On the evening of Wednesday 13 May, the Council's Public Health & Housing Options Service held another informative event aimed at improving private rented accommodation.

Held at the Upton Barn & Walled Garden in Cullompton, the event now in its fifth year once again brought together landlords, prospective investors and property professionals from across the district for an engaging evening.

Attendees benefited from a strong programme of expert speakers, offering valuable insight into the evolving property landscape.

• Susannah Streeter, Chief Investment Strategist at Wealth Club, delivered an engaging session exploring market trends and the economic forces influencing property investment decisions.
• Tom Fellows from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government provided an important update on the forthcoming PRS Landlord Ombudsman and wider Renters’ Rights legislation.
• Debbie Franklin, Head of Property Tax at Peplows, rounded off the speaker sessions with a comprehensive overview of the latest changes to property taxation and what they mean for landlords moving forward.
• Alison Padfield from CHAT encouraged landlords to contact them for advice and support to build and maintain successful tenancies.

Throughout the evening, a range of exhibitors were on hand to offer advice and support, giving attendees the opportunity to connect directly with local services and industry professionals. The event fostered lively discussion, knowledge-sharing and valuable networking opportunities among those working within the sector.

Councillor Gordon Czapiewski, Chair of the Council, said:

“These events play an important role in supporting landlords and raising standards across the private rented sector. It’s fantastic to see such strong attendance again this year, with so many people coming together to learn, share experiences and build connections.”

Feedback from attendees was very positive, with many highlighting the quality of the speakers, the relevance of the topics covered and the opportunity to network with peers.

The Public Health & Housing Options Team extends its thanks to all who attended, as well as the speakers and exhibitors for their contributions, and the team at Upton Barn & Walled Garden for hosting the event.

Landlords can also sign up to Pin Point News Updates to receive relevant news and to be kept informed about the next Landlord Networking Event on 12 May 2027. If you or your business would like to be involved in future events, please contact landlordevent@middevon.gov.uk to register your interest early.