Businesses can Survive and Thrive Post-Lockdown and beyond
Helping You to Reset your Business has become our Mission
Inspired by the dedication, tenacity, determination, ability to adapt of the letting agents we have been working with pre-Lockdown and everyone we talked to and communicated to during Lockdown and post-lockdown, we have changed the way we work and have also changed and evolved.
In September 2020 we will be launching a set of programmes which will look at Business Continuity Planning (BCP). The inspiration comes from our Solution Focused Training initiative where training provides participants with an objective & an outcome.
The BCP will focus on adding value to your letting agency, making subtle changes and thinking beyond Coronavirus.
Our training sessions have been developed with detail in mind - so we can focus on the questions asked and provide you with the answers you need. Our new resources will also help you and your team to navigate complex changes.
Key Government Guidance for Letting Agents - Part II
As we move into month 5 since the UK went into full-scale lockdown, further restrictions were reintroduced for Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire. People from separate households in these areas are not allowed to mix with each other in their homes or gardens, or in pubs and restaurants. In Leicester, A local lockdown has been in place for several weeks, restrictions are also in place on household visits.
Every day the Government issues information relating to the impact of Covid-19 on different aspects of life in the UK. It is challenging enough to deal with the day to day running of a letting agency and It is too much information for any one individual to read and absorb, as well as implement to not only ensure personal safety but also professional.
We hope the following links will provide some assistance in navigating some of the aspects that need to be dealt with.
Anticipating the next stage of the Possession Claims has been Difficult
Last week, on the Friday 17th July as a result of the Coronavirus Act 2020, it was announced that the Civil Procedure Rules relating to possession claims would be changed, however, it was only this week that those changes were announced.
The Impact of CoronavirusAfter 5 months of housing possession being suspended, the courts will re-open to hear possession claims on the 23rd August 2020, and as a result, the New Practice Direction (PD) will apply for an “interim period” from 23 August 2020 until 28 March 2021. For private landlords must now attend any court hearing with two copies of a notice which sets out exactly what they know about the effect of the coronavirus on the tenant. This notice must be sent to the tenant before the hearing. This protocol also applies to Accelerated Possession Proceedings, which means that a similar notice MUST be included. PLEASE NOTE THE N5B WILL NOT BE AMENDED TO DEAL WITH THIS CHANGE NOR WILL CLAIMANTS BE REMINDED.
Existing ClaimsThe PD 55C will separate claims into TWO groups :-
Group 1 - Claims that were issued before 3 August 2020
Group 2 - Claims issued on or after 3 August 2020.
Government Launches Consultation on New Code of Practice for the Property Sector
Today the government launched its Consultation on a new Code of Practice (COP) which will be the central point of the work undertaken by the new industry regulator, yet to be appointed.
The COP will set the standards and benchmark with a mission to promote a higher element of faith in the property sector. There are references to transparency currently addressed by the CMA and Trading Standards, Referral Fees, Client Money Protection Regulations, Redress and Complaints, along with the collection and management of data.
This New COP will apply to :
-
Property Sales/Purchases
-
Property Lettings and Property Management
-
Property Auctions
-
Property Guardians, a new initiative used by Landlords, commercial and residential
-
Rent-to-rent
-
International property agents and brokers