The Importance of Property Visits
Property inspections have become a topic of discussion for many lettings who manage properties. Since the pandemic, letting agents faced challenges with ensuring that the backlog created by the various lockdowns has been reduced. With the property inspection forming part of a managed service, landlords benefit from the interim property visits that take place and as such provide landlords with information about the condition of their properties.
It is important to note that the property visit is not purely a contractual agreement between the landlord and the letting agent. Section 11 (6) of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 states that a landlord :- ” may at reasonable times of the day and on giving 24 hours’ notice in writing to the occupier, enter the premises comprised in the lease for the purpose of viewing their condition and state of repair.”.
Trees and their Importance
Climate change, being environmentally friendly, thinking carefully about our carbon footprint is at the forefront of our minds, but for many years, across the continents, there have been concerns about the way in which trees are treated.
Trees act as a filter, trapping dust and absorbing pollutants from the air and each individual tree removes up to 1.7 kilos every year. They are also an excellent form of noise reduction and provide shade from solar radiation.
Research has shown that trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and the carbon that they store in their wood helps slow the rate of global warming. They reduce wind speeds and cool the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves. It’s estimated that trees can reduce the temperature in a city by up to 7°C.
Tree Preservation Orders were introduced so that local planning authorities could protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands.
Dealing with Power of Attorney, Wills and Probate
The brief of letting agents is wide reaching when dealing with property to be let, property with tenants in situe, and circumstances that change in relation to property owners and tenants. Situations arise that can be challenging, sensitive and require Due Diligence.
Power of Attorney
When a person presents themselves as the Power of Attorney on behalf of a client landlord or tenant, it is important to follow a strict process to ascertain that a Power of Attorney is in fact in place.
Figures show that since 2014/15, the numbers of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have more than doubled and the reasons for this range from an increased need for protection due to changes in personal circumstance to illness or lack of capacity
Pets in Properties
What does the Renters Reform Bill say about Pets?
The Bill will set in place the opportunity for tenants to request to have a pet within the property.
Landlords must give the request reasonable consideration; this will be on a case-by-case basis. If a landlord refuses, tenants can escalate the matter if they believe that their landlord has been unfair, and tenants will have access to the Landlord Ombudsman as well as the First Tier Tribunal (FTT).
The view of all the animal centric organisations is that this Bill will be revolutionary for tenants who own pets because large numbers of animals are given up to the RSPCA, Dog’s Trust, and Cat Protection every year due to landlords not allowing pets in their properties. For example, the Cat Protection League received 1,300 cats last year, from people who couldn’t keep them due to issues with private rented and social housing.