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Propertymark is lobbying Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to suggest that letting agents have a vital role to play in the extension of Awaab’s Law to the private rental sector.
The law was introduced in July 2023 as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act and is named after Awaab Ishak, a two year old child who lived in a one-bedroom flat in Rochdale and died as a result of prolonged exposure to black mould. The law was passed following a petition by Awaab’s parents, the Manchester Evening News and Shelter.
Awaab’s Law currently requires social housing landlords to follow strict timescales to inspect and repair hazards, including damp and mould. The last Conservative government wanted this to be extended to the private rental sector too, but failed to legislate: now Labour says it will do so.
Now Propertymark says, in a statement on its website: “Propertymark is in contact with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner MP, to clarify plans to extend Awaab’s Law to the private rented sector (PRS) and to promote the value that agents have in ensuring consumers are protected, driving up standards, and stamping out bad practice.
“We support greater regulation of the PRS and the wider housing sector and believe that consumers should receive a professional service from a qualified property agent, whether buying or selling a home or property or renting. Mandatory qualifications should sit alongside a statutory code of practice, registration and licence to operate.”
In late 2022 Propertymark released a factsheet for agents on the issue, saying tenants and landlords also needed to contribute to preventative measures to reduce the impact of damp and mould.
In spring this year Polly Neate, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said every landlord should have clear timelines for dealing with disrepair and tough action should be taken where they fall short.
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Any excuse to bang their ludicrous drum about regulation. Propertymark really are just so see through.
Oh, look at Propertymark, riding in on their white horse, waving the banner of regulation. "Hey, Deputy PM, check us out! We're the saints of the industry, just give us what we want so we can really stick it to the very agents who keep us in business." What heroes.
Propertymark determined to build an empire.😡
Propertymark no longer fit for purpose, ....Change the culture ! Regulation Regulation...Regulation...More expensive courses to fill thier pockets and stress out the good agents....There will alays be bad practice in all walks of life including MPs ....Wish Propertymark will stop making me not wanting to renew my membership..... I joined to give me some credibility however, i do not agree with thier constant regulation bashing !
Propertymark are to agents what NRLA are to landlords.
Propertymark - Additional regulation is going to fail its a parachute that’s made of netting, eventually everything will crash to the ground and the Government will have to pick up the homeless at great cost,
Regarding mould this can be caused by life style issues (tenants), or even failed cavity wall insulation (Government backed and promoted).
So this is to be yet another landlord issues, to verify the cause of professionally and resolve in a set time scale?
It took 5 years to resolve our failed cavity wall insulation with British Gas.
If we had touched the property insulation in anyway the warranty was void and the court case lost.
So other than state the blinking obvious, what would PropertyMark do in this scenario?
Pull the insulation out and then fail on the EPC.
It’s an absolute minefield and once again it’s the landlord who no doubt will face large fines irrespective of the cause.
Skidmark more like
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