Report on the PRS published by Public Accounts Committee
The recent report published by the Public Accounts Committee reports that despite record rent increases 13% of rented homes “pose serious threat to the health and safety of renters” - costing the NHS an estimated £340 million a year
In a report today the Public Accounts Committee says it is “too difficult for renters to realise their legal right to a safe and secure home” and that local authorities - constrained by a lack of support from the Department for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and its approach to licensing landlords - do not have the capacity and capability to provide "appropriate and consistent protection for private renters”. According to the report, the private rented sector in England has doubled in size in the last 20 years and now houses 11 million people.
Right to Rent checks go Digital
All landlords in England have a responsibility to prevent those without lawful immigration status from accessing the private rented sector. You do this by conducting right to rent checks on all prospective adult tenants before the start date of a tenancy agreement, to make sure the person is not disqualified from renting a property by reason of their immigration status.
Since February 2016, Right to Rent checks have been carried out face to face with ‘original documents’ in hand. However, this changed during the pandemic when lockdowns prevented tenants from presenting themselves at the letting agent’s office and as a result of the restrictions put in place by the Coronavirus Act 2020, the legislation relating to Right to Rent checks was temporarily adjusted until September 2022. This temporary adjustment allowed letting agents and landlords to conduct Right to Rent checks using digital platforms such as FaceTime or Zoom.
A Poem for International Women's Day
A Celebration for International Women’s Day
There is so much to say about the role of a woman in society but instead we chose this poem by Ms Moem.
Soul Of A Storm
She has the soul of a storm and the freedom of the wind.
She has eyes like the stars with moonshine within.
With the strength of the sea and lightning in her toes
She dances on the breeze of change wherever she goes.
Hotter than a volcano and deeper than the oceans
A whirling, swirling myriad of feelings & emotions.
She is daughter of the earth, primordially inspired.
She is water, she is wood. She is earth. She is fire!
Celebrate the strength, detrmination, tenacity and power of all the women across the world.
Temporary Adjustments for Right to Rent Checks remain in place until 30 September 2022
COMPLIANCE UPDATE
The Home Office has announced that the changes made to Right to Rent checks as a result of the Coronavirus Act 2020 have been extended to the 30 September 2022. This allows letting agents and landlords time to adjust their processes in preparation for the introduction of Identification Document Validation Technology (IDVT).
Deferring the end date of the adjusted checks to 30 September 2022 ensures landlords have sufficient time to develop commercial relationships with identity service providers, make the necessary changes to their pre-tenancy checking processes and carry out responsible on-boarding of their chosen provider.
The decision also provides opportunity for landlords to put measures in place to enable face to face document checks if they do not wish to adopt digital checks for British and Irish citizens with a valid passport (or Irish passport card).