Persimmon Launches Retention Scheme For Home Buyers

Persimmon is launching a ‘retention’ scheme for home buyers to protect them from construction problems. The scheme will see 1.5% of a home’s value withheld by the buyer’s solicitor until any build faults are resolved. The average amount withheld based on current selling prices will be around £3,600 per home. Persimmon lawyers are now drawing-up details of the new standard contract which is expected to be in place by the end of June. Read more on the Construction Enquirer website.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2019/03/21/persimmon-launches-retention-scheme-for-home-buyers/

Renters In PRS Denied Protection From Revenge Evictions

Just one in every 20 private renters who complains to the council about poor conditions in their home gets protection from a revenge eviction, according to Generation Rent analysis. Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act finds that councils in England are “failing” to use their powers to protect tenants. Reports reveal that even when a severe hazard – such as mould or broken stairs – is found in a rented home, tenants only get protection from eviction in one in every five cases. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/renters-in-private-sector-denied-protection-from-revenge-evictions/

Government Opens Up New Scheme To ‘Protect Renters And Landlords’

Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP has brought forward new legislation to strengthen protections for money held by property agents. Under the new regulations taking effect from 1 April, all property agents in the private rented sector will be required to join a government-approved scheme to protect their clients’ money while it is in their possession – with fines of up to £30,000 if they fail to do so. In 2017, an estimated £2.7 bn in client funds – such as tenants’ deposits and landlords’ rental payments – was being held by letting agents. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/government-opens-up-new-scheme-to-protect-renters-and-landlords/

Call For New Rules To Safeguard Owners Of New Builds Against Defects

People buying new-build homes should be able to hold back 5% of the purchase price until the house builder has fixed any problems or defects with the property, says a new report. Think tank, the Social Market Foundation, believes that new rules are needed to fix a broken and uncompetitive market for new build housing where builders can prioritise profits over customers and leaves buyers increasingly unhappy about quality and services. The report says that some house builders have a ‘culture’ of neglecting customers’ interests, and is calling on the Government to do more to boost consumer power and back new entrants to the market. Read more on the Propertywire website.

https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/call-for-new-rules-to-be-introduce-to-safeguard-owners-of-new-builds-against-defects/

Special Administration Regime For English Housing Associations Comes Into Force

A new special administration regime which allows the Regulator for Social Housing (RSH) to deal with insolvent housing associations has come into force. The regime, which gives the regulator powers to appoint administrators, has received the necessary approvals from parliament to come into force. It sets up a bespoke system of administration – recommended in the aftermath of the Cosmopolitan saga – which will provide greater powers to protect tenants if an association goes bankrupt. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/special-administration-regime-for-english-housing-associations-comes-into-force-57065?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

LHA Cap In General Needs Accommodation

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) limits for tenants in general needs homes will apply in 2019 rather than 2018 as previously announced by the Government.  The announcement sets out a cut in benefit for people in receipt of Universal Credit: for these people LHA rates will apply to all new and existing tenants where their social rent is higher than the relevant LHA rate. This will include the Shared Accommodation Rate for single childless people under 35. People moved by the DWP from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit after April 2019 whose overall benefit entitlement is lower will be protected, in cash terms, under transitional protection arrangements. On reaching state pension age Universal Credit claimants flowing back on to Housing Benefit with tenancies signed before April 2016 will also continue not to be subject to LHA limits.  Read more on the NHF website.

Council Calls On Ministers To Protect Renters

A London council is delivering a petition to government ministers in a bid to protect private renters. The petition, from Hackney Council is backed by hundreds of residents and calls for longer tenancies, a national register of rogue landlords and transparent letting fees. The authority’s ten-point plan, which calls on the government to reform outdated legislation regulating the sector, was handed to the new minister for housing and planning, Gavin Barwell MP. Research from Shelter shows more than a third of privately-let properties don’t meet the Decent Homes standard, while rents in the capital have risen by 19% since 2011 – causing one in three private renters in London to fall into debt just to meet monthly housing costs. Read more on 24dash.