How Virtual Do We Want Our Future to Be?
This article appears in the Zoom Newsletter - September 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the lives and behavior of people across the globe. We have had to adapt to different ways of shopping, learning, socializing, working, celebrating, doing business, and much more.
This report, prepared and commissioned by Zoom, based on survey data and findings provided by Qualtrics Research, focuses on the impact that video communications have had on our day-to-day lives. We explored a variety of use cases for video communications and how they were used and perceived in ten different countries that spanned the globe. The survey results acknowledge the extraordinary challenges the world has faced and how video communications have helped maintain some semblance of normalcy and continuity of life’s important activities.
Although there’s been a high level of appreciation for this alternative to “in-person” living, over one year into this shift, we’re now wondering - what’s next? How much of this virtual life will we want to keep beyond the pandemic?
This report seeks to capture the current sentiment toward video communications from the perspective of everyday folks - employees, parents, students, teachers, consumers, and everyone in between.
1st October 2021 - Section 21 & Section 8 Notice periods to revert back to Pre-Pandemic Rules
The government has confirmed that notice periods for both Section 8 and Section 21 Notices in England will return to the pre-pandemic rules on October 1st, 2021.
Over the last 18 months since the government introduced emergency measures as part of the Coronavirus Act 2020 to protect renters, notice periods for both notices have changed 5 times causing a great deal of confusion for landlords and letting agents.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced: “While these measures were appropriate at the height of the pandemic, these restrictions could only ever be temporary. Returning notice periods to their pre-COVID lengths from 1 October will allow landlords to repossess their property where necessary. However, we intend to retain the power to implement these measures again in the case that the public health situation worsens and these measures are required again.”
ARPM calls in an Insolvency Practitioner
For almost two Weekes we have been liaising with some of the letting agents who had outsourced their property management service to a well -known provider ARPM. It appears that rental payments have not been made to landlords and there is a high level of concern with regards to the companies finances
We have advised letting agents who have raised concerns to contact Trading Standards, Action Fraud, CM Protect and MyDeposits for further assistance as it has been impossible for us to make contact with any of the named directors.
Companies House now shows that Neum Insolvency is dealing with the insolvency of ARPM.
For further assistance do not hesitate to contact us.
Selective licensing scheme launched in Enfield
After much deliberation and uproar, which included a petition from landlords in the borough, Enfield Council introduced the Selective Licensing Scheme for certain wards.
The Scheme aims to improve housing conditions, factors that make deprivation and inequality worse and addressing anti-social behaviour.
The Scheme covers 14 wards, in addition to HMO Licensing and Covers private rented properties occupied by single households or two unrelated individuals.
Landlords can apply, which costs £600 for a five-year period
Cllr George Savva, Enfield council’s cabinet member for licensing and regulatory services announced:-
"This licensing schemes will help protect private renters and also ensure that conscientious landlords are rewarded. There are a great many responsible landlords in the borough and schemes like this help to level the playing field.
“The Selective Licensing Scheme has been introduced in areas where evidence shows there is a large number of rented properties that have poor property conditions and standards, high level of deprivation and a significant and persistent problem caused by anti-social behaviour.”