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Stephen Seymour

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my expertise in the industry

Stephen's Recent Activity

From: Stephen Seymour 04 September 2018 08:41 AM

Another piece of advertising with no value. What is becoming apparent is that Agents such as Countrywide and other corporates are looking to charge premiums for insurance to cover this so called "Deposit Free" tenancy which amounts to nearly 50% of the cost of the deposit in the first instance. Figures that are being branded around are at least £400.00 per tenancy for the insurance premium. The fact the these insurers are allowing Agents to quote thier own premiums which are grossly higher than the figure they are being charged is just another case Corporates damaging the industry once again .

From: Stephen Seymour 04 September 2018 07:57 AM

Be careful what you wish for. Letting Agents will use this information to assess the credit worthiness of new tenants. Where will the poor payers live? What stops financial institutions contact the Agent/Landlord now? Getting refused for a credit card for a poor credit history is not really that important but finding somewhere to live with poor payment record is only going to cause more difficulties. What about wife’s who find themselves left with the children when the husband runs off and has to wait six weeks or more for her claim, People made unemployed when companies cease trading. There are lots of examples where genuine cases will suffer or do you suggest we massage their payment records

From: Stephen Seymour 23 November 2017 11:56 AM

The right to charge late payment fees must be stipulated in the tenancy agreement giving details of the amount charged and when it become payable. Usually this is 14 days after the due date. Therefore charging "Massive Late Payment Bills" is totally unlawful and unenforceable. Additionally any attempt to charge excessive amounts may not be enforceable as it is likely to be deemed an "Unfair Clause". Who wants their Agency to have a reputation for charging excessive amounts for late payments.

From: Stephen Seymour 06 November 2017 13:09 PM

Again following the path of other trades such as Gas Engineers. Sadly large companies have a single membership covering all their employees. Whilst it allows an entity to be responsible, it doesn't make all Gas Engineers competent in their work. In America, the individual has to be qualified to work not the company. This is far more effective in finding the actually rogue agent, rather than tarnish the reputation of a company. The usual response by companies is to sack the offender and off he goes to another company and operates once again. If the individual was required to be qualified and found to be at fault, he could be struck off and his ability to operate once again is stopped. Too many times Agents found guilty of stealing, restart with another company or use a Partners name to operate. Lets use this opportunity to get it right and not continue down the same path as other failed registrations. Individuals should be registered. Also in America what you don't get are offices with new people still "Learning" but giving out advice to both Landlord and Tenant based upon - a second-hand conversation they heard earlier that day. Never seen a new unqualified employee of British Gas sending them out to service a boiler! If we want a professional business then we need to be like professionals, qualifications first, job second not as we like to do, Job first, training second.

From: Stephen Seymour 19 October 2017 08:38 AM

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