Rob Crawford

Her response states quote, "on the 21st July we launched a 12 week consultation on the details of our proposals. The Government will collaborate with and listen to tenants, landlords and others in the sector to develop a more effective system that works for everybody. everybody". So the consultation is still running and has yet to be analysed. To say she is going ahead with it is jumping the gun a bit - even if we suspect this will be the result.... Read More

Lets not forget this article launches a fund raising appeal! You can make a pledge via the link in the introduction, a simple process and small amounts are accepted. This has national implications and unless you have hard evidence that you have served a valid gas safe certificate before the tenancy start anyone can be caught out. I would hope the target is reached quite quickly. One thing we don't want is for this clause to migrate into any new legislation that may replace the section 21 form 6a! If left unchallenged I am sure this will be the case.... Read More

Meant to read ".......in the interest of all landlords and tenants"! Also, link to DPS Complaints process: https://www.depositprotection.com/media/1408/dps_a5_complaint_handling_procedure_vd.pdf... Read More

Hi Onslow, where are you based? DPS operates out of Bristol which is an area covered by our landlord association. This seems an exceptional case and so on this occasion and in the interest of all landlords, I would be happy to try and get this resolved for you with a face to face meeting with DPS. DPS has a formal complaints process have you followed this? With over 400 members in the Bristol area I doubt I will be ignored. It would be better if you could attend, we can then talk specifics. If, however, there are others in the same position I would be happy to voice concerns more generically. DPS are exhibiting at the Bristol Landlord Expo on 2nd April, if things don't progress we can tackle them there as a back stop. I can be contacted via our website www.allwessex.co.uk... Read More

Yes- I can remember the consultation end of 2016 I think - so not rushed! We were expecting the changes in Nov 2017 the Jan 2018 and then by April 2018. I would have thought the min room size requirement would become statutory at the same time as this Housing Act 2004 announcement. Maybe another Statutory Instrument notice will be released in the next couple of days that addresses this for Housing Act 1985 section 326.... Read More

Hi Mark, very interesting especially as Bristol are about to launch a City Wide Additional Licensing scheme - where can I find out more about this case?... Read More

It was a very shallow report, biased in favour of the tenant. I was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for validated detail and background behind the evictions but disappointingly (but not unexpected) nothing came. Panorama presented a biased, under researched and amateurish program not befitting the factual programs that I once respected.... Read More

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This is encouraging news! Evidence that Council's are starting to with landlords rather than against them. A scheme that respects compliant landlords will make it more easy to identify lower standard properties identifies without penalising good landlords. Over the next couple of weeks we are expecting both Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) and Bristol Councils to announce their plans to adopt city wide additional licensing. There are now a number of viable options open to the council's as such there is not reason to adopt an additional licensing approach. We are in the process of working with the national and other more local orientated landlord associations to make them aware of the alternatives such as schemes provided by "Consider-Rate Ltd" and the National Landlord's Code of Excellence (NLCE). Where these schemes are deemed for some reason to be unacceptable, we are suggesting that landlords who meet the required inspection criteria with no Cat 1 Hazards are rewarded with a significant refund of the licensing fee. We have suggested 50%. Even so, we believe the anticipated licensing fee of £700 plus to be unjustified. Our challenge, is to break through landlord apathy by motivating and encourage them to fight back and participate positively to the forthcoming consultations.... Read More

Hi Edna, who is your Local Authority? Others will be in a similar position to you. Do you not have a local landlord association who can represent you all??... Read More

Hi Malcolm, you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) from your Council (see eligibility in the following as applying to landlords with disabled tenants). Details on Gov't website: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants/overview... Read More

Hi Malcolm, please hold fast on my "Yes you can offset these modifications against tax" statement. I am currently looking into it on the basis that you do not normally let to disabled tenants and this will likely resume after the current tenancy ends. As such the "adjustment" is not a capital improvement, particularly if you need to return the property to the original condition after.... Read More

Hi Malcolm, under the equality Act 2010 if you are providing housing for disabled persons you need to make "reasonable adjustment". Defining what is "reasonable" is a debatable issue. I detect from your e-mail that you would be happy to oblige but you are concerned that associated costs may make it unreasonable! If you currently have interlink alarms this would be less expensive but you will need to replace and add to the detector units (into bedrooms for example). I would suggest detectors with high intensity flashing lights that are designed to wake a deaf person. There are various products on the market that may be suitable. An RF link to an additional detector in the bedroom and other rooms would be a reasonable low cost. Vibrating mats would be subject to wear and tear and over time are likely to have to be replaced at additional expense. If you currently only have battery fire detectors the costs will increase significantly and may make it "unreasonable"! Did you make any commitments to the tenant before he/she took up the tenancy as this may influence your decision. Yes you can offset these modifications against tax. This is a good article from CA: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/what-are-the-different-types-of-discrimination/duty-to-make-reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-people/... Read More

Without a doubt many of the non mandatory licensed HMO's will fail the initial licensing criteria as they will have been considered previously as small dwellings that do not require the same degree of safety features. This will be used to unfairly justify this all inclusive licensing strategy.... Read More

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Hi Penny, whether you have a case against your accountant will depend on what service you agreed he would provide you. At least you now have a way forward and this could be confirmed in more detail and on a personal basis if you take up Mark's offer. Mark's recommendations would provide a means from which you and your accountant can work.... Read More

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Hi Alex, I have one of the original banners - are these being replaced with the new Landlord Union logo? In anticipation of the West of England Landlord Expo 2017 (25th May) in Bristol: http://www.landlordexpo.co.uk/site/1.asp... Read More

Hi Chaz, to respond to your issue more fully we need to know if this is a house share and whether rooms are let separately. It is possible that you rent a room and have a licence that permits your access & use of other rooms that may also be shared by the other tenants. The landlord/agent would only require permission to access your room and the rooms of other tenants, permission is not required for the landlord/agent to access the shared areas although I agree it would be nice and polite to advise you when such viewings are planned.... Read More