Regulation & Law
News articles looking at national legislation and local regulation and the application of law to the residential property industry.
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Letting agency working for rogue landlord under the spotlight
A Leamington Spa letting agent has been thrown under the spotlight after one of its rogue landlords was fined £31,000 by Warwick District Council. Grzegorz Surminski had rented a 6-bedroom property in St Brides Close, Sydenham, Leamington Spa through Golden Key Letting Agents and was subletting the property to eight sub-tenants when the property was inspected by Warwick District Council Housing Officers in February 2022. DISREPAIR The property was reported to the Council for disrepair by one of the sub-tenants. Surminski had not applied for a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence for letting the property to so many tenants and had not provided safe or adequate measures for his tenants. As well as the lack of fire safety provisions, there were numerous repair issues also found including unsafe electrics, lack of a working shower and broken floor tiles in the bathroom. A tenant was provided with a mouldy mattress to sleep on, and there were large accumulations of rubbish in the rear garden as well as insufficient wheelie bins for the size of the household. This landlord has flouted the laws which are there to protect the most vulnerable members of society.” Surminski was found guilty last month by…
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LAUNCH: New regulations and ombudsman covering new homes sales
New ombudsman is designed, among other aims, to prevent agents or developers employing 'pressure sales' tactics when selling new homes.
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Agents warned not to fall foul of UK’s new Russia sanctions
As Putin issues nuclear threats and mobilises hundreds of thousands of reservists, the threat to UK estate agents is closer to home.
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The Property Ombudsman kicks out five agents for failing to pay fines
The Compliance Committee has taken action against all agents that did not comply with the Ombudsman’s decision.
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Scottish letting agents brace for ‘rushed’ rental regulations
Legislation is expected to be passed in just three days this week that will allow the controversial rent freeze and eviction bans to be implemented by Thursday.
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AML conundrum: How ‘dirty cash’ represents such a risk to estate agents
Money talks, as the song goes, but the gap between anti-money laundering regulation and its implementation is causing serious issues for estate agents, says Simon Luke.
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Labour promises ‘pro-tenant’ renting charter during first 100 days of power
Shadow housing minister Lisa Nandy reveals her plans for letting agents, landlords and tenants during annual conference.
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New insurance scheme to free up surveyors and clear cladding backlog
A government-backed indemnity is designed to give surveyors confidence to assess buildings with cladding.
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Letting agents slam Government over ‘risky’ renting reform plans
Detail report from TLIC outlines the danger of banning Section 21 evictions AND fixed-term tenancies in one go, among other things.
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