Updated plans on high-rise safety designed to reassure lenders
There is a confirmed route to remediation for all buildings over 11 metres in Wales, with ten major UK developers already lined up to complete fire safety works. Alongside new cladding valuation guidance expected from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), these plans demonstrate to valuers and lenders that essential work can be carried out at no cost to leaseholders.
Propertymark Qualifications Awards 2023 – winners announced
Phil Spencer, Founder of Move iQ, presented learners who had gone above and beyond with their Awards, spotlighting all finalists by commending the standards they were setting for the industry and their professionalism’s impact on consumers. In the graduation-style ceremony, those who achieved their qualification in the last 12 months were also recognised for their achievements.
Ambitious proposals to switch a nation to clean heating
Fossil fuel systems will be replaced by 2045 and new minimum energy efficiency standards will be set for homes of all tenures, according to plans which have been put out for consultation by the Scottish Government.
Compliance simplified: annual client account inspections
In the fast-paced world of property management, letting agents face a myriad of challenges, with client money management sitting high on the list of priorities. Ensuring the safety and transparency of client funds is not only a legal obligation; it’s good business practice.
Full Material Information guidance published
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has released comprehensive new guidelines covering all three phases of the programme, which aims to improve and standardise disclosures in property listings, helping agents to meet their legal obligations.
Rent control fears drive cost increases
The average rent for a two-bedroom home in Scotland has increased by over 14%, reaching an average of £841 – an extra £105 per month compared to the previous year – as landlords try to cover increasing costs and prepare for the impact of new legislation.
Propertymark Welsh Budget representation
Focusing on the key housing sector themes, Propertymark is calling for prioritisation of work with the PRS on homelessness, investment in reliable data collection, and a boost in support for decarbonisation.
Leasehold and Freehold Bill starts progress through UK Parliament
A ban on new leasehold houses and limits on ground rent for new flats are contained in the long-promised and eagerly awaited Bill, and for existing leaseholders, selling should be made quicker and easier.
Conveyancing partnership aims to accelerate the sales process
NAEA Propertymark has agreed on a joint approach with the Law Society and RICS as part of ongoing work to improve conveyancing for clients across Northern Ireland.
Propertymark helps launch group committed to fairer renting
Collaborating with other leading sector organisations, forums and landlord associations, the Housing Coalition's first in-person meeting was held at Propertymark's offices in London on 22 November 2023.
First time buyer support extended in Autumn Budget
Further details have emerged from the fine print of the Autumn Budget Statement, which Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, MP, announced on 22 November 2023, with positive news for the mortgage guarantee scheme, proptech and new housing developments.
Behaviour Hotspots and Immediate Justice added to ASB Action Plan
Extra policing will be deployed in ten initial target areas before the plan is rolled out across England and Wales in 2024. The public will also have a simpler way to report ASB (anti-social behaviour), and perpetrators could face penalties within 48 hours.
Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2023
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) will at last be unfrozen and Universal Credit (UC) will rise under UK Government tax and spending plans announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, MP, today, 22 November 2023. Rate relief and full expensing for businesses are also included.
More new supported and specialist homes are needed
The National Housing Federation (NHF) predicts that by 2045 around 2.3 million older people could be living in homes that don’t meet their needs unless the housing sector is given the tools and policy landscape they need to provide a solution.
Student landlord hit by £43,000 in licensing fees
Middlesborough Council who issued the charges has defended it by saying each of the 52 flats in Linthorpe Hall 248 are eligible for the fee under their current selective licensing scheme, which began in 2019.
PRS is crucial in the delivery of homelessness plans
The Welsh Government is consulting on potentially world-leading reforms that includes proposals which outline new legal duties for a range of bodies, with the acknowledgement that the keys to solving homelessness often lie with other agencies outside that system.