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.
Government announces Legislation to tackle Economic Crime following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
GOVERNMENT NEWS
Following the commitments announced by the Prime Minister last week, the government has brought forward the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new legislation will help the National Crime Agency prevent foreign owners from laundering their money in UK property and ensure more corrupt oligarchs can be handed an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO).
The new register will require anonymous foreign owners of UK property to reveal their real identities to ensure criminals cannot hide behind secretive chains of shell companies, setting a new global standard for transparency. Entities who do not declare their ‘beneficial owner’ will face restrictions over selling their property, and those who break the rules could face up to 5 years in prison.
Under the reforms being brought in on UWOs, those who hold property in the UK in a trust will be brought within scope and the definition of an asset’s ‘holder’ will also be expanded to ensure individuals can’t hide behind opaque shell companies and foundations.