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SCN Lettings

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I don't know of one agency charging fees. I do know however of several self let and self managing landlords who use well known landlord access sites that once they have the prospect in front of them mention charges. The Trading Staziards should be targeting them and not agents.

From: SCN Lettings 08 September 2020 08:57 AM

And when all the landlords sell up due to the enforcement notices the council of course will have an abundance of "A" rated EPC dwellings ready for the newly displaced tenants to move into. Not.

From: SCN Lettings 02 September 2020 07:51 AM

"Students can sign up to Housemates for free and - apparently - the platform “removes the need for letting agents and the associated fees, providing landlords and tenants with the opportunity to transact totally online.” Err....has she not heard of the Tenant Fee Act 2019? There are no "tenant fees" now. And when the compliance, safety, and rent collection goes belly up for all parties they will realise why there are agents.

From: SCN Lettings 18 August 2020 08:13 AM

There is facililty for councils to exempt as follows: The Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992 - Statutory Instrument 558/1992 came into force from 31st March 1992. Paragraph 3 states: “A dwelling is an exempt dwelling for the purposes of section 4 of the Act ( The Local Government Act 1992) on a particular day if on that day it falls within one of the following classes– “Class G: an unoccupied dwelling the occupation of which is prohibited by law, or which is kept unoccupied by reason of action taken under powers conferred by or under any Act of Parliament, with a view to prohibiting its occupation or to acquiring it” Councils tend to focus on the fact the Coronavirus Act 2020 does not prohibit occupation. However the "or" is crucial. This means that any Act does not have to prohibit occupation per se- merely that it triggers the clause "has a view to doing so" This is a deliberately broad definition. The Coronavirus Act certainly " has a view" to prohibiting occupation. That is it's purpose in stopping the spread of the disease. What the councils have done is looked at the first part of the Class " G" definition without also looking at the other two which are less precise. We are taking the matter to Valuation Trubunal.

From: SCN Lettings 27 April 2020 11:06 AM

And some tenants are forced to spend more money on essentials like big screen tv, Iphone, X Box, and can't afford food.

From: SCN Lettings 26 February 2020 09:20 AM

Proof that the demonisation of agents and landlords was for political purposes - the gaining of votes- and was without foundation.

From: SCN Lettings 07 February 2020 08:01 AM

In 18 years of being a landlord and an agent I have never seen a falsified inventory. Where is the evidence? Perhaps the AIIC should spend less time on self propaganda to further it's own ends and more on factual reporting.

From: SCN Lettings 28 January 2020 07:57 AM

Another branch of the Marxist property hating and agent harassing extreme left along with Shelter and Generation Rent who seek to bully legitimate businesses. All this does is contribute towards reducing supply and increasing rents.

From: SCN Lettings 16 January 2020 08:39 AM

As things stand Corbyn is toast. Unless Generation Rent gets all tenants to vote Labour and end up homeless and the students to vote twice. Once by themselves and on campus via a Momentum "proxy" vote.

From: SCN Lettings 28 November 2019 10:21 AM

Yet another idea to reduce the supply of rental properties and increase rents leading to a rent cap.

From: SCN Lettings 11 September 2019 08:20 AM

And to Dan Craw Generation Rent. Well done.

From: SCN Lettings 28 August 2019 09:00 AM

Generation Rent and Shelter should have been more careful about what they wished for. In 17 years of being a landlord and 7 as an agent I have never seen such a shortage of properties locally at such high rents. Indeed a " perfect storm"

From: SCN Lettings 01 August 2019 08:18 AM

Generation Rent are quite a fickle lot. When there are no properties left to rent and no agents to rent through they will vote for the party that promises to provide millions of " affordable homes" with no idea as to how they will be paid for. Short term vote winner = long term housing shortage.

From: SCN Lettings 15 July 2019 09:49 AM

An article full of rhetoric with no evidence. "Almost one in three tenants claimed their house did not have a carbon monoxide alarm despite requiring one. This affects around 900,000 homes, CA insists" So tenants are versed in the Deregulation Act 2015 and are aware that CO is only required in solid fuel homes and not those with gas? No? Thought not. Even though as an agency we insist on them anyway they are not mandatory. I do agree however that landlords are in the main unaware of their legal responsibilities given the amount of new legislation introduced over the past two years. It's hard enough for agents let alone self managed landlords to keep abreast of things.

From: SCN Lettings 27 June 2019 08:36 AM

And how many irate tenants and landlords has he dealt with with all his 24 years wordly experience? Will the"Bunk" tech turn up at 4am to deal with a water leak or a fire? Or email a spare key through when tenant has lost it? No? Thought not.

From: SCN Lettings 12 June 2019 08:15 AM

Heather Wheeler is on a crusade against both landlords and agents. The Tenant Fee Bill is written in such draconian terms that agents and landlords are deserting the sector. With the loss of Section 21 then it will only get worse. The PRS can only hope that in the political turmoil that she loses her seat or her ministerial position.

From: SCN Lettings 14 May 2019 08:07 AM

"The organisation says that without adequate explanation of what those charges would be for or what constituted “reasonable” or “a fair proportion of” tenants could risk being hit with extortionate fees during their tenancy" Which you are behind the times. Agents can't charge fees now. Is Polly Neate from Shelter moonlighting for "Which"?

From: SCN Lettings 03 May 2019 08:01 AM

Paul not in the new socialist republic of England it isn't. ( Said tongue in cheek) Career MPs with no clue how the real world works combined with populist left wing anti - landlord policies from all parties mean that landlords and agents are the new pariahs of the political landscape at the moment. With the spectre of a Corbyn government and it's rent controls/ sequestration of private policy then its not a good time to be a landlord or an agent. And where do they get profits of 16% / 17% from?

From: SCN Lettings 25 April 2019 08:07 AM

Shell accomodation with no white goods is not a vote winner for Generation Rentflake so it won't happen.

From: SCN Lettings 18 April 2019 09:44 AM

Does this woman ever stop? Keep on going Heather. Soon you will not have a PRS to try and regulate. No Landlords and No agents. Lets hope if there is an election you lose your seat.

From: SCN Lettings 03 April 2019 08:24 AM

If he thinks the housing market is broken now wait until the full effects of Section 24, additional regulation, and the Tenant Fee Ban kick in where landlords are forced to sell up ( as they are doing now) because their properties are no longer financially viable. Indefinite tenancies with break clauses for tenants and not for landlords will mean more landlords WILL sell. Well done Jeremy Corbyn, Shelter and Generation Rent. Look forward to less and less choice and higher rents.

From: SCN Lettings 11 March 2019 08:07 AM

So £60 is an excessive amount to replace a smoke alarm? Okay you can buy a cheap battery one for £6. But who is going to fit it? Most tradesmen charge a £50 call out. So yes £60 to replace a smoke alarm is excessive...by £4. And what happens if it's a wired unit damaged by a tenant? Cost more than £60 to replace one of those. Brokenshire you don't have a clue mate.

From: SCN Lettings 13 February 2019 08:09 AM

Thanks to Generation Rent, the CAB, George Osbourne, certain drum bangers in both the Conn- Sevative and Liebour Parties rents are rising and renter choice declining. This woman thinks she's doing tenants a favour. She's not. Tenant who needs a guarantor with the need for a Deed of Guarantor and a guarantor reference? Sorry as we cannot charge for the work and the landlord will not pay then we cannot offer you the tenancy. Vote seeking headline policies which are damaging the PRS beyond repair.

From: SCN Lettings 28 January 2019 09:06 AM

Online agents are fine until there's a problem at 4am in the morning and someone has to turn out to deal with it. Or the tenant demands to see the agent over an issue with the property. Headline prices are fine until you have to pay all the add ons that high st agents do as part of their management package. That's why 95% of landlords still use traditional agents.

From: SCN Lettings 25 January 2019 08:08 AM

Agreed. With Section 24, Tenant Fee Ban, the last thing we need is another layer of regulation. We already have Gas Safe, EPC, Deposit Protection, Legionella, and soon to be electrical certs for standard rentals. Landlords ( and agents) have had enough.

From: SCN Lettings 09 January 2019 08:19 AM

On a SPT if one tenant gives notice then it ends the tenancy for all of them. So its a new tenancy. But you can't charge the tenant. So the landlord pays. And puts the rent up. What a great system the government has created.

From: SCN Lettings 04 December 2018 15:58 PM

Look out for the annual " This house is full of damp" around this time of year when tenants fail to heat and ventilate properties and blame the landlord.

From: SCN Lettings 26 October 2018 09:07 AM

The DPS has a tenant centred approach, has a new website that is not user friendly, and is being shunned by landlords and agents in favour of MyDeposits and no deposit schemes. Thus their share of the deposit market is declining and is not representative of whats going on in the property world.

From: SCN Lettings 18 September 2018 08:09 AM

Will the AIIC stop "flogging the dead horse" on this in a blatant attempt to protect it's own interests. Inventories have been and will continue to be done by agents and landlords on software which is equal to that of the AIIC. Adding in another additional expense to the PRS when it is being hammered on all sides is not helpful and is counter- productive. The AIIC is worried that the fee ban will force agents to bring inventories back in house and thus it's members lose work. So it's trying to mandate it.

From: SCN Lettings 27 July 2018 08:15 AM

You idiot Craw. Do you not realise that such policies are deterring landlord investment and leading to rent increases?

From: SCN Lettings 16 July 2018 08:01 AM

It's all about votes folks. This is really what the idiots in Westminster are saying: "Look at us touchy-feely Tory Government looking after the interests of the poor oppressed tenants. Those nasty landlords and agents - we'll beat them up for you and get you a better deal. We can match the Corbyn offer and go even further. Vote for us!!" According to the Homelet Survey there are 2 million landlords and 4 million tenants.And tenants are on the increase. Do the maths. Landlords are less of a vote winner than tenants. Very soon our hands as agents ( on fees) and landlords ( on rents and tax increases) will be tied so tight you either go out of business, adapt and survive, or sell up and walk away. Less agents ( reduced competition) Less Landlords ( less rental stock) = higher rents. And the political feeding frenzy for votes starts again in a vicious spiral to the bottom where even the most efficient agent, and cost effective landlord cannot turn a profit. And then the PRS is no more. And who will house 4 million tenants. Be careful what you wish for Theresa...

From: SCN Lettings 02 July 2018 08:03 AM

"The campaign is also backed by PAT testing company Hawkesworth Appliance Testing" Go on the NLAs PAT testing course.£100. Get the kit to do it. £100. Charge the landlord for it- £100 per property. Landlord puts it on the rent- £10 a month. Cost to tenant £120 over 12 months. And that's a conservative estimate. Or don't put portable appliances in properties.

From: SCN Lettings 06 June 2018 09:06 AM

And wait until landlords unaware of the tax changes do their accounts for 2017-2018 and find they are having to pay more on the same income. This can only get worse.

From: SCN Lettings 01 June 2018 08:42 AM

"The landlord, who lets four properties in South London" A wealth of experience then. Be interesting to check her tenancy paperwork against a legal compliance checklist.

From: SCN Lettings 30 May 2018 08:42 AM

Landlords are selling because of several reasons. Yes increased regulation is one. But the main reason is Section 24 of the Finance Act which takes away the ability of landlords to deduct the legitimate expense of mortgage interest and replaced it with a tax credit. This in cases of landlords who are in the 40% tax bracket means them paying double what they are paying now. And agents ARE selling landlords property management services but if a property is actually losing them money in terms of cashflow then they will cut their losses and go. Rental stock is plummeting and rents are rising due in the most part to Section 24. See https://www.facebook.com/clause24/

From: SCN Lettings 16 May 2018 08:43 AM

Unfortunately landlords and agents are the "in vogue" whipping boys ( and girls) at the moment. As politicians chase Generation Rent's vote, so the press chases it's readership for sales.

From: SCN Lettings 27 April 2018 08:05 AM

It's like watching an episode of Batman. "Biff" "Bosh" "Kapow" . Do these idiots not realise that by constantly beating landlords up then the ones who are will quit, and the ones who want to be, won't. More regulatory burden on agents. Increasing demand, reducing supply and choice for landlords and tenants. Well done HM Government, Shelter, and the other left wing leaning pressure groups. You will and are reaping what you sow.

From: SCN Lettings 19 April 2018 08:11 AM

Rather than banging on about "independent inventories" the new Chair may get more of a response if he worked with letting agents rather than disrespecting any inventories done by them as not being as good as those done by his membership.

From: SCN Lettings 13 April 2018 07:57 AM

“It’s a systemic problem, and the real issue is the shortage of good properties in the rented sector.” The real issue is because of Shelters campaigning against landlords and agents resulting in Section 24, SDLT increases, fee bans etc then investment in the sector has fallen when demand is increasing leading to less properties and higher rents. Well done Shelter for achieving exactly the opposite of what you were set up to do.

From: SCN Lettings 09 April 2018 08:12 AM

And therein lies the problem. Some agents have been charging £400 to £500 in fees when £200 is probably about right. So the rest of us are being punished for the actions of the minority. Ultimately the tenant will pay through a higher rent. And who will pay for all the letters and phone calls chasing the late payers? Oh that's right-the agent will as they cannot charge a fee.

From: SCN Lettings 04 April 2018 08:33 AM

Will we have to pick up a burning brazier with our forearms and sear "UKLA" or "ARLA" into them to prove we are "worthy"? ( Courtesy of David Carradine for those that remember it)

From: SCN Lettings 03 April 2018 09:27 AM

Simon don't hold your breath. Whilst the proposals are sensible then knowing this government's penchant to beat up agents and landlords at every turn then I fear it will.

From: SCN Lettings 01 April 2018 09:12 AM

The key phrase here is "may be". This case is not a legal precedent. All that will happen is agents will phrase adverts differently.

From: SCN Lettings 27 February 2018 08:11 AM

A blatant attempt at protectionism by the AIIC which is destined to fail. All this will do is alienate it against letting agents and landlords who will be less likely to use oursourced inventory providers and bring it in house due to the impending tenant fee ban. That's what it's all about. So the AIIC have dressed it up as " independent" inventory compilation. There is a ckear inference that agents are not competent and cannot be trusted. So let's make the whole letting process " independent" then. An "independent" agent who lists the property; one who does the let for the landlord; another who deals with the tenant. That would work really well. I don't think.

From: SCN Lettings 09 February 2018 08:08 AM

Agreed. Whilst there are landlords who can let and manage their own properties, there are are those that choose not to for reasons of time and / or the burden of compliance with increasing legislation. Not many working landlords want to spend the average 16 hours it takes for a let from start to finish. Plus the fact that many landlords do not want the 4am emergency call ( or the one on the beach !) saying there is a leak or other maintenance issue.

From: SCN Lettings 30 November 2017 07:54 AM

Stats from the Elmhurst EPC provider site state: "There are 11% of domestic properties that reach an energy efficiency rating (SAP rating) of A or B, 65% C or D and still 24% of England and Wales properties are languishing with ratings of E,F or G" So councils that exclude E F and G will effectively reduce rental stock by almost a quarter. At a time when landlords are exiting the sector due to section 24 Finance Act, stamp duty, and general landlord bashing by the government. So increased demand and less properties. What do we think that will do to affordable rents? Well done indeed Walsall Council.

From: SCN Lettings 16 November 2017 11:07 AM

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