Looking Back, Looking Forward
2019 has not been that straightforward as far as the PRS is concerned, yet most letting agents & property managers have held their nerve, with clear business objectives and focus.
The start of the year was filled with apprehension about what the Tenant Fees Act 2019 would look like; how would business plans and models change? How would the legislation impact the bottom line? Would businesses thrive and survive or flounder? The key elements that came out of the guidance put in place a “transitionary period” that allowed fees to be charged for pre-existing tenancies until 31st May 2020, ensuring the holding deposit is enshrined in law, removing references to “professional” cleaning of any kind and gardening, caps on deposits and therefore the need to refund surplus amounts. Not only did agencies need to consider the financial elements, there was also process to fact into these changes. Ensuring that the law is implemented correctly sits with the agent, this has been done with a great deal of professionalism and expertise.
Are Podcasts the New Must Have?
Having recently been invited to take part in a Podcast by Luke St Clair, I decided to do my own research on this phenomenon that appears to be gaining momentum across our online universe. It’s fascinating to read about the variety of podcasts that are available online. From the tongue in cheek, satirical podcasts to the informative, motivational, political, fashionista type podcasts, there is something for everyone.
Today was not just about politicians, it was about the Volunteers
Polling stations have now closed at the end of what is the third General Election we have witnessed in five years. An interesting statistic, but I did not want to write a politically heavy blog. There has been so much information thrown at us across so many different mediums, that the focus needed to be on the something else - the people that sit in the background in these well oiled-machines supporting their political candidate of choice.
Professional & Personal Development - Is the Pressure too Much?
Every year an international comparison of education in industrialised countries is published by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), providing a snapshot of trends where education is concerned. The “mantra” of the OECD is “better policies for better lives”. Some of the statistics relating to education across the UK show that from the age of three, there are very high levels of take-up for pre-school education and childcare in the UK, higher than almost any other developed country. The OECD research also shows that students in the UK pays the highest level of tuition fees in the industrialised world, part from, of course, the United States.