Nigel Lewis

3 weeks ago | thenegotiator.co.uk | Nigel Lewis

Thousands of estate agencies sell newbuilds every year on behalf of builders, but a new housing development in Dorset brings a new meaning to the phrase ‘liquid development’. Silverlake, a lakeside community outside Dorchester, includes a new neighbourset set aside for floating holiday homes starting from £220,000 with four designs available and three sizes. Once all the plots/moorings have gone it will be the UK’s first floating ‘housing development’ its developer says.

3 weeks ago | landlordzone.co.uk | Nigel Lewis

All bets are off on whether the Renters’ Rights Bill becomes law before the parliamentary summer recess, according to industry experts. The bill is set for the report stage and third reading in the Lords before returning to the Commons, and although there is still time before 22nd July, NRLA boss Ben Beadle reckons this depends on other matters that government have to prioritise. Also, the Bill isn’t included in the Lords’ business for June.

3 weeks ago | landlordzone.co.uk | Nigel Lewis

Landlords could be fined if they don’t engage with local councils who target their premises for a high street rental auction. The new initiative means councils can step in to auction off leases on premises that have been vacant for more than a year and grant local businesses and community groups the ‘right to rent’ empty commercial lots at market prices.

3 weeks ago | landlordzone.co.uk | Nigel Lewis

Brighton & Hove Council could push for an earlier crackdown on short lets rented via platorms such as Airbnb in the city rather than waiting for government restrictions. The authority’s Short Term Lets Task & Finish Group believes that in the absence of regulation, it should try to influence the government’s thinking while national plans are still in development. It recommends that councillors lobby government on issues including licensing and registration schemes.

3 weeks ago | thenegotiator.co.uk | Nigel Lewis

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is ‘considering its options’ on whether new material information guidance for either sales or lettings agents will be issued. The existing guidance, which was launched to some fanfare 18 months ago by the estate agency arm of Trading Standards, was withdrawn after the legislation that underpinned it, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 was replaced by the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024.