Tag: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-02-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the oral statement by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 19 November 2014 (HL Deb, col 505), whether they will confirm the terms of reference for their review of unsafe product recall, and name the chair of the review and the date by which it will report.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

I expect the review of consumer product recalls to be launched in early March 2015, The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) will make public the Terms of Reference, the name of the Chair and the timescale for the Review at that time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2014-05-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they offer to local authorities on the outline and content of local letting agent and landlord accreditation schemes.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston

Information on how many local authorities operate letting agent or landlord accreditation schemes is not centrally held. The decision on whether to establish letting agent or landlord accreditation schemes is best made by local authorities who can take account of local conditions and circumstances. The Department does not therefore produce any guidance on such schemes.

We are improving standards in the sector. Later this year, we will bring regulations into force that will require the remaining 3,000 letting and property management agents to join one of the 3 approved redress schemes, thereby improving protection for both tenants and landlords. In addition, we have made over £4 million available to 23 local authorities to help them tackle acute and complex problems with rogue landlords in their area. This builds on the £2.6 million we have given nine local authorities to support enforcement against “Beds in Sheds”.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2014-05-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish copies of any guidance that they provide to local authorities on local accreditation schemes for letting agents and landlords.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston

Information on how many local authorities operate letting agent or landlord accreditation schemes is not centrally held. The decision on whether to establish letting agent or landlord accreditation schemes is best made by local authorities who can take account of local conditions and circumstances. The Department does not therefore produce any guidance on such schemes.

We are improving standards in the sector. Later this year, we will bring regulations into force that will require the remaining 3,000 letting and property management agents to join one of the 3 approved redress schemes, thereby improving protection for both tenants and landlords. In addition, we have made over £4 million available to 23 local authorities to help them tackle acute and complex problems with rogue landlords in their area. This builds on the £2.6 million we have given nine local authorities to support enforcement against “Beds in Sheds”.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2014-05-07.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many local authorities operate either letting agent or landlord accreditation schemes.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston

Information on how many local authorities operate letting agent or landlord accreditation schemes is not centrally held. The decision on whether to establish letting agent or landlord accreditation schemes is best made by local authorities who can take account of local conditions and circumstances. The Department does not therefore produce any guidance on such schemes.

We are improving standards in the sector. Later this year, we will bring regulations into force that will require the remaining 3,000 letting and property management agents to join one of the 3 approved redress schemes, thereby improving protection for both tenants and landlords. In addition, we have made over £4 million available to 23 local authorities to help them tackle acute and complex problems with rogue landlords in their area. This builds on the £2.6 million we have given nine local authorities to support enforcement against “Beds in Sheds”.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2014-06-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many estate agents were subject to (1) a warning notice, and (2) a prohibition order, for each year since 1984 under the Estate Agents Act 1979.

Viscount Younger of Leckie

Until 31 March 2014, the Office of Fair Trading was responsible for enforcing the Estate Agency Act 1979. Since then, its functions have been transferred to Powys County Council, under the National Trading Standards Board Umbrella.

Data from the archived register for prohibition orders and warning notices in relation to the OFT and its predecessors was:

Year	Prohibition Orders	Warning Notices		Year	Prohibition Orders	Warning Notices
2014	7	4		2007	13	2
2013	3	7		2006	2	4
2012	10	0		2005	6	5
2011	0	0		2004	1	6
2010	1	4		2003	3	0
2009	9	5		2002	2	0
2008	8	4		2001	0	0
Year	Prohibition Order	Warning Notice		Year	Prohibition Order	Warning Notice
2000	2	1		1991	8	1
1999	2	0		1990	2	2
1998	0	0		1989	1	0
1997	0	0		1988	6	2
1996	2	0		1987	3	0
1995	3	0		1986	12	2
1994	5	0		1985	5	2
1993	7	0		1984	0	0
1992	5	0

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2014-06-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many estate agents since 1 April 2014 (1) have been, or (2) are being, considered for (a) a warning notice, and (b) a prohibition order, under the Estate Agents Act 1979 by the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team.

Viscount Younger of Leckie

An order under the Estate Agents Act 1979 may be issued against both estate agents and individuals or businesses who are not currently involved in estate agency work. For example an order can be issued against someone who has formerly been an estate agent, or who has worked closely with an estate agent.

Since the 1st April 2014:

· Three individual orders (two prohibition and one warning) have taken effect. These orders were issued by the Office of Fair Trading but implemented by the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team.

· Four individual orders and one against a business – all prohibitions – are currently subject to appeals.

· Fifteen new cases are currently being processed by the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team. ‘Notices of proposal to prohibit’ have been issued for six of these cases and are awaiting representations from the individuals and businesses concerned. Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

· Additionally, the National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team currently has fifteen cases on its books which are awaiting prosecution outcome or further investigation by local Trading Standards teams and which may lead to notices being issued at a later date.