LETTINGS AGENTS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS

Aug 06 | 2018
Letting Agents and property Managers are required to be members of an authorised redress scheme (Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act),  There are only two approved schemes from 6 August 2018, they are: 'Property Ombudsman and the Property Redress Scheme'.  If you want details of the schemes, then please call our housing team.

COMPULSORY PURCHASE

Aug 06 | 2018
If your property has been compulsory purchased, the amount of compensation you can receive is a maximum of only £63,000 and a minimum of £6,300.00.  If you are facing having your property compulsory purchased, then please speak to one of our experts.

HMOs charging for a license

Aug 06 | 2018
Mr Gaskin operated a HMO.  The authority granted him a HMO license in 2009.  When he tried to renew his license, the authority tried to charge him £1,799.  Mr Gaskin refused saying that the fee was excessive and unlawful.  Mr Gaskin paid just £850.00 being what he felt was a reasonable amount to pay.  The Authority refused to accept it and refused to process his license.  Not having a valid license will mean he can be prosecuted.  Mr Gaskin was therefore prosecuted by the Authority.  Mr Gaskin applied for a Judicial Review, and he was successful.  The Authority had no way of identifying what element of the £1,799 related to 'permissible costs' and the whole fee had to be quashed.  If you have any queries about obtaining a HMO license, then please speak to our housing team.

Disability rights and housing.

Aug 06 | 2018
The Court has decided that if you are living in rented accommodation, despite the fact you may have special needs or feel vulnerable, you cannot demand more suitable accommodation to meet your particular circumstances.  In the case of Ms Lomax, she was a disabled lady who felt isolated where she lived, she had no visitors and there was little facilities in her area for disabled people.  Ms Lomax applied to be relocated to more suitable accommodation.  The Court did not agree with Ms Lomax, unfortunately accommodation is difficult in her area, and the Local Authority was unable to offer her better accommodation.  The Court of Appeal allowed an appeal under S149 of the Equality Act. If you need help with your rights as a disabled person, then please call us and we can advise you whether you have been discriminated against. If you want to take advantage of 'right to buy' and your house has been altered to meet your disability, you may not be eligible to buy the property.  Our conveyancers will be able to advise you about this.

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