The Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber refused permission to appeal in a case concerning the First-tier Tribunal’s jurisdiction under section 166 of the Data Protection Act 2018. The ruling reviews existing case law and confirms the limited scope of the FTT’s powers in this area.
BBC Panorama has reported alleged misuse and poor standards within the Supported Exempt Accommodation sector, focusing on managing agents in Birmingham. The report says some providers may be claiming housing benefit for non-existent or non-resident tenants, while regulatory reforms passed in 2023 have yet to take practical effect.
East Sussex Fire Authority has prosecuted a managing agent and his company after they allegedly failed to respond to fire safety correspondence and did not provide required information. The case followed a fire in Hastings where residents were trapped and fire officers later identified multiple fire safety deficiencies at the property.
An estate agency director and his company were fined after failing to provide information to fire safety inspectors following a fire at a managed property in Hastings. The case arose from an investigation that also identified fire safety shortcomings at the building, including issues with detectors, self-closing doors and resident fire information.
A survey reported by August suggests that most landlords are unaware of the forthcoming landlord register and ombudsman linked to the Renters’ Rights Act. Awareness of other tenancy reforms is higher, but the article highlights a significant communication gap ahead of the planned rollout from December.
A survey of 276 landlords suggests awareness of the Renters Rights Act is relatively high in broad terms, but knowledge of the new private rented sector database and landlord ombudsman is much lower. The article argues that this gap in understanding could leave landlords exposed to penalties once registration becomes mandatory in England.
A survey by property management platform August suggests significant confusion among landlords about Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, including when the rules apply and what compliance will involve. The research found low awareness of start dates across income bands and widespread expectations that quarterly reporting will add substantial administrative time.
An industry survey by Thirdfort suggests that compliance spending in estate agencies and property firms is set to rise, driven largely by increasing anti-money laundering (AML) demands. Most respondents expect higher AML budgets and larger compliance teams over the next year, while many report that compliance workloads have intensified significantly in the past 12 months.
The article argues that, despite uncertainty ahead of the Budget, buyers and sellers can reduce transaction delays by preparing early. It highlights the importance of organising financial evidence for AML checks, reviewing title documents in advance, and starting leasehold information requests early to keep conveyancing moving.
An estate agency owner has been fined after a fire incident left people trapped in a building. The article states that the total fines amount to around £25,000.
The Environment Agency has updated its guidance on how it responds to planning consultations where proposed development also requires environmental permitting or other consenting regimes. The update clarifies the Agency’s approach, including the positions it may take in response, pre-application services, and how it considers Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
The article argues that blockchain and smart contracts could improve traceability, accountability and record-keeping in construction, particularly for safety-critical materials and compliance data. It links this to the post-Grenfell push for better information management, including the golden thread requirements introduced in England in October 2023.
