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64 articles
What Do You Need to Succeed?
As a training provider we naturally draw from our experiences and understanding of the industry so that we can provide the best training for inventory clerks. However; quite often as providers we can loose sight of and forget that it is you that should determine the type of information delivered as all training should be […]
Proposed Regulatory Framework Announced For Estate And Letting Agents
The lettings industry seems to be in a constant state of change with increased legislation and regulation quickly on its heels with the Government releasing a report on the recommendations of the Regulation of Property Agents Working Group (RoPA) proposing a new regulatory framework to cover estate agents across the UK and letting and managing agents in […]
Government Announces Overhaul Of HHSRS
ARLA has published their article on HHSRS after the UK Government announced that an overhaul of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) in England will begin later in the year. Currently the HHSRS assesses private rented residential property against 29 identifiable hazards. A consultation took place in February of this year to consider options to […]
SCAM ALERT: Protecting Property Privacy
An article in Property Eye has showcased a very worrying new scam where a gang of 3 people has conned unsuspecting tenants out of their deposit and 2 months rent upfront with no realistic chance of getting their money back and no home to move in by purporting to be the representative of the ‘landlord’. As we […]
Case Study – Why Allowing Tenants To Retain Keys Is Fraught With Issues
Interesting case study shown here in Property Eye where Sandy Bastin; Head of Adjudication Services at TDS describes how a landlord allowed the tenant to return to the property after the checkout to carry out cleaning and remedial tasks. My advice is always to ensure that the tenant is fully aware of the checkout process. They need […]
Landlords Lack Understanding When It Comes To Letting Reforms
A new and independent survey has suggested many landlords in the UK are struggling to keep pace with new legislative and regulatory reforms that have been introduced in the past year. The editorial by Propertywire states that some 30% do not understand the changes to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing, which came into effect in October […]
Response To TDS Guide On Inventories
In response to the joint publication by TDS – guidance on the check-in and check-out process for tenants; Siān Hemming-Metcalfe; Head of Training & Development for InventoryBase Academy commented; ‘It’s pleasing to finally see Inventories being highlighted and discussed so openly rather than just within the forums and groups I belong to’. Siān says that the […]
Inventory Clerks – Are You A Subject Matter Expert?
It’s a weird phrase isn’t it; subject matter expert? It’s a phrase I see regularly on social media, in emails and on LinkedIn but what are they exactly? According to Christopher Pappas; founder of eLearning Industry’s Network a Subject Matter Expert has the potential to become a valued member of your team and will have the most in-depth knowledge […]
Tenant Fee Ban – Can We Charge For Missed Appointments?
The background to this blog was a conversation I had with another inventory company owner where we looked at whether, as inventory providers, we can charge for missed appointments now that the tenant fee ban is imminent (1st June 2019). Historically; we have charged a fee for appointments when the clerk has attended either the […]
What Next For The Tenant Fee Ban?
Those in the lettings sector will be well aware of the imminent ban on tenant fees but who is ready for the changes? The Act has made its journey through parliament, and will be implemented in England from 1st June, 2019. This means that now is the time for letting agents to finalise preparations for […]
Lettings Industry Faces More Regulation
The residential lettings industry in Britain is set to face even more reform after a new regulatory framework is to be set up. Heather Wheeler MP, the Housing Minister, announced at last months ARLA (Association of Residential Letting Agents) conference that more changes will be made to the lettings sector. This will follow the Tenant Fees Bill which will […]
Inventory Reports – Why Looks Matter
We spend a lot of time looking at the content of an inventory report in our training course; Learn How To Produce Professional Property Reports however how the report ‘looks’ is just as important. Why? Because if the report appears disordered, if the information has not been checked for spelling and grammar or certain information appears missing […]
Introducing ‘How To’ Property Information Video
Take a sneak peak at our intro video As part of our course Learn How To Produce Professional Property Reports we have produced our first series of videos on ‘how to complete a report’ on a new 2 bedroom flat. The video’s look at each room individually; walking you through the reporting process, providing descriptions with condition […]
Garden Safety – Who Has The Duty Of Care?
A recent blog post has caught my eye as it relates directly to a template we have just added to the InventoryBase Template Library. The blog by @nearlylegal concerns the unfortunate accident of the tenant; Mrs R, who was mowing her front garden when she stepped backwards onto an inspection cover which gave way. Poor Mrs R’s left leg […]
Is your age an automatic barrier to becoming an inventory clerk?
I can be found most evenings with my iPhone or iPad in hand scrolling through and catching up on various posts and working my way through (amongst others) LinkedIn threads and discussions on any number of topics as there is always something to be learnt from the wider business community; doesn’t always need to be […]
Fitness For Human Habitation (FFHH) – Are you service ready?
On the 20th December 2018 the Fitness For Human Habitation Bill received Royal Assent and is therefore now enshrined in law. There was a 3 month lead in period so as of 20th March 2019 this new legislation takes affect. Some background The Bill revives a clause which already exists in the Landlord and Tenant […]
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