Westminster council has won a breakthrough case against unlawful council tenant subletting following a sentencing hearing in Westminster Magistrates Court today. The council has been awarded £7,100 in legal costs for the case. It is estimated that 160,000 tenants unlawfully sub-let their homes at a cost of £5bn a year to the taxpayer.
Mr Herminio Nascimento a former Council tenant has been sentenced to 16 weeks in prison for subletting a council house property whilst living with his partner in a property they jointly own in Crawley, Sussex.
Cllr Lindsay Hall, Chairman of Westminster Council’s Housing Benefit Fraud Group, said: “Currently, Westminster has over 1,000 families waiting to be moved to a larger property and meanwhile a minority of tenants think they can get away with earning a fast buck by renting out much needed homes.This is just a small victory for the council but much more needs to be done to allow local authorities to take action against what should be a criminal offence.”
Speaking at the sentencing today, District Judge Snow said; “Council housing in the UK is under great pressure and this is particularly true for housing in central London. It is important that councils, Westminster in particular, can allocate property where most needed.
Westminster is calling upon the Government to incentivise and not penalise local authorities for tackling the issue by granting them greater powers to prevent ongoing exploitation of the system.
Central London Letting News
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Monday, 19 March 2012
Rental Prices Higher than Mortgage Repayments in 84% of Cities
A new study from property website Zoopla.co.uk says that the cost of buying a home rather than renting one is cheaper in 84 per cent of towns and cities in the UK. However, this represents a fall from three months ago when it was cheaper to buy in 47 of the top 50 towns.In London, the cost of buying a property far exceeds anywhere else in the UK, but it still beats the cost of renting by an average of 29.6 per cent.
The average rent in Britain is £1,470 per month, while the average house price stands at £255,037. The site says that a shortage of suitable mortgage products plus the challenge first time buyers face when it comes to raising a deposit has led to a swelling in the private rental market and as a result rents are now costing 16 per cent more on average than buying.
Swansea, Oldham and Cambridge are the three area where it is still cheaper to rent a home rather than buy one. At the opposite end of the scale, Milton Keynes is where it makes the most sense to buy because rental prices are 38.8 per cent greater than the cost of paying a mortgage agreement.
UK Property Rental News
The average rent in Britain is £1,470 per month, while the average house price stands at £255,037. The site says that a shortage of suitable mortgage products plus the challenge first time buyers face when it comes to raising a deposit has led to a swelling in the private rental market and as a result rents are now costing 16 per cent more on average than buying.
Swansea, Oldham and Cambridge are the three area where it is still cheaper to rent a home rather than buy one. At the opposite end of the scale, Milton Keynes is where it makes the most sense to buy because rental prices are 38.8 per cent greater than the cost of paying a mortgage agreement.
UK Property Rental News
Monday, 27 February 2012
London Routemaster Back In Service This Morning
The Routemaster bus is back on the streets of London this morning, for it's first regular service in over six years.The launch of the new bus, which will run between Victoria Station in central London and Hackney in the east, was delayed for a week by paperwork.
Mayor Boris Johnson has been criticised by the Labour, the Lib Dems and Green Party over the cost of the buses. Mr Johnson defended the new bus, saying: "When ordered in greater numbers it will make a significant economic contribution to the manufacturing industries, while also helping deliver a cleaner, greener and more pleasant city.The green innards of this red bus mean that it is twice as fuel efficient as a diesel bus and the most environment-friendly of its kind."
TfL's surface transport director Leon Daniels said: "This vehicle really has set a new standard.It utilises the latest cutting edge engine technology to deliver phenomenal fuel economy and emission performance."
The last of the popular, open-platform Routemasters was withdrawn from regular service in December 2005, although some still run on tourist routes.
Mayor Boris Johnson has been criticised by the Labour, the Lib Dems and Green Party over the cost of the buses. Mr Johnson defended the new bus, saying: "When ordered in greater numbers it will make a significant economic contribution to the manufacturing industries, while also helping deliver a cleaner, greener and more pleasant city.The green innards of this red bus mean that it is twice as fuel efficient as a diesel bus and the most environment-friendly of its kind."
TfL's surface transport director Leon Daniels said: "This vehicle really has set a new standard.It utilises the latest cutting edge engine technology to deliver phenomenal fuel economy and emission performance."
The last of the popular, open-platform Routemasters was withdrawn from regular service in December 2005, although some still run on tourist routes.
Friday, 17 February 2012
Landlord Insurance Services Warn Of Rise in Fraudulent Tenant References
Let Insurance Services is warning that applicants fill out tenancy application forms fraudulently as they move from property to property, with no intention of keeping up with the rent. It is not unknown for this to happen within the same small town.
Fraudulent tenants often give false information on where they have been living previously to throw referencing companies and letting agents off the trail. They are very difficult to evict as they seem to know their way round the legal system.
Michael Portman, Managing Director of Let Insurance Services explained more: “Tenant fraud is a growing problem for agents and landlords alike. And there is no sign of it easing in 2012, so it is essential that agents have a checklist for new tenants that includes obtaining ID documents and proof of current residency at an early stage of the tenancy application. Agents need to be alert for anything unusual that could increase the risk for the landlord.”
Parmount Properties offer complete in-house letting and property management services. We have extensive knowledge of the London rental property market and work with a wide range of external contacts to find suitable tenants for our landlords properties, applying for references, preparing tenancy agreements and collection of rent.
London Lettings News
Fraudulent tenants often give false information on where they have been living previously to throw referencing companies and letting agents off the trail. They are very difficult to evict as they seem to know their way round the legal system.
Michael Portman, Managing Director of Let Insurance Services explained more: “Tenant fraud is a growing problem for agents and landlords alike. And there is no sign of it easing in 2012, so it is essential that agents have a checklist for new tenants that includes obtaining ID documents and proof of current residency at an early stage of the tenancy application. Agents need to be alert for anything unusual that could increase the risk for the landlord.”
Parmount Properties offer complete in-house letting and property management services. We have extensive knowledge of the London rental property market and work with a wide range of external contacts to find suitable tenants for our landlords properties, applying for references, preparing tenancy agreements and collection of rent.
London Lettings News
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Property Repossessions Likely to Rise in 2012
This year is likely to see a rise in the number of people having their homes repossessed.
According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), continued economic uncertainty is resulting in more and more people falling behind with their mortgage repayments and the end result will be a increase in the number of those forced out of their properties.
Bernard Clarke, communications manager at the CML, said: "An increase in the number of people falling into arrears is likely to also result in an increase in the number of cases of possession.
“We have forecast an increase in the number of mortgages that will be in arrears of 2.5 per cent or more of the outstanding balance at the end of the year, to be 180,000 as opposed to 166,000 at the end of 2011.”
However, he pointed out the issue is not likely to reach anywhere near the level that it did during the recession of the early 1990s.
Despite this, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) said recently that that this year will see the housing market gradually recover to transaction levels seen prior to the credit crunch.
Property Repossession News
According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), continued economic uncertainty is resulting in more and more people falling behind with their mortgage repayments and the end result will be a increase in the number of those forced out of their properties.
Bernard Clarke, communications manager at the CML, said: "An increase in the number of people falling into arrears is likely to also result in an increase in the number of cases of possession.
“We have forecast an increase in the number of mortgages that will be in arrears of 2.5 per cent or more of the outstanding balance at the end of the year, to be 180,000 as opposed to 166,000 at the end of 2011.”
However, he pointed out the issue is not likely to reach anywhere near the level that it did during the recession of the early 1990s.
Despite this, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) said recently that that this year will see the housing market gradually recover to transaction levels seen prior to the credit crunch.
Property Repossession News
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Get Britain Building will Create 16,000 New Properties
Housing minister Grant Shapps has estimated that the government's £420 million Get Britain Building Fund will create as many as 16,000 new properties on sites which have previously stalled due to economic circumstances.
Furthermore, he believes it will also see the creation of around 30,000 new jobs.
The scheme enables developers to either apply for a loan at commercial rates or they can take an equity release, whereby the government makes an investment alongside the building company.
Mr Shapps was keen to stress the scheme is not merely a government gimmick to create the illusion that they are doing something to help the plight of both first-time buyers and the building trade.
"This is not a simple handout - the taxpayer will get a return on their investment, with the homes the country needs built and 30,000 jobs created," he said.
Plans for the scheme were originally set out by the prime minister David Cameron in mid-November.
London Property News
Furthermore, he believes it will also see the creation of around 30,000 new jobs.
The scheme enables developers to either apply for a loan at commercial rates or they can take an equity release, whereby the government makes an investment alongside the building company.
Mr Shapps was keen to stress the scheme is not merely a government gimmick to create the illusion that they are doing something to help the plight of both first-time buyers and the building trade.
"This is not a simple handout - the taxpayer will get a return on their investment, with the homes the country needs built and 30,000 jobs created," he said.
Plans for the scheme were originally set out by the prime minister David Cameron in mid-November.
London Property News
Friday, 16 December 2011
Westminster Council's parking consultation 'contempt'
Westminster Council spent £400,000 preparing to charge drivers for weekend parking before consultations were complete, BBC London has learned.
The authority has faced protests over plans to charge for West End parking during weekends and evenings.
It has now emerged the six-figure sum was spent on signage despite residents' opinions still being sought.
Labour said residents had been treated with "contempt", but the Conservatives said the costs would be recouped.
Critics say the outlay on signage shows the consultation was meaningless in the first place and the council had already made up its mind to bring in the new charges.
'Total contempt'
It comes after a High Court judge allowed a Judicial Review into the scheme, saying it was possible the council's consultation period had been too limited.
The leader of Labour in Westminster, Paul Dimoldenberg, said: "Westminster's consultation has been shambolic and no wonder the High Court was so scathing of the council's efforts.
"The council has treated residents and businesses with total contempt with £300,000 having being spent on new parking signs even before the consultation period was over."
The authority has faced protests over plans to charge for West End parking during weekends and evenings.
It has now emerged the six-figure sum was spent on signage despite residents' opinions still being sought.
Labour said residents had been treated with "contempt", but the Conservatives said the costs would be recouped.
Critics say the outlay on signage shows the consultation was meaningless in the first place and the council had already made up its mind to bring in the new charges.
'Total contempt'
It comes after a High Court judge allowed a Judicial Review into the scheme, saying it was possible the council's consultation period had been too limited.
The leader of Labour in Westminster, Paul Dimoldenberg, said: "Westminster's consultation has been shambolic and no wonder the High Court was so scathing of the council's efforts.
"The council has treated residents and businesses with total contempt with £300,000 having being spent on new parking signs even before the consultation period was over."
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