Wirral Council's Landlord Accreditation Scheme part funded by Housing Market Renewal, is a new voluntary scheme for private landlords, managing agents and tenants, designed to recognise good quality, well managed accommodation in the private sector. It is expected that the accredited status will give landlords a competitive market edge over the providers as well as enhancing the image and professional status of landlords.

There are many challenges ahead for the private rented sector and Wirral Council understands the importance of private landlords in providing an essential service. Wirral is working closely with landlords to enable the sector to address local and national issues.

The Landlord Accreditation Scheme provides information and support to accredited landlords in an attempt to raise property and management standards through an informal partnership approach, and is part of the development of Wirral's Private Rented Sector Strategy. This will clearly set out how Wirral intends to maximise the current opportunities, which exist to deal positively with the future challenges facing the sector. The Accreditation Focus Group consisting of a number of landlords and Council officers sit round a table every six weeks to discuss and review the scheme. Currently, the £30 registration fee is being waived as an encouragement to landlords to join the scheme.

A range of membership benefits are being developed, and currently include access to energy efficiency, and central heating grants, invitations to focus groups and forums, and access to a wide range of advice and information with regards to the private rented sector.

Members also currently have free access to Wirral Private Landlords training, which covers a range of topics including setting up a tenancy, tenancy deposits and agreements, property management and business management.