Christmas is coming…..
Christmas is 11 days away and whilst many people will already be organised and ready for the festivities, there may be time for some last minute plans.
The Top 10 Christmas attractions in the UK are so popular that people plan their festive calendars around them.
London's Winter Wonderland
Bath Christmas Market
Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations
Manchester Christmas Markets
Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market
York's St Nicholas Fair
Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
Glasgow's Christmas markets
Oxford's Christmas Light Festival
Stratford-upon-Avon's Victorian Christmas Market
The Importance of Creating a Strong Audit Trail
Over the last 2 years, we have conducted a significant number of audits. The audits are not finance related, the focus is on compliance on 2 levels - Compliance of the letting agency and compliance related to process and systems. Our desktop audits are conducted to ensure that GLM members are complying with membership criteria and relevant statutory requirements.
We have been asked by clients to audit their property portfolio to ensure compliance, to prepare for the sale of their business or to invest in other agencies; most recently we have been involved in auditing agencies being acquired.
National Trading Standards update Material Information
The National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) has produced new guidance for property agents to help you identify and disclose this information on residential property listings.
Material information is not a new requirement that our guidance is introducing, it is found in Regulation 6 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs).
The CPRs made it a criminal offence for businesses (including estate and letting agents) to omit or hide “material information” that might change the transactional decision of an average consumer. Any information provided in a residential property listing must be accurate and truthful, not hidden, and not misleading. The “transactional decision” includes deciding to enquire further, to view, or to purchase/rent a property. The term “average consumer” refers to someone who is reasonably well informed, reasonably observant, and circumspect.
Renters’ Reform Bill - Committee Stage
Finally, the Government has provided some much needed information on the Renters Reform Bill. The Second Reading of the Bill took place late on a Monday evening, lasting 4 hours and was passed in the Commons on 23rd October 2023.
The Bill focuses on a range of reforms to achieve this, including abolishing the landlord’s ability to rely on Section 21; ending the use of assured shorthold tenancie (ASTs); creating a new register of PRS landlords'; introducing a property portal and establishing a Landlord Ombudsman for the Private Rented Sector to help tenants and landlords to resolve disputes.