Government suspension on Housing Possessions extended by 2 months
Millions of renters across England and Wales will receive greater protection after the government extended the suspension of new evictions until 23 August.
The extension announced by the Housing Secretary yesterday takes the moratorium on evictions to a total of five months to ensure that renters continue to have certainty and security.
Ministers are also working with the judiciary, legal representatives and the advice sector on arrangements, including new rules, which will mean that courts are better able to address the need for appropriate protection of all parties, including those shielding from coronavirus. This is to ensure that judges have all the information necessary to make just decisions and that the most vulnerable tenants can get the help they need.
Tenant Fee Ban Transitionary Period to End
It seems as though only yesterday letting agents in England were preparing for the abolition of tenant fees. Fast forward 12 months and from the 1st June 2020 the “transitionary period” will have come to an end. This means any fee that was taken in advance on a pre-existing tenancy (pre-1st June 2019) or within a renewal, will be deemed a "Prohibited Payment". This includes but is not limited to check-out fees which had been taken in advance at the beginning of a tenancy.
Covid-19 - Post-lockdown Protocols Resource Bundle
The COVID-19 pandemic made home working essential for all letting agents and therefore managing not only an ever increasing workload forced upon agents by moving from and office environment to working from home (WFH). Tech became more important than ever, to ensure that employees could remain connected with their line-managers, clients and tenants.
So reverse this process and we watch a phased return to work for many letting agents. Two weeks, with Covid-19 protocols in place, letting agents have gone through a transition which involves ensuring not only the health and safety of their employees, but their clients and tenants.
Our free bundle of resources and documents were designed to help letting agents understand the new protocols when easing out of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Two Weeks - What have Letting Agents been dealing with?
With the announcement that the housing/property sector in England was “re-opening”, there has been a flurry of activity within the Lettings Industry. Yet, it is clear through discussions with letting agents across the country that not all agents have opened their doors. The approach on the whole tends to be a “phased” strategy, given that there is so much to consider.
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Covid-19 Protocols - Letting Agents are without a doubt used to health & safety being part of their working day, but this is on a completely different level. a Employees - who will return to the office environment, how, when and why?