A post from The Landlord Law Blog:

This post was kindly provided by Tim and Katherine at the Property Redress Scheme and gives an update on what they are up to.  Or maybe I should say ‘we’ as I am on the PRS Council.  Although note that I have no involvement in the boxing event and dislike boxing.

The Property Redress Scheme (PRS) return as supporters of the Landlord Law Conference after attending in Cardiff in 2015. The PRS is a consumer redress scheme for lettings and property management agents and estate agents. Here are some initiatives the PRS have been involved with recently:

The PRS supports the Crisis Renting Ready Project

The PRS are supporting the Crisis Renting Ready Project with a £5,000 donation to the scheme as the charity aligns with the company’s overarching values of educating and improving industry standards.

Crisis is the national charity for homeless people offering free classes, services and support. The Crisis Renting Ready Project is a course that helps to prepare people that were previously homeless for renting a home. The accredited course includes finding available housing options, tenants’ rights and responsibilities and how to manage their money.

Sean Hooker, Head of Redress for the Property Redress Scheme said

“The Renting Ready programme is a fantastic project which prepares people who find themselves in a vulnerable situation to face private renting with confidence and security, as well as teaching them how to be good tenants.

Agents who offer tenants, who have been through the course, to their landlords, will be proud to do so as they will be reliable, respectful and prepared for their responsibilities and obligations.

We at the PRS promote raising standards in the sector on all levels, agents, landlord and tenants. What Crisis are doing is part of the “golden triangle” relationship which benefits all and will lead to a safe and high quality rental sector.”

The PRS was launched in 2014 to allow Letting and Estate Agents to comply with their legal requirement to be a member of a government authorised consumer redress scheme for dealing with complaints from landlords and tenants.

The PRS are proactive in helping members resolve complaints with their consumers, and backing the Crisis Renting Ready Project which helps to prevent disputes from ensuing, is extending the PRS’s efforts to improve rental sector standards.

PRS announces sponsorship of North East student housing awards initiative

The Property Redress Scheme (PRS) is delighted to announce that it is sponsoring this year’s North East Student Housing Awards (NESHA). The awards, now in their second year, highlight exceptional service amongst student landlords, letting agents and hall companies in the North East. The awards gala and dinner takes place on Thursday 2 June at the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Sean Hooker, Head of Redress at the PRS says:

“NESHA are doing fantastic work promoting high standards in the industry and we are proud to be sponsoring the awards this year. We look forward to going up to Newcastle and meeting the local professionals. We would like to wish all nominees good luck on the day.”

Sean will also be attending the event. Categories include North East Letting Agent of the Year, North East Property Manager of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Representatives from the PRS will be back in the region 12 days later at a an event for Agents held by the Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Council at the Holiday Inn in Seaton Burn on 14 June from 12noon.

Involvement with Rent Smart Wales

Rent Smart Wales is a newly created service within Cardiff Council. The Welsh Ministers designated Cardiff Council as the Licensing Authority for the whole of Wales in 2015. The designation can be read on the legislation website

In its role as Licensing Authority under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, the Rent Smart Wales service must process landlord registrations and grant licences to landlords and agents who are required to comply with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.

The reason the Welsh Government chose one Council to act as administrator for the whole of Wales is to make the service easier for landlords, agents and tenants to access. The central register means that landlords only have to complete one registration and if they self- manage only apply for one licence to cover them for the whole country. The same applies to agents, who need only apply for one licence.

The Licensing Authority will work with Local Authorities to carry out their functions under the Act. And in some cases the local authority will lead enforcement action against those landlords and agents not complying with their legal obligations on behalf of the Licensing Authority.

In order to offer a complete service for the private rented sector in Wales, Rent Smart Wales also has information available to assist tenants living in, or looking at living in, the private rented sector. This includes a Tenant Guide, we can be found on the Resource Page.

Letting Agents operating in Wales are required to register with Rent Smart Wales. Part of their membership criteria is that they have purchased professional indemnity insurance, are a member of a consumer redress scheme and are able to offer their landlords and tenants client money protection.

Property Redress Scheme staff member rumbles with the Agents

A Property Redress Scheme (PRS) member of staff has joined Landlord Action founder, Paul Shamplina’s ‘Rumble with the Agents’ white collar boxing event. Property professionals from all over the industry will be taking it out in the ring in aid of charity.

PRS Membership Officer Adam Wallace has volunteered to be one of the contestants in the ring in aid of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice. Adam has recently been to his first training session at the renowned Peacock Gym in East London and has hugely enjoyed the experience.

He said:

“I’m a complete novice in boxing, but the coaching that Paul Shamplina and his team provide is really great and I can’t wait for the event in May. The whole PRS team are really excited that I’m competing this year and I hope to raise awareness of the good work the people at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice are doing. Let’s just hope I don’t get knocked out in the first round.”

Paul Shamplina, known to many for his appearances in the Channel 5 “Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords” series and founder of Landlord Action, is a keen boxing enthusiast himself and set up the event as he saw parallels between the competitive world of the property industry and boxing.

Paul Shamplina is also a member of the Advisory Council of the PRS. He said:

“The PRS do important work in making sure estate and letting agents comply with their legal duty to be a member of a redress scheme and I’m happy to contribute to that work by sitting on the Advisory Council. I’m absolutely delighted Adam has volunteered for this year’s Rumble. It’s such a great night and I’m sure he’ll love it.”

The event takes place on Thursday 26 May at The Holiday Inn, 58 Regents Park Road, London, N3 3JN. If you would like to sponsor Adam, please go here  to donate.

For a special 15% discount on a PRS membership, please quote LLL15%.

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