Policy Light

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The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick has given his speech to the Conservative Party Conference titled “Homes Fit for the Future.”

The speech was very light on policy and devoid of mentioning the PRS so I will pull out what I can of interest to the housing market that wasn’t simply political attacks on the opposition.

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Property developers target North of England

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In a national study of developers, almost two-thirds (65%) plan to increase their investment activity in the North substantially over the next two years, with the biggest opportunities seen as being in houses and flats, according to a study by finance specialist Together.

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National Home Security Month: How landlords can keep their properties secure

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October is here and with the clocks due to go back soon, there has never been a better time to make sure that your property is secure. Data from the Office of National Statistics shows that there were 669,000 cases of domestic burglary in England and Wales in 2018 – and one in four were […]

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Controversy rages as more councils push for licensing schemes.

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Selective
Licensing:

One London Council,
Lewisham, is considering applying for government permission to charge
landlords up to £750 per property which it says will enable it to
route-out rogue landlords by inspecting thousands of homes in the
borough.

However, landlords
argue that this will simply increase their costs without effectively
cracking down on the rogues. The Residential Landlords Association
(RLA) says that these “schemes could harm landlords without
improving standards.� If approved, the RLA fears that other
authorities would follow Lewisham’s lead.

Lewisham’s
councillor Paul Bell, cabinet member for housing, has said that the
authority wants to use selective licensing to “reduce the gap
between good and bad landlords� from as early as February next
year.

The licences would
cost up to £750 for five years and there’s always been the
suspicion by landlords that not all of the money raised by these
schemes finds its way into the designated causes.

Lewisham’s
councillor Paul Bell however, says the schemes will make the entire
rental sector better.

Mr Bell says:

“The vast
majority of landlords are good, but we want to improve things for
everyone.

“We want to
crack down on rogue landlords, and reduce the gap between poor and
good landlords.

“The entire (private rented) sector will improve, because people will have more respect for the sector.”

Mr Bells says that Lewisham Council’s research shows around one-quarter of homes in the borough are in private landlords’ hands, and he indicated that there was a link with issues such as anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and crime.

Mr Bell blames the
private rented sector for much of the homelessness in a borough,
where 2,000 households are now in temporary housing, which he says is
“…not an effective use of public money, and it’s not good for
the people in that situation.�

Following a local
consultation asking people for their opinions on licensing for
private landlords, which got over 1,800 responses, Lewisham’s cabinet
for housing will now decide on whether to ask for government
permission, and whether to roll the licensing scheme for all shared
houses.

Meanwhile, the RLA
is urging landlords and letting agents to respond to local licensing
consultations.

The RLA says it aims
to “respond to all licensing consultations run by local
authorities.�

Ongoing
consultations currently involve Bassetlaw District Council-selective
licensing closing 10th October, Wirral-selective licensing closing
14th October, Islington-additional licensing and selective licensing
closing 3rd November, and Enfield Council’s multiple schemes
closing 29th November.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Controversy rages as more councils push for licensing schemes. | LandlordZONE.

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Property inflation three times wage over last decade

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– The average UK property price has risen 43% since 2008, while wages have increased by just 15% over the same period

– If wages had increased at the same rate as house prices over the past 10 years

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Jenrick silent on PRS in conference speech

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Anyone watching Robert Jenrick at the Conservative Conference hoping for news on the PRS would be sadly disappointed – or could it be no news is good news? The Housing Secretary told the party conference in Manchester there was a need to build new homes ‘of all tenures’ and outlined a four-point plan for housing. […]

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AST for tenant’s lodger?

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My tenant in a very popular area of the city occupies a Victorian terraced house with three double bedrooms and two receptions. She is self employed and has been there for over three years living with her two children.

The house is under utilised as it is easily big enough to accommodate four adults which is my preferred model of tenancy.

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Section 21: RLA research in new Commons report

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RLA research looking at Section 21 repossessions has been quoted extensively in a new report by the House of Commons Library. The Commons Library has published a paper providing background on the use of Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 to gain repossession, and the government’s plans to abolish it.  Ministers announced the controversial proposals on April […]

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Welsh Government backs working groups recommendations on De-carbonation of homes

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Proposals put forward by an independent working group looking at the decarbonisation of existing homes have been backed by the Welsh Housing Minister. The RLA contributed to the working group as an independent stakeholder. The purpose of the group was to scope out recommendations for how to country could meet its goal to reduce the […]

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RICS publishes advice on fire safety

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Fire Safety:

Following on from
last week’s fire door safety week, the importance of fire safety in
rental property and high rise blocks is emphasised to property owners
further by the publication of The Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors (RICS) fire safety guide. It highlights the
responsibilities of landlords and tenants in keeping properties safe.

According to RICS,
there is still a continuing problem and a significant number of
deaths and injuries each year from fires in residential properties.
The RICS guide therefore has been written with landlords, homeowners
and residential tenants in mind.

RICS says:

“With recent fires in residential property, there is an urgent need for the public, landlords and residents to be aware of what can cause fires and the measures they should take to stay safe. RICS is acting in the public interest in publishing this fire safety guide, which we hope will be of benefit widely.�

The guide has been
prepared by RICS Chartered Building Surveyors and a “multi-discipline
advisory group� experienced in the complex area of fire safety
design and regulation. The advice covers fire detection, reacting to
and extinguishing fires as well as guidance on accessibility and
special needs assistance.

For rented or shared
accommodation (HMOs), the guidance includes defining landlords’
obligations with appliances, furniture and alarm systems, clarifying
exactly where responsibility lies in these situations.

For residents, the
guide emphases the importance of acting quickly and safely in the
event of a fire in a residential home. This including smoking,
including e-cigarettes and vaping, candles, electric circuit
overloads and furniture. It says “the most fundamental fire
precaution to take is to plan and memorise escape routes.�

Last week’s Fire Door Safety Week was organised by the British Woodworking Federation, with the aim of stamping out bad practice and raising awareness of the important role that fire doors play.

There are a number
of resources for landlords and tenants on the link above to the fire
door safety website.

Helen Hewitt, Chief
Executive of the British Woodworking Federation, has said:

“We all need to
feel protected, and especially so when we are asleep. Fire doors play
a vital role as the first line of defence against fire and smoke,
containing their spread while buildings are evacuated. But they must
be properly installed and maintained, and good fire safety practice
must be shared and followed.

“That’s why we
continue to raise awareness every year through Fire Door Safety Week.

“Good practice is
especially important in buildings with multiple occupants and
residents who may be vulnerable. It is quite literally a matter of
life and death.�

Practical tips for landlords on fire door inspections are available on the fire door inspection website

Only certified good
quality fire doors should be installed by a competent installer and
regular fire door inspections should be carried out by persons
responsible for the management of a property.

Door frames,
ironmongery, door closers and fire seals are just as important as the
door itself – these all work together to provide a fire tight
barrier lasting long enough to enable escape and prevent the spread
of the fire.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – RICS publishes advice on fire safety | LandlordZONE.

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