‘Highly unusual’ case of landlord prosecuted for running a gambling den

admin    Uncategorized     agents

While landlords can be fined for a variety of reasons, landlord and letting agent Hasan Younis is the first to face a huge fine for allowing a pub-cum-casino to operate at his property.

A London landlord who failed to close
an illegal gambling den at his property has been fined £16,000.

Hasan Younis, director of Cameron
Adams Ltd, trading as Century 21 Cameron Adams, Church Lane E11, knew about the
anti-social behaviour at his house in Belmont Road, Waltham Forest, but failed
to act.

After neighbours repeatedly
complained about noise and smells, council enforcement officers discovered that
large numbers of people were visiting the house daily to play cards, drink and
smoke late at night.

They were shocked to find more
than 75,000 cigarettes and 800 packs of playing cards stored there, alongside a
large amount of alcohol.

Waltham Forest Council secured a
Premises Closure Order last June that prohibited everyone except
the named occupiers, the landlord, and council officers from accessing the
property, and a short time later, the
tenants moved out.

Mr Younis lodged an appeal when
he received a fine for breaching the conditions of his property licence. This was initially successful, but the decision was reversed at the
Upper Tribunal and he agreed to pay the fine.

Councillor Louise Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Housing, says: “When
the behaviour of tenants causes disruption to the lives of their neighbours, a
responsible landlord should take effective action to remedy the situation.
Disappointingly, it did not happen in this case and it is in these situations
that we will step in to take action.”

The
unusual case follows news that Waltham Forest has been given the go-ahead to
extend its selective licensing scheme for five years until 2025. The scheme,
which covers 18 out of 20 wards in the borough, means that all landlords with property
to rent must apply for a licence.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – ‘Highly unusual’ case of landlord prosecuted for running a gambling den | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: ‘Highly unusual’ case of landlord prosecuted for running a gambling den

Banning Section 21 will be a ‘car crash’ unless government listens to landlords’ concerns, leading agents tell LandlordZONE

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Half a dozen landlords gathered at our offices yesterday to discuss what’s keeping them up at night, and one thing rang loud and true from the meeting.

When
LandlordZone yesterday gathered 13 landlords together in one room with a
variety of portfolio sizes, just one key message rang out from the meeting.
Their clarion call was that banning Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be a car
crash of significant proportions.

Many
of the landlords had at least one horror story of a rent-defaulting or
anti-social tenant who had taken them months to evict from a property,
something banning Section 21 evictions will make worse, they claimed.
And yet the government is ploughing ahead with plans to redirect all AST
evictions through the courts system and rely on a modified Section 8 notice
procedure.
But although the meeting was told by Landlord Action Brand Ambassador Paul
Shamplina that his discussions with Ministry of Housing officials were making
headway and that modifications to the Section 8 notice plans had been agreed,
the landlords felt civil servants were not listening on the key issue.
One landlord, who didn’t want to be named, said that unless the government
pumped substantial funds into either the existing court system or the proposed
replacement Housing Court, then abolishing the Section 21 evictions process
would extremely problematic for him.
“Many tenants will either play the game in court to lengthen the period they
can stay for free in a property, as some do already, or overworked courts will
take months to hear cases, resulting in the same outcome,” he said.
Another landlord agreed, pointing out that one effect of the government’s
evictions plans would be that landlords may have to begin bribing tenants to get
them out.
Other issues occupying the minds of the landlords included the possibility of
rent controls, the rise of Airbnb as an alternative to traditional rentals, the
rapid spread of HMO and Selective Licensing controls, the issue of young
offenders being housed by local authorities in private rented accommodation, the
rise illegal sub-letters and the unfair demonising of landlords in the media.

“Being a landlord can be quite a solitary
business so I thought it would be a good idea to start these engagement groups to
enable landlords to meet and talk with each other, discuss what’s worrying
them, where the market’s going and update them on the latest regulatory
developments,” says Shamplina.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Banning Section 21 will be a ‘car crash’ unless government listens to landlords’ concerns, leading agents tell LandlordZONE | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Banning Section 21 will be a ‘car crash’ unless government listens to landlords’ concerns, leading agents tell LandlordZONE

Discretionary Housing payments – left high and dry by Dartford?

admin    Uncategorized     agents

I have just been left high and dry by Dartford Borough Council Housing department. In a nutshell I served a section 6a because a tenant was in two months rent arrears. I have done it before and the rent was paid no problem.

The post Discretionary Housing payments – left high and dry by Dartford? appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: Discretionary Housing payments – left high and dry by Dartford?

Politics update: LHA, Section 21 and energy efficiency

admin    Uncategorized     agents

In today’s politics update we look at a new debate on the impact of LHA and Section 21 on homelessness, a new Peers’ debate on energy efficiency and new EPC figures. Opposition homelessness debate The Labour Party yesterday initiated a half day debate in the House of Commons on homelessness. Of note: In opening the debate, the […]

The post Politics update: LHA, Section 21 and energy efficiency appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

View Full Article: Politics update: LHA, Section 21 and energy efficiency

Coventry selective licensing scheme rejected as additional licensing approved

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Plans to introduce a selective licensing scheme in Coventry have been put on hold, after councillors voted it down based on awaiting an upcoming selective licensing review. This is something the RLA warned the council about in its consultation response on the licensing plans last year. However, an additional HMO licensing scheme in Coventry has […]

The post Coventry selective licensing scheme rejected as additional licensing approved appeared first on RLA Campaigns and News Centre.

View Full Article: Coventry selective licensing scheme rejected as additional licensing approved

Despite rumours Bank Base Rate stays at 0.75%

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Despite rumours with recent low inflation levels that the rate may reduce by 0.25% the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted 7-2 to not change the Base rate and remain at 0.75%.

The Committee also voted unanimously to maintain the stock of UK government bond purchases

The post Despite rumours Bank Base Rate stays at 0.75% appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: Despite rumours Bank Base Rate stays at 0.75%

Should landlords warn off tenants who brandish paint brushes? Shelter says no, and here’s why.

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Research by the charity among nearly 4,000 tenants reveals just how much more likely they are to stick around if allowed to make their house or flat a ‘home’.

Nearly
three-quarters of private tenants (6.6 million people) want to embark on small DIY projects to make their rental property feel more homely, according to new research from housing charity Shelter.

It says getting creative
with wallpaper and paint can boost renter wellbeing and challenges the idea that they’re not
interested in putting down roots.

Shelter’s
research (a YouGov survey of 3,995 private renters in England), found 72% of
private renters would feel happier in their homes if they could decorate,
highlighting the positive impact small home improvements can have on mental
health.

Meanwhile, 29%
said they would be more likely to invite family and friends over if they could
add personal touches to their home.  

The top four
home improvements that private renters are most keen to roll their sleeves up
for are: painting (51%), hanging pictures and photographs (50%), changing or putting up curtains or
blinds (37%) and tidying the
garden (25%).

Many landlords are
happy for tenants to make small changes, in fact 41% of renters say they
already know their landlord allows small improvements.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says: “It might not seem like a big deal, but
something as small as a fresh lick of paint really does go a long way towards
helping families who’ve experienced bad housing or homelessness to feel settled
in a new place.”

Shelter is promoting
its DIY Skills Adviser service –
funded by B&Q – which sends teams of trained specialists to provide
practical DIY training and advice to support people settling into a new home
after a period of homelessness.

Covering
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Merseyside, Dorset and Bristol, it
has helped more than 2,500 people with tasks ranging from decorating to
gardening, since the partnership launched in 2017.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Should landlords warn off tenants who brandish paint brushes? Shelter says no, and here’s why. | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Should landlords warn off tenants who brandish paint brushes? Shelter says no, and here’s why.

Rumble with the Agents to raise funds for Inclusion Barnet

admin    Uncategorized     agents

This year ‘Rumble with the Agents’, the annual white-collar charity boxing event hosted by Landlord Action and sponsored by Hamilton Fraser, will be fundraising for Inclusion Barnet, a charity which provides vital support for people with disability, including mental health issues and/or long-term health conditions.

The post Rumble with the Agents to raise funds for Inclusion Barnet appeared first on Property118.

View Full Article: Rumble with the Agents to raise funds for Inclusion Barnet

Royals renting in Canada, Vancouver cheaper than London for rentals…

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Renting abroad:

Regardless of what you think about Megxit; Meghan and Harry’s abandoning the UK for Canada, when it comes to housing and renting, they just might be on to a good thing.

Lettings management platform Howsy find that upping sticks and starting a new life on a whim would be lovely for some, but there are a fair few other obstacles in place for the average Joe before taking the plunge, like a job to provide income, visas and somewhere to live, not to mention the cost of housing.

With this in mind, they has looked at the rental market in Vancouver and “how it compares to London for rental affordability for those of us that can’t afford to expand our property portfolio to one house domestically, let alone a second or third elsewhere around the globe.”

Frogmore Cottage isn’t in London but the city is the main home of the Royals and a better comparison for Vancouver Howsy thinks is Windsor with an average rent of £1,228 a month, making it still 41% more expensive than Vancouver.

With the current average UK rent at £684 a month, it’s 18% more expensive to rent here than it is in Canada, where the average rent costs £564 a month on average.
However, London and Vancouver both come in considerably higher than these national average, with the average rent in Vancouver costing tenants some £728 per month, while London is 57% higher at £1,697!

In fact, says Howsy, this is the case pretty much regardless of the property size, with both a studio flat or two-bed costing 54% more in London, a three-bed setting you back 56% more and a four-bed or bigger costing a eye-watering £3,104 a month in the capital, 64% more than Vancouver where it will only set you back £1,129 a month.

But as we know, London is a big place and the rental market varies massively from one borough to the next, as is the case in Vancouver.

The pinnacle of the London rental market where rental prices are concerned is undoubtedly Kensington and Chelsea, with the average tenant paying a huge £3,053 a month on average! In Canada, it’s West Vancouver that commands the highest rental price, but at just £1,118 a month, Kensington and Chelsea is 173% more expensive! It gets worse, with Westminster coming in some 229% more expensive than North Vancouver and Camden rents climbing 224% above Vancouver’s third-highest most expensive rental market, Richmond, Howsy says.

Even where the cheapest rental locations are concerned, Vancouver comes out on top, with Bexley the cheapest in London but still 96% more expensive than Vancouver’s Langley.

Founder and CEO of Howsy, Calum Brannan, writes:

“Harry and Meghan have fled the country and who can blame them, with Vancouver offering a more relaxed pace of life, less pollution and, much better rental market affordability.

 “Long story short, if you’re struggling to get by in London, head to Vancouver. You’re unlikely to make the same sort of stir upon arrival, but you’ll have more money in your pocket at the end of the month”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Royals renting in Canada, Vancouver cheaper than London for rentals… | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Royals renting in Canada, Vancouver cheaper than London for rentals…

Exclusive: Airbnb prepares to publish its reaction to growing anger over ‘party houses’ and other short-lets challenges

admin    Uncategorized     agents

Following reports of problems of a party house in Bolton this week, Airbnb has told LandlordZone it is about to reveal how it will tackle the growing criticism with the short-lets boom.

Airbnb is set to announce its
findings from a six-month roadshow to key cities around the UK to discuss local
concerns and possible licensing systems.

The platform has promised to
collaborate on proposals for a clear, modern and simple registration system for
short-term rentals in UK cities and will put together proposals in a white
paper due to be published this year. It has promised an update soon. 

It follows reports of an Airbnb property in Bolton – the latest in a
long line of ‘party houses’ – angering neighbours, who say dozens of noisy teenagers pile into the
terraced home at weekends.

Fed-up residents often find litter in the street and report that music is played
so loudly that the house, in Blackburn Road, shakes.

Airbnb has
told LandlordZone it has “zero tolerance” for this behaviour. Adds a spokesman:
“The guest is no longer on the platform, and we’re providing the host with our
support. We prohibit unauthorised events and take action when issues are
brought to our attention.”

With many local authorities calling for
more controls, Scotland will be the first in the UK to take action.

From Spring 2021, councils north of the
border can run their own licensing schemes to introduce measures if it’s in the
interest of local communities.

Airbnb is also trialling a noise detector system in
Edinburgh properties to help reassure neighbours over visitors’ anti-social
behaviour. Once alerted via an app, the host can
choose to contact the guest directly about the noise level or despatch an
‘agent’ to visit the property on their behalf. 

The Residential Landlords Association has told LandlordZone that problems arise when local authorities lack the resources to use the powers already in place to tackle properties causing disruption.

“The problem is not about there not being enough regulation,
but ensuring the rules already in place are properly enforced,” says policy
director David Smith.

“At a time when Ministers want to enable tenants
to access long term homes to rent, tax and other legislative changes have the
perverse incentive of making renting holiday accommodation more appealing.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Exclusive: Airbnb prepares to publish its reaction to growing anger over ‘party houses’ and other short-lets challenges | LandlordZONE.

View Full Article: Exclusive: Airbnb prepares to publish its reaction to growing anger over ‘party houses’ and other short-lets challenges