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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First ever banning order in London obtained against criminal landlord
The first ever rogue landlord banning order in London has been obtained against 42-year-old Cesar De Sousa Melo. This banning order follows multiple investigations by Camden Council into Melo’s activities, which were brought to the attention of officers following a rogue landlord referral received in May 2018 via the Greater London Authority and Mayor of London website. Melo, who is believed to be of Brazilian origins, was subsequently found to have broken a host of rules and laws governing rented property at three addresses including illegally subletting one property, dangerous electrical wiring, failing to fit smoke alarms and shoddy partition work. Multiple breaches The flats he managed also featured cramped conditions (pictured, above), inadequate fire alarms and overall multiple breaches of the Housing Act 2004. Tenants staying in the flats all of which were in and around Kings Cross and Euston in Central London were all young or from overseas and paid inflated rents for poor standards of housing. The banning order begins somewhat curiously in March next year and, if Melo breaches the order, he faces imprisonment for up to 51 weeks or a court fine – or both – or a Civil Financial Penalty of up to £30,000.…
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Latest mortgage fraud case ‘strikes at the heart of conveyancing’
By changing her name and then applying for a passport, Sarah Broadbelt sold a property she didn't own for £75,000 without anyone in the chain noticing.
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Will the General Election scupper RoPA?
Safeagent has warned the industry that regulation of estate agents through the RoPA proposals is not the done deal that many other organisations present it as. Isobel Thomson, Safeagent’s CEO, says the General Election has thrown the RoPA proposals into question because neither Labour or any of the other political parties have officially supported it. Accepted not adopted Thomson has also told The Negotiator that although many organisations are excited by the proposed professionalisation of the industry, the government has only ‘accepted’ Lord Best’s report and that it has yet to say it will adopt all of the RoPA recommendations. “Prior to the General Election being triggered there was no government announcement on RoPA,” she says. “We don’t know which political party is going to form the next government and we don’t know what their attitude to RoPA might be. “But we do want movement on this; Safeagent wants regulation of agents in whatever form that takes.” Approved Body If the Conservatives do win a majority and it does accept all of the RoPA recommendations, Thomson has confirmed that Safeagent would hope to gain Approved Body status and play a part in helping its members implement the new rules on…
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Tenants enjoy £2m rental deposit return bonanza as fees ban kicks in
Deposit protection scheme TDS says it's returning £320 per tenant on average as tenancies come up for renewal.
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Infamous landlord Fergus Wilson convicted of abusing parking attendant
The 71-year-old was taken to court following an argument with an attendant about a parking ticket he received in Maidstone.
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The Property Ombudsman reveals 15% fees increase and new usage policy
The Property Ombudsman is to introduce higher fees for agents generating the most complaints - and discounts for those who don’t.
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Rent controls are ‘dead in the water’ confirms housing Secretary
Robert Jenrick reveals a change in direction for his department, which last year was considering rent controls to help 'make tenancies more secure'.
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Trade association launches for Airbnb hosts and property managers
Announcement follows Airbnb's decision to 'verify' all of the hosts and properties listed on its site following a fatal shooting at a party house in the US.
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Estate agency fined £30,000 after failing to point out Grenfell Tower-style cladding
Internal comms failures meant couple weren't told about dangerous cladding before they completed on the deal, a Trading Standards investigation found.
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