Matthew Pennycook The government has announced that it will switch on a key part of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act next week. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook yesterday signed regulations to remove the two-year ownership rule for leaseholders of flats and houses to extend their lease or buy their freehold. The change will offer leaseholders … Read more
Isobel Thomson The chief executive of safeagent, Isobel Thomson, is the latest high-profile property professional to voice concerns about the Renters Rights Bill. In an open letter letter to housing minister Matthew Pennycook, Thompson highlights two clauses in the bill in its existing form that would in her opinion adversely impact less well-off prospective tenants … Read more
Knight Frank’s residential division has unveiled its new property portal ‘My Knight Frank’ in its complete form. This latest phase in its development sees the tenant and landlord functions go live and is now available to all the firm’s customers and clients, a business which has grown to have 260 people and a rent roll … Read more
A landlord who built an outbuilding without planning consent has been ordered to pay in excess of £23,000, following a successful prosecution by Swale Borough Council. Haig Squire built a red brick and block detached outbuilding at a property in Augustine Road, Minster. But he did not seek permission to erect the structure, which was … Read more
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an important consultation on several important areas concerning ‘Unfair Commercial Practices (UCPs) last month. The Consultation finished yesterday. The Consultation material states that UCPs can include “immovable property”. So the UCP provisions apply to the practices of ‘traders’ concerned with the sale or lease of land to consumers. … Read more