Four Weeks on. What have Letting Agencies been doing to Deal with the "New Normal" ?
Just over a month ago, we watching how Covid-19 was unravelling life in Italy, Spain, Germany & France; the national press were telling us what the impact of Covid-19 could potentially be in the UK, yet even as we witnessed what was going on in mainland Europe, nothing prepared us for the domino effect this illness would have on our green and pleasant land.
March 17th, the Chancellor says that " We will do whatever it takes to protect our people and businesses from the effects of this global economic emergency brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic."
Soon after, the landscape of the country changed beyond all recognition, no plans in place, no blueprint to refer back to, emergency legislation was put in place to deal with these unprecedented times.
As the situation evolved, letting agents began dealing with their "New Normal". A review of the last 4 weeks, gives us an idea of just what strategies needed to be put in place, and looking forward, what needs to be done when businesses begin to open again.
New Vocabulary Created by a Pandemic
On the 12th March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Europe’s Standing Committee of the Regional Committee met. Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, briefed the group on the rapid escalation of COVID-19 in the WHO European Region, now placing it at the centre of this pandemic.
As of the morning of 12 March, there were more than 20 000 confirmed cases and there were almost 1000 deaths in the European Region. The meeting followed the announcement that COVID-19 would be characterised as a “Pandemic”. Pandemic differs to an Epidemic because whilst an Epidemic is a disease that affects a large number of people within a community, population, or region, a Pandemic an epidemic that’s spread over multiple countries or continents. Hence our familiarity with this word.
Electrical Testing in England and Wales
Covid-19 has impacted everything in life as we know it and the PRS is no exception. The Electrical safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 were passed by Parliament on 18 March 2020. The Regulations will apply in England to all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
Responsibilities of the landlord
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 places a continuous duty on landlords in England to maintain their property to the electrical safety standards and to have evidence of this. This means your property must meet the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations and you must have a report that shows this from a qualified person.
In the House of Lords, there are more than 10 Lords a Leaping
If you have ever attended a tour of the Houses of Parliament, you will be well-informed about the history of the incredible building known as the Palace of Westminster. The palace is divided into two houses - the House of Commons where the elected MPs sit/meet and the House of Lords where, well, obviously the Lords reside.
The tours that are conducted by very knowledgable guides and sometimes, MPs, are educational and extremely informative, not only providing a snapshot of the political system and how the two Houses work, it also serves as an amazing history lesson.