Painsmith phones back!
We are pleased to announce that our phones are working again. Please call the usual number 01420 565310 and press 1 for helpline, or 2 to speak to reception as usual. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Painsmith Blog
PainSmith Phones down
Unfortunately our phones are down this morning ( 11 March 2016). Helpline subscribers are asked to phone the following numbers: 07989 597936 07833 488701 or alternatively email us at: Alexandra@painsmith.co.uk Richard@painsmith.co.uk We apologise for the inconvenience. We are working hard to get this fixed.
New How to Rent: the Checklist
Just a reminder to all our readers that as of today the How to Rent: checklist for renting in England has again been updated. Make sure you are giving the most up to date version!
Right to Rent Checks
The 1st February 2016 is nearly upon us. The requirement to undertake “right to rent” checks becomes mandatory throughout England for all tenancies starting on or after this date. For those in the West Midlands pilot zone apologies, you will all be very familiar with the processes and what is required. For everyone else this …
Telephones
We are today experiencing some issues with our telephone lines where if people call in we cannot hear them. If you experience this please do email instructions@painsmith.co.uk and we will come back to you. Apologies, our engineers are working hard to correct the problem.
PainSmith Seminar
Our next Seminar will take place on Thursday 21st January 2016 at The Holiday Inn, Peartree Roundabout, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 8JD. The Seminar is slanted specifically towards relocation companies. The event will start with registration and lunch from 1pm and run from 2pm to 5pm with networking drinks until 7pm. Topics to be covered …
Appointment of a manager to leasehold blocks
Over the past couple of years we have acted and advised on a number of occasions with regards to appointment of a manager. For owners of leasehold properties, particularly Buy to Let investors, one of the biggest bugbears can be poor or none existent management. Some freeholders or their supposed managers seem to take little …
Christmas Seminar 17th December 2015
PainSmith are holding a Christmas Seminar on Thursday 17th December 2015 at the Slone Club, 52 Lower Slone Street SW1W 8BS. There will be a morning and evening seminar with topics being covered including Immigration Act and the right to rent, the Deregulation Act and legal updates. Some places are still available and there is …
Section 21 Prescribed Form 6A
Dear All, Just to remind all Helpline Subcribers that we have uploaded today the most up to date version of the Prescribed Form. If you have downloaded a version prior to todays date, 7th October 2015, please discard and download the most up to date version to make sure it is the current prescribed form. …
Deregulation Act and Retaliatory Evictions
No doubt everyone who reads this blog is getting sick of the whole sea change of regulations due to come into force on 1st October. It seems no time at all since March and the passing of the Deregulation Act 2015 when we all breathed a sigh of relief over deposits. One part seems to …
Section 21 Prescribed Form amended already!
As many of you will have read there was concern as to errors in the first draft version of the prescribed Section 21 Notice issued by Government. As a result amendments have been rushed through for a New Section 21 The changes are modest but this is now the prescribed form which you should be …
New Prescribed Section 21 Notice is published
Hot on the heels of the smoke alarm debacle new regulations have been published prescribing the form for a section 21 Notice which must be used from 1st October 2015. (The Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015. As the name suggests these only apply to England. We think the idea of …
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Recent Developments
We recently blogged on the proposed changes to a landlord’s safety requirements to provide smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors (see here ). On Friday, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published some guidance as to the implications for landlords. A full copy of the DCLG guidance can be found here However last …
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Recent Developments Read More »
New Terms of Business
PainSmith Solicitors has updated its lettings terms of business to incorporate recent changes in legislation. The new version is available to purchase now from our online shop for £200 plus VAT.
Deregulation Act – Grace Period Expires on 23 June 2015
Just a quick reminder that, as explained in our blog on the Deregulation Act (here), if landlords or agents have any “Superstrike deposits” (i.e. those that were received before 06 April 2007 where the tenancy has been renewed or fell into a statutory period tenancy after that date) that have not already been protected in …
Deregulation Act – Grace Period Expires on 23 June 2015 Read More »
Legionnaire’s disease and the HSE
We are aware that certain companies have been contacting landlords and agents in an effort to sell their services to carry out risk assessments for legionella bacteria in rental properties. These tests are often expensive and in most situations are completely unnecessary as is recognised by the Health and Safety Executive in its mythbusters section …
