No DSS bans 'Ruled' Unlawful by Court
As many of you will be aware Shelter have been encouraging DSS (DWP) applicants to challenge agents for some time. There was an out of court settlement made to an applicant in 2018.
As a consequence, as often happens, a case was brought before York County Court on 1 July involving a letting agent who had a blanket ban on DSS applicants. District Judge Victoria Mark ruled: "Rejecting tenancy applications because the applicant is in receipt of housing benefit was unlawfully indirectly discriminatory on the grounds of sex and disability contrary to Sections 19 and 29 of the Equality Act 2010”.
Key Government Guidance for the Letting Agents & Property Professionals
Over the last 3 months, Government has issued so much guidance to assist individuals, students, businesses and industry to correctly navigate Post-Lockdown changes. It is extremely important to understand that many aspects are mandatory, this means that they must be adhered to by law.
For example, wearing a mask or face covering is a legal requirement; the opening of nail bars and salons and beauty salons, tattoo parlours, indoor gyms and sports courts and facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, is prohibited and therefore, currently illegal.
Student lettings have raised a lot of concern over the last 3 months and the impact on student accommodation and students has been quite drastic. The guidance gives an indication how to manage lets where belongings have been left behind by students, general guidance on contracts and accommodation.
Rethinking Your Business Strategy and the Great Reset
Goodness the first six months of 2020 have been “interesting” to say the least. The beginning of a new month and new quarter is a perfect time to reflect and think about what you want to achieve in the second half of this year . Remember the impact of the pandemic has been a shock to businesses and all your team.
We may think we are communicating enough – how many Zoom, Teams, GoToMeeting sessions have we attended over the last 3 months? Yet, in times of uncertainty, significant change, WFH - we can assume that not all the information being provided is being taken in.
Remember, employees are also dealing with the current crisis and life changes in their own way. People may hear what you are telling them, but do they really understand what you are saying. Along furlough, redistribution of work, changes being implemented at home - even those with a high level of intellectual ability may feel “swamped”.
Zoom Fatigue - A Post Lockdown Syndrome
100 plus days have lapsed and we have all probably lost count of the sheer number of Zoom, GoToWebinar, Teams webinars, meetings, conferences and training sessions we participated in.
Zoom Fatigue (no disrespect to Zoom), is a real thing. Psychologists observe that taking part in a virtual meeting, conference, training session, webinar, takes up far more energy and causes far more stress than the average face to face meeting. Granted the commute to work is far shorter, however, throw into the mix. a whole range of unexpected consequences, and the scenario is not quite what one would expect it to be.