Buy to let investors to get protection from bad agents
Article A property industry initiative to raise standards and enhance consumer protection has been launched by The Property Standards Board (PSB), in association with RICS, ARLA and the NAEA. Its aim is to provide a focal point for the residential property sector to come together for a common purpose by establishing and endorsing universal standards in residential property services and enhancing the consumer experience in buying, selling and renting property. The Property Standards Board was created in response to Sir Bryan Carsberg’s 2008...
read moreMaximum fine for buy to let landlord after tenant dies in bathroom tragedy
Source of below article: http://www.residentiallandlord.co.uk/news1950.html A faulty 30 year old electric radiator contributed to a mother of two being electrocuted while taking a bath in her rented accommodation in Cornwall. The property’s landlord, Hilary Thompson, aged 82, of Portscatho, was fined £5,000, the maximum for a single charge in a magistrate’s court, and ordered her to pay £1,182 costs, following her trial at Camborne Magistrates Court last week. The magistrates were told that Mrs Thompson originally rented out Pettigrew...
read moreNo joy for buy to let ‘King and Queen’ in case of the missing toilet lid
A couple who have been described as the ‘King and Queen’ of the buy to let market after they reputedly went up the property ladder faster than anyone in Britain over the last 10 years, left court empty handed this week after a dispute involving a broken toilet lid. Judith and Fergus Wilson, who are listed as the 34th richest couple in the Sunday Times Rich List, are worth an estimated £70m due to their portfolio of buy to let properties. They were actually worth over double this until the recent property decline halved their...
read moreChancel repair couple sell property at auction
A couple hit with a chancel repair bill for £230,000 and legal costs of £250,000 forced to sell their inherited home A couple who face costs of £230,000 to repair a nearby church under a law dating back to the reign of Henry VIII sold their property at auction last night to cover the cost of the liability. Andrew and Gail Wallbank inherited Glebe Farm in Warwickshire in the 1980s, and last night sold the property at auction for £850,000. However, the bulk of the proceeds are already spoken for as the couple must pay £230,000 to repair the...
read moreInquiry into “Local Housing Allowance”
The below article is taken from http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/work_and_pensions_committee/wappn14102009.cfm The Work and Pensions Committee have announced an inquiry into “Local Housing Allowance” The Committee welcomes submissions, in accordance with the guidelines set out below, with reference to areas such as: • The objectives of LHA and whether they are met in practice; • Whether LHA is understood by claimants and landlords; • The impact of direct payments to claimants on both claimants and landlords; •...
read moreConservatives “will” re-introduce Housing Benefit Direct Payments
The Conservatives have announced proposed changes to the Local Housing Allowance aimed at increasing the supply of housing and helping the most vulnerable tenants. Grant Shapps, the Shadow Housing Minister, explained that under a Conservative government tenants will be able to choose to have their housing allowance paid direct to landlords instead of themselves. He said that the current system has failed both tenants and landlords and has led to a severe restriction in housing supply for affordable rent, with some landlords routinely...
read moreCouple win £1bn fight over family business ‘stealth tax’
by ANDREW LEVY – More by this author » Last updated at 20:01pm on 25th July 2007 A couple who run a small business won a legal victory yesterday that could cost the taxman £1billion a year. Information technology consultant Geoff Jones and his wife Diana have fought a six-year court battle to claw back a levy on “dividend”payments. Their success struck a blow for around 300,000 small firms and could have major repercussions. The couple won such widespread support for their case that donations flooded in to help them fight...
read moreCorgi Changes to Gas Safe Register
CORGI Loses its Bite as Gas Installer Scheme moves to Capita 02 February, 2009 On 8 September 2008, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) awarded a new 10 year contract to Capita Group plc to provide a new registration scheme for gas installers. This will begin on 1 April 2009 and will, with immediate effect, replace the current CORGI system that is currently in place. These changes will be of significance to landlords, tenants and the general public alike. What are the new changes? From April 2009, the Capita Gas Safe Register will be the...
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