End to Outdated Laws Will Allow Londoners to Let Homes for Extra Cash

New measures will end outdated rules from the 1970s preventing London residents from renting out their own homes on a short-term basis to visitors, Eric Pickles has said. Under 40 year old laws dating from the time of the GLC (Greater London Council), Londoners who want to rent out their homes for less than 3 months technically still have to apply for planning permission from the council - something that doesn’t apply anywhere else in the country. These provisions caused controversy during the 2012 Olympics, and are irregularly enforced by different London boroughs leading to confusion.  Ministers now want to change this archaic system through a measure in the Deregulation Bill. Read more on the GovUK website.

Shapps Warns Tenancy Cheats Ahead Of the Games

With just days to go before the start of the Olympics, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on social housing landlords in East London to be extra vigilant and take tough action against tenancy cheats trying to make a fast-buck out of sub-letting their homes.  His call came ahead of the Second Reading of a Government-backed Private Members Bill  aimed at tackling the multi-billion pound tenancy fraud scam. Measures include making the sub-letting of social homes a criminal offence for the first time, and forcing profits made from unlawful sub-letting to be paid back to the landlord. A summary of responses to the consultation and the proposed next steps are also being published .  In the meantime, the Minister is calling on all social housing landlords to use their existing powers to their full extent including eviction.  Read more on the CLG website.

Shapps' Olympic Evictions Jail Warning

The housing minister warns landlords who evict tenants near the Olympics site in east London to make money from the games this summer could face two years in jail.  Grant Shapps says the move is "absolutely illegal", adding that existing laws would be used against them.  The housing charity Shelter says it has seen more evidence of landlords acting unscrupulously and evicting people illegally.  One estate agent said properties typically rented for £350 per week were being marketed for £6,000 per week.  Shelter fears the problem will get worse as the Games approach.  Read more on the BBC website.