Posted 09.11.17
National Landlords Association (NLA): Article link
Bournemouth Council has rejected plans to introduce a landlord licensing scheme in parts of the area.
The scheme planned to tackle antisocial behaviour, crime and poor quality accommodation in the Boscombe East and West, East Cliff and Springbourne by pushing out "bad landlords" through the licensing process.
The Council will instead focus efforts to crack down on poor property management and standards through the extension of Operation Galaxy, its targeted proactive enforcement regime.
The NLA had warned that the licensing scheme would merely move problems like antisocial behaviour to other parts of Bournemouth - and that the licensing fee would be passed on to tenants as higher rents.
*****
Posted 01.11.17
GOV.UK: Article link
A new draft bill is being introduced to Parliament (1 November 2017) to ban letting fees.
The draft Tenant Fees Bill will set out the Government's approach to banning letting fees for tenants. Evidence shows the level of fees charged are often not clearly or consistently explained, leaving many tenants unaware of the true costs of renting a property.
Objectives include improving transparency, affordability and competition in the private rental market. This includes preventing agents from double charging both tenants and landlords for the same services.
The Government has also launched a consultation on making membership of client money protection schemes mandatory for letting and managing agents that handle client money.
These schemes offer greater financial protection for landlords and tenants, giving them confidence that their money is safe when it is with their agent and they can be compensated if all or part of it is not correctly repaid.
*****
Updated 02.11.17
