The LandlordZONE Journal – “LandlordLOG� - October 2005

===========================================================
The LandlordZONE Journal – “LandlordLOG�

October 2005 – Issue 002
===========================================================

The UK Housing Act 2004 involves some of the biggest changes for landlords for many years. Licensing of landlords will bring the UK letting market to a new level of regulation and will particularly affect HMO and student landlords.

For the latest news on the roll-out of the legislation see this ODPM Press release.

This issue is wholly sponsored by www.Coverlet.co.uk – one of the leading providers of insurance for the rental property market.

This issue addresses the issue of licensing. Subsequent issues will look in more detail at some of the other aspects of the Housing Act 2004.

Current content includes:

Licensing—The Housing Act 2004
Welcome—the Editor
HMO Licensing—how will the process work?
What about existing registration schemes?
What information will I have to give?
Book Review—Housing Rights Guide 2005-6 from SHELTER
Insurance from www.CoverLet.co.uk
===========================================================
Download LandlordLOG as a web page, or in Adobe .pdf format:

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/BlogNews/newsletterOct05.htm or

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/BlogNews/LandlordLOGOct05.pdf

The links to the journal are also posted at:

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/BlogNews/newsletter-archive.htm and

www.LandlordLOG.com
===========================================================
Whether we like it or not we are living in an age of increasing bureaucracy —more and more red tape, which governments keep promising to reduce, but invariably it keeps growing.

The Housing Act 2004 is no exception and some would argue a big step in the direction of “big brother� style regulation. Traditionally, the UK has been a country of free and open trade with minimal regulation and unlike Europe, and even the USA, has avoided the need for licensing, e.g. motor mechanics, builders, estate agents etc.

This looks like a big break in this tradition and has ominous signs for the future when landlords deemed to be unsuitable can be prevented from trading. Perhaps that’s a good thing? But it will inevitably add to costs.

Tom Entwistle, Editor
===========================================================
Why not forward this e-mail to a friend and if you think they will benefit from this service register at:

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/site-zone/register.htm