Do not Let New Year's Resolutions cause added Stress
2022 - New Year - New You. Is that going to be at the core of your January or will these new goals and objectives just add unnecessary pressure to you life?
Every year just before the clock strikes 12. we have that voice in our heads telling us we will make dramatic and bold changes to our lives - join the gym, stop drinking alcohol, give up cake, take the stairs, keep a journal and so the list goes on.
A You Gov poll at the end of 2020 showed that overall, 12% of Britons made New Year’s resolutions for 2020, although this is fewer than half of the 27% who said they were planning on doing so when we asked in December 2019 possibly as a resultofthe pandemic. Resolutions proved most popular among the young; nearly a quarter (24%) of those aged 18-24 made a resolution compared to just 6% of the 65+ age group. Of those who made resolutions, only a quarter kept all of them (26%), although half managed to keep some of them (48%). Around a quarter failed entirely (23%).
So why do so many people fail to meet their New Year goals? Often the resolutions are too onerous and overwhelming, and sometimes unrealistic. According to a 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit.
Positive Energy to Carry Forward to 2022
Given the last 20 months, it’s easier to focus on the negative rather than the positive.
The speed with which 2021 has gone by is astounding as are the peaks and troughs of emotion and change that businesses have had to deal with. Yet, where there is negativity, there has to be positivity to counterbalance. And goodness there is so much to be grateful for.
We would like to congratulate our learners who passed their Level 3 and 4 exams. They have been part of our successful 'Hybrid Learning Programme”. The commitment and dedication the students shown have shown has been very impressive when a Netflix boxset is often a much more attractive alternative.
As a proeprtyMark centre we have been working closely with many letting agents who are offering the Level 3 technical Award to their employees. We nominated Anthony Pepe for PropertyMark Qualification Employer Champion as a result of the deception the company has shown towards their employees ensuring that they are well-equipped to provide exceptional service to their client base.On the 6th December at the award ceremony, it was announced that they had won. Managing Director, Charlie Perdios expressed the importance of ensuring that the employees’ training programme forms a crucial part of business success.
The Housing Market is Vibrant
Over a Year of Empathy & Support
At the height of the pandemic last year, we saw an increase in some very difficult situations that letting agents and property managers had to deal with. This has continued to be the case in 2021 as the situations people face have continued to unravel.
We cannot remember a more difficult time that our clients have had to deal with. Pre-Pandemic, the most challenging situations were based around rent arrears and serious maintenance issues.
However, while wrestling with the change of business circumstances, there has also been a need to manage much more serious problems against a backdrop of ongoing challenges with mental health and social justice. Property managers and owner managers have been facing much more contentious issues. There has of course been a surge in substantial rent arrears because of the coronavirus, but there have been some incredibly difficult struggles tenants have been dealing with: -
Domestic Violence is at an all-time high. Letting agents have been liaising with the police who intervene, and injunctions are applied for to prevent the abuser from either harassing the victim or entering the family home.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarm rules to be Updated
On the 23rd November 2021, the UK Government announced that the rules for domestic smoke and carbon monoxide alarms within all rented accommodation in England are to be amended.
Following parliamentary approval all landlords in both the social and private rented sectors will be required to repair or replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms once they have been informed that they are faulty. The testing throughout the tenancy will continue to remain the tenant’s responsibility.
The key change to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 will require landlords to ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in any room of their homes where there is a fixed combustion appliance, including a gas boiler. Where a new fixed combustion appliance is installed a carbon monoxide alarm will be required to be installed by law. Gas cooker appliances are to be excluded from the new rules.