new legislation
-
Features
More publicity please!
“The Tenant Fees Act is a one month old,” says Frances Burkinshaw. “I am wondering how many people, outside the industry, will know about this new legislation.”
Read More » -
Features
We need rental homes. We need investor landlords!
Landlords are still regular recipients of bad press and written attacks. There are people who believe that all landlords are wealthy people who should be punished for owning property. Frances Burkinshaw says, “I find this very strange!”
Read More » -
Guest Blogs
Protecting your business from the consequences of new legislation
"Imagine, says Adam Walker, that all the speed limits on our roads were abolished tomorrow and replaced with confusing new legislation under which motorists would, in future, be prosecuted for “going too fast”.
Read More » -
Features
The Queen’s Speech delivers more bad news for letting agents
Richard Price, Executive Director of UKALA, outlines two clear problems arising from the Queen’s Speech.
Read More » -
Latest property news
Right to Rent slammed
The vast majority of landlords have not received any information from the Government about the new Right to Rent scheme which was rolled out across England this week, new research shows. From Monday 1st February 2016 it became compulsory for all private landlords in England to check that new tenants have the right to be in the UK before renting out their property. Under the new rules, landlords, including those who sub-let or take in lodgers, who fail to check a potential tenant’s ‘Right to Rent’ will face penalties of up to £3,000 per tenant. But Right to Rent, which was introduced in the Immigration Act 2014 as part of the Government’s reforms ‘to build a fairer and more effective immigration system’, has been criticised after it was revealed that most landlords are still not prepared for the new legislation. “There has been an influx of new legislation relating to the rental market made in recent years and we know that UK landlords are struggling to keep on top of these changes. Despite knowing many of the basics, many find it difficult to navigate the minefield of changing renting rights and wrongs and this is particularly so for accidental landlords,”…
Read More » -
Regulation & Law
Be alarmed, be safe!
Agents and landlords need to act now on the new fire regulations says Michael Portman, MD, LetRisks
Read More » -
Latest property news
Trading Standards warning over silent killer
The Trading Standards Service has issued a warning to consumers after independent tests on CO alarms found that eight out of 10 failed British Standards tests. The warning comes as new Smoke and Carbon Monoxide legislation comes in to force demanding that all private sector landlords regularly test smoke and CO alarms in all rented properties. The new legislation, that comes in to force on 1st October 2015, is expected to prevent up to 26 deaths and 670 injuries a year. Trading Standards is advising consumers to check their appliances are in proper working order and to test their CO alarms in order to alert them to the ‘silent and invisible killer’ after tests showed many devices were faulty. John Stones, Managing Director of Gas Safe Europe, comments: “Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer and yet one that is easy to protect against. Consumers should fit alarms and regularly test them to ensure they’re in working order and fit for purpose.” CO alarms are sold to alert consumers to rising and deadly CO levels, yet when Trading Standards sent 10 types of alarm for testing to the British Standard, eight of which failed in one way or another. The tests…
Read More »
