
www.thatcham.org
Immobilise Property Register
To register your property on the national property database, go to: www.immobilise.com
Safer Parking Awards
This is an initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking areas.
The Money Advice Service
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Neighbourhood Watch
www.ourwatch.org.uk
Illegal Money Lending Team
If you or anyone you know has been stranded by a loan shark you are not alone in this fight. The Illegal Money Lending Team is dedicated to helping you. Get a ticket off the island by contacting the team anonymously now.
TO REPORT A LOAN SHARK:
Call the 24/7 confidential hotline: 0300 555 2222
Text ‘loan shark + your message’ to 600003
Email: reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk
Private message on: www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject
Energy Efficiency
EPC Register
www.epcregister.com
Green Deal
For further information search for ‘Green Deal’ on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) website: www.gov.uk/decc
Utility Companies and Consumer Advice
Trading Standards
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk
UK Water companies
www.water-guide.org.uk
Gas Safe Register (Registered gas engineers)
www.gassaferegister.co.uk
Health and Safety Executive Gas Safety Advice
www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic
Educational resources from the Gas Safe Charity
www.getgassafe.org.uk
Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes
The Deposit Protection Service
www.depositprotection.com
Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd
www.mydeposits.co.uk
The Dispute Service
www.thedisputeservice.co.uk
Letting Agent – Property Redress Schemes
From the 1st October 2014, all Letting Agents must be members of a Property Redress Scheme which gives landlords and tenants a cost free method of taking action against an Agent if they are dissatisfied with their services.
The three Government Scheme are:
More information is available on the Government portal GOV.UK
Professional Associations
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
www.arla.co.uk
National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
www.naea.co.uk
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
www.rics.org
The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS)
www.nalscheme.co.uk
Midland Landlord Accreditation Scheme (MLAS)
www.mlas.org.uk
North and Central Staffordshire Landlord Accreditation Scheme
www.landlordaccreditation.co.uk
Shelter
www.england.shelter.org.uk
