1st October 2021 - Section 21 & Section 8 Notice periods to revert back to Pre-Pandemic Rules
The government has confirmed that notice periods for both Section 8 and Section 21 Notices in England will return to the pre-pandemic rules on October 1st, 2021.
Over the last 18 months since the government introduced emergency measures as part of the Coronavirus Act 2020 to protect renters, notice periods for both notices have changed 5 times causing a great deal of confusion for landlords and letting agents.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced: “While these measures were appropriate at the height of the pandemic, these restrictions could only ever be temporary. Returning notice periods to their pre-COVID lengths from 1 October will allow landlords to repossess their property where necessary. However, we intend to retain the power to implement these measures again in the case that the public health situation worsens and these measures are required again.”
ARPM calls in an Insolvency Practitioner
For almost two Weekes we have been liaising with some of the letting agents who had outsourced their property management service to a well -known provider ARPM. It appears that rental payments have not been made to landlords and there is a high level of concern with regards to the companies finances
We have advised letting agents who have raised concerns to contact Trading Standards, Action Fraud, CM Protect and MyDeposits for further assistance as it has been impossible for us to make contact with any of the named directors.
Companies House now shows that Neum Insolvency is dealing with the insolvency of ARPM.
For further assistance do not hesitate to contact us.
Selective licensing scheme launched in Enfield
After much deliberation and uproar, which included a petition from landlords in the borough, Enfield Council introduced the Selective Licensing Scheme for certain wards.
The Scheme aims to improve housing conditions, factors that make deprivation and inequality worse and addressing anti-social behaviour.
The Scheme covers 14 wards, in addition to HMO Licensing and Covers private rented properties occupied by single households or two unrelated individuals.
Landlords can apply, which costs £600 for a five-year period
Cllr George Savva, Enfield council’s cabinet member for licensing and regulatory services announced:-
"This licensing schemes will help protect private renters and also ensure that conscientious landlords are rewarded. There are a great many responsible landlords in the borough and schemes like this help to level the playing field.
“The Selective Licensing Scheme has been introduced in areas where evidence shows there is a large number of rented properties that have poor property conditions and standards, high level of deprivation and a significant and persistent problem caused by anti-social behaviour.”
Ikigai - What that means to me
I’ve been asked the same question over the last , well, almost 3 years since I started studying the GDL - Graduate Diploma in Law in 2018. Why are you studying something so complicated at your AGE? The reply was often a jumbled response - because I can, because I’m a life-long learner, because, because,because. It wasn’t until I actually graduated, that I realised studying, learning new skills, research was part of my DNA.
Studying the GDL and now the LPC became my way of perfecting the quasi rustic knowledge I had gained over 14 years as a trainer- advisor, in order to formalise not only what I had learnt but be trained in a very formal way. It was tough especially when the Pandemic hit and it meant that I would not see the inside of a lecture theatre for just over a year. Whilst I am a self-motivated learner, I regale in the engagement that takes place in a training room, classroom or lectures- not only is the camaraderie great, the psychological aspects assist with the learning process - bouncing ideas off one another, Q& A without interruption or tech issues, relating to lecturers who provide a much more convincing performance in person than they do online.