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Ban on rental fees due to become law
D eposits for rental homes are to be up. The proposals for the private rental market would see deposits restricted to the equivalent of five weeks’ rent, where the annual rent is less than £50,000. FirstPort announces capped and upfront fees for tenants banned as part of a government shake-
had to hand over hundreds of pounds on unfair and uncompetitive letting fees every time they moved home. “We look forward to working with the government to do even more to strengthen the hand of the growing number of renters in a market where they have little bargaining power.”
Under the Tenant Fees bill, which was approved by MPs last month, letting fees would also be outlawed in England. Citizens Advice have hailed the move as a “landmark moment” for millions. The charity’s chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: “For too long families and other renters have
Grenfell faker jailed for £90k fraud A man who pretended to be a victim of the Grenfell Tower fire has been jailed for committing fraud of nearly £90,000. Abdelkarim Rekaya, 28, spent more than 200 nights in a four- star hotel before being provided with a flat in Chelsea. Catherine Farrelly, prosecuting, told the court that Tunisian national Rekaya claimed he was sleeping rough in the tower on the night of the blaze. She said that he had refused to answer questions about the night of the blaze because he claimed that he didn’t want to relive the traumatic event. Rekaya, who came to the UK in 2008, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and obtaining leave to remain by deception. He was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Isleworth Crown Court.
charity partner
P roperty management group FirstPort FirstPort has committed to matching every donation it receives for the charity, which provides have named Centrepoint as the company’s official charity partner for 2019.
support and accommodation to people between the ages of 16 and 25. Nigel Howell, FirstPort CEO, said: “It feels right that we are focusing our efforts on a charity that supports people to turn their lives around.”
LEASE boss is quizzed by MPs
T he tax-payer funded Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) has been quizzed about its operation by MPs as part of a Select Committee hearing. The body’s chief executive Anthony Essien faced questions including its inaction over the doubling of ground rent and leasehold houses scandals which are now being addressed by the government. He was also put under the
pointed out to Mr Essien that there had been “some pretty damning criticism of LEASE itself and the services that leaseholders receive from your organisation. She added: “One said the service they received was ‘honestly, quite appalling’.” Mr Essien replied: “Anyone who says they are dissatisfied with the service first and foremost that would concern me greatly.”
spotlight about whether the service should continue as the monopoly-funded government advisory service in the leasehold sector. Martin Boyd, chair of pressure group the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership (LKP), told the committee: “LEASE has been a monopoly service for far, far too long and it has done huge damage to the sector.” Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, Helen Hayes,
ALEP welcomes commonhold reform consultation
C onsultations over “crucial” plans to reform commonhold laws have been welcomed by a professional body representing the leasehold enfranchisement sector. The Law Commission is currently seeking views from across the industry regarding commonhold – which is a freehold tenure for multi-occupancy buildings. The Association of Leasehold
“This is a consultation not to be missed and ALEP encourages all members to respond by the deadline in March 2019.” The consultation, called “Reinvigoration commonhold: the alternative to leasehold ownership” is open until 10th March. For more information on the consultation please visit https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/ project/commonhold/#commonhold- consultation
Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP) said the reforms were crucial. ALEP director and committee member Mark Chick said: “ALEP welcomes the latest round of consultations concerning commonhold. The topic was widely debated by our members earlier this year and commonhold reform is crucial not only to the leasehold sector, but the wider property sector and will have implications for us all.
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