Exclusive: HSE refutes claims by leading landlord that gas safety checks rules ‘unrealistic’ during crisis

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Glasgow housing association chief David Bookbinder says the Health & Safety Executive’s approach to carrying out gas safety checks is ‘stubborn’ in the face of Coronavirus, but HSE says requirements are ‘reasonable’.

Landlords and tenants are coming under relentless pressure from the
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to comply with gas safety checks, making them
feel more uncertain and vulnerable, according to one housing association
executive.

David Bookbinder, director of the Glasgow
and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations, believes the HSE’s approach to carrying out gas safety
checks has been “stubborn, inflexible, unrealistic and hopelessly lacking in
empathy for the tough dilemmas landlords are facing”.

However,
the HSE refutes his allegations and says it’s asking landlords to carry out, “reasonable
steps in line with their duty of care”.

The HSE’s recent bulletin tells landlords: ‘If you are unable to secure the services of your usual engineers, you must make reasonable attempts to obtain alternative services. If your tenant denies the engineer access to the property, you must arrange for the gas safety check to take place as soon as possible.’

Tenant fears

However, not
only is it difficult to arrange for other contractors, says Bookbinder, he believes
there seems to be little recognition of the fears many tenants have about
letting someone into their home. “What we keep getting from HSE remains full of
stark warnings and veiled threats to landlords already feeling uncertain and
often quite vulnerable on this and other COVID challenges.”

An HSE spokeswoman tells LandlordZONE: “Landlords should not suspend gas safety checks during the coronavirus outbreak, they are an essential safety measure to protect people in their own homes.”

But she adds: “The law is
flexible. Where it is not possible to carry out a gas safety check, such as
refusal of access due to tenants self-isolating, or if you are unable to engage
a registered gas engineer to carry out the work due to a shortage of available
engineers, it will normally be enough to show that you took reasonable steps to
do so.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Exclusive: HSE refutes claims by leading landlord that gas safety checks rules ‘unrealistic’ during crisis | LandlordZONE.

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Today in politics: The benefit cap, RICS figures and call for evidence on coronavirus

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We look at the Resolution Foundation report calling for the benefit cap to be axed, figures from RICS predicting 2.5% annual rent rises, calls for data on the impact of coronavirus on benefits claimants and more. Call for benefit cap to be axed The Resolution Foundation has published is Housing Outlook for Q2 2020. Addressing the […]

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Lockdown diaries: ‘I keep telling people… doing viewings is irresponsible and dangerous’

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Steven Wayne MD of Benjamin Stevens Estate Agents explains why his firm is refusing to take people to see properties and how he views the crisis as an opportunity, not a threat.

People keep asking me, what will all this mean
for the future of your business? Will the property market ever bounce back from
this? However, the most common question I’m being asked is ‘Can I arrange a
viewing?’ It’s absolute madness!

Sure, I could take the view that by saying no,
it’s a potential sale or let that I’m losing out on, but Covid-19 and the hold
it’s taking over the UK, is bigger than that. Ultimately, health and safety must
come first.

I launched Benjamin Stevens Estate Agents 16 years ago in 2004.
Together with my amazing team of loyal staff, I have developed the business
which now consists of large sales (residential and commercial), lettings and property
management departments spread over three branches, as well as a large, well
established, Block Management practice.  

Since we shut the doors to are offices, and
therefore put a hold on any face to face viewings of any properties, I have
been running my business from home, single handed.

It taken me back to a time when I had first
started my business with no staff to worry about and having complete control over
everything. After 16 years and a team of 17 estate agents, eight block managers,
I’m back to just me, which is quite liberating

It’s a unique opportunity and one that I plan
to take full advantage of. Those agents who don’t do the same, simply won’t
survive this lockdown.  I want to use
this time to look at all aspects of the business and figure out how we could be
running things more effectively. I need to hit the ground running when we
reopen.

Some agents are still doing viewings. I think is irresponsible and dangerous, but I can testify, the calls keep coming in from people who want to view.  I just ask if they have seen the news lately?

What I am doing on a day to day basis is just
working to keep the rents coming in and dealing with all the daily enquiries
surrounding this.

Then, of course, there is then if the issue of
tenants phoning attempting to not paying their rent. Some have genuine reasons
and issues and to those people, we are here to help, but there are also a lot
of people trying to take advantage of the situation.

When I explain that they will still need to pay eventually, and that whilst their landlord will defer some of the rent, it’s not going to be free money, they suddenly change their tune.

Off the hook

My phone simply doesn’t stop. In the
background I have the screaming of my 6-week-old and 2-and-a-half-year-old, I
wonder how anyone works from home!  

It’s certainly not something I could do
forever, but we are trying to make it work. On the positive, this time with my family
is special, and the chance to take a real look at my business costs, is a once
in a lifetime opportunity.

I’m learning a hell of a lot already and my
business will be a very different place when we return.

I firmly believe there will be a real appetite
for people to move once everything gets back to normal. Perhaps not immediately,
but after a few weeks I think we will be in for a really busy end to the year The
only question is, can we getting going again before my wife murders me?!

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Lockdown diaries: ‘I keep telling people… doing viewings is irresponsible and dangerous’ | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Lockdown diaries: ‘I keep telling people… doing viewings is irresponsible and dangerous’

Generation Rent calls for tenants to be protected from eviction AND rent rises after the crisis

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The campaigning group says tenants must be given time to recover their finances after the pandemic eases and not face eviction or higher rents.

Campaigning group Generation
Rent has called on the government to introduce radical changes to the private
rental housing market to protect tenants during and after the Coronavirus.

The group, which has the ear
of ministers and has appeared in parliament to give evidence on a range of
subjects in the past, says Section 8 evictions should be banned during and
after the crisis for those who get into financial difficulties.

It has also called for rent
increases to be suspended for a year to prevent landlords from recouping lost
rent via higher rents after the crisis, and to ensure that housing remains
affordable until the economy rebounds.

But it is not calling for
tenants to be given a rent payment holiday as a matter of course, as other
activists have demanded in recent days.

Generation Rent instead says that the government should give more support to renters who lose their jobs through the existing benefits system, including suspending the five-week wait built into the system and turning payments into a grant.

“We urge the Government to act now to avoid a homelessness crisis as a result of the pandemic. Housing is a public health issue – renters need safe and secure homes to self-isolate within to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” says spokesperson Caitlin Wilkinson.

Evictions reality

Evictions expert Paul
Shamplina, from Landlord Action, says: “The
government has already changed notice periods on Section 8 and 21 notices to
three months and suspended current court cases for 90 days.

“So once the crisis is over
it will take landlords up to nine months to evict a tenant for non-payment of
rent.

“Generation Rent must
understand that 90% of landlords only have one or two properties and have day
jobs too which are under threat. It’s not a them and us situation, everyone is
in it together.

“We have been asking
landlords to work with tenants more than ever whose circumstances have changed
because of this crisis, with repayment plans.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Generation Rent calls for tenants to be protected from eviction AND rent rises after the crisis | LandlordZONE.

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Lockdown diaries: How one agent’s dealing with broken ovens, rent reductions and viewing requests

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The Leeds branch of estate agency Belvoir explains how it’s coping with the pandemic as the business manages properties, deals with distraught tenants and keeps landlords informed.

The Coronavirus pandemic has hit many
industries hard and the rental sector is no exception.

Many DIY landlords are struggling to
keep up with fast changing legislation, tenants who have faced overnight
changes to their financial circumstances are struggling to pay rent, and there
are other less obvious consequences to deal with, such as increasing
maintenance issues.

In these unprecedented and difficult times,
a reputable property management agent such as Belvoir can help to shoulder the
burden for landlords by liaising with tenants, offering expert advice and
ensuring legal compliance.

Glenn Broadwell, owner of Belvoir Leeds
North West and Leeds South, recently won the title of Belvoir Franchise of the
Year 2020, making him very well placed to advise on how the corona virus is
affecting the BTL industry in his area.

“Clearly the pandemic and government lock-down means that our offices are closed and we are currently unable to conduct viewings in the normal way, but many Belvoir offices are conducting viewings via a virtual tour or video link,” says Glenn.

“Even though my team is working from home we are still very busy. One somewhat unexpected consequence of the lock-down is that many tenants and their families are in their homes for much longer than usual, and as a result we are seeing a massively increased number of maintenance issues being reported.

“Appliances such as ovens, fridge freezers and washing machines are being used much more, and tenants are reporting any problems that are arising and wanting them to be fixed very quickly, which can prove to be problematic.

Broken oven

“Last week we had a family of seven people living in a property with a broken oven, but we managed to send one of our trusted and professional contractors out, as this was obviously an emergency situation.

“We have put into place stringent guidance for contractors and tenants to ensure that social distancing measures and all health and safety issues are addressed to reduce the risk of infection throughout any maintenance repair visits.

“I do wonder how DIY landlords will be able to cope with all of this, as some contractors are not working until the initial 21 day lock-down is completed next week and the situation is reviewed, whilst others are responding to emergency problems only.

“It is certainly getting more difficult to obtain parts such as new elements for an oven, although where possible we are getting these sent by post so that repairs can be carried out.

“My team is working incredibly hard to try and keep everything running smoothly – we are busier than we’ve ever been with maintenance issues.

Struggling tenants

“Many of our tenants have been in touch to say their circumstances have changed and they are unable to pay their rent. We try and provide as much as advice and support as possible, and obviously liaise with landlords to keep them fully informed of the situation.

“Some landlords have offered a 50% discount to tenants for the next three months, one offered a free month’s rent to NHS workers, whilst others are anxious because they may have lost their own jobs and be struggling to pay the mortgage so we have advised them about applying for a BTL mortgage holiday.

“We also forward links to all affected tenants with details of government help that is available and can provide an income and expenditure form to help tenants make any cut backs that may ease their financial situation.

“Finally, I don’t think that many DIY landlords are aware of emergency legislation that was announced on 18th March to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in private or social accommodation for at least three months.

“This was rushed through to protect tenants who are unable to pay their rent due to job losses or having to look after their children because of schools closing etc.

“Belvoir offices have the benefit of a dedicated professional support team at Central Office who ensure that all Belvoir agents are completely up to date with new laws and can provide landlords with the correct advice to ensure they remain compliant and to help them manage their portfolios during this difficult time.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Lockdown diaries: How one agent’s dealing with broken ovens, rent reductions and viewing requests | LandlordZONE.

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Free short term let accommodation for London’s NHS workers

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The UK Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) is promoting a scheme to offer free accommodation to London’s NHS key workers. Together with a number of partners who usually operate in the short term let market, the scheme, called ‘NHS Homes’

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BREAKING: Airbnb bans all bookings for ten days except to key workers and NHS staff

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The short-lets platform has reacted swiftly to huge pressure from people and government as many hosts have continued to stay open for bookings during the Easter break and beyond, encouraging people to travel unnecessarily.

Airbnb has blocked all new UK bookings for
stays up to at least 18th April unless they’re for key workers or other
essential stays.

It follows criticism from local councils around the
country who are urging letting agents and online booking platforms to follow Government
closure orders and reject bookings during the emergency period.

Councils such as Cornwall and Kent have been fielding
complaints ahead of the Easter weekend that some holiday accommodation
providers are still hosting guests and operating illegally.

Airbnb says listings that are visible on its platform won’t be open for stays until next weekend and that it will review this temporary block on calendars on a regular basis after that. Last week, the platform blocked private room stays and switched off the ‘instant book’ feature for whole properties.

Government guidance

Patrick Robinson, director of public
policy at Airbnb, says: “Restricting bookings on Airbnb to key workers and
other essential stays will allow hosts to continue supporting frontline workers
while following government guidance.”

With temperatures expected to soar this week, holiday
hotspots in Kent have been found to be flouting Government guidelines. When a local newspaper approached hosts around the
county to enquire about the Easter break it found some in Margate and
Whitstable willing to take their money. A search of beachside village Sandgate
returned 61 rental listings for a three-night stay this coming weekend.

A BBC investigation earlier this week also discovered
Airbnb hosts listing homes as being “Covid-19 retreats” and “perfect for
isolating with family” in the British countryside, with some allowing instant
booking of rentals without any vetting.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – BREAKING: Airbnb bans all bookings for ten days except to key workers and NHS staff | LandlordZONE.

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Coronavirus lockdown: Can I get the broadband fixed?

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The internet is a lifeline in these times of lockdown, but if you, as the landlord, are responsible for utilities, can you call out an engineer?   The government has issued guidance that they CAN go into homes to fix the internet but only in certain circumstances. What have Internet companies been told? Firms have been […]

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Lettings agents and COVID-19: How to survive the crisis Webinar

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Paul Shamplina Founder of Landlord Action, Brand Ambassador For Hamilton Fraser and Star of Channel 5’s ‘ Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords’, will provide practical guidance to help your lettings business survive the coronavirus crisis.

Paul will be joined by Mike Morgan from HF Assist

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RICS calls for Stamp Duty holiday and it’s not a “Whim”

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As agents close their doors due to the lockdown, the spread of the virus across the UK has led to a near standstill of the housing market. The March 2020 RICS UK Residential Market Survey results highlight that despite the first few months of the year showing a marked pick-up in market activity

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