There has been a stream of consultations, many from government, in the last few years about leasehold or which impact on leaseholders. The FPRA is often invited to attend meetings and working groups associated with the consultations. Members are also encouraged to respond.
[level-member] The Financial Report Council have created an Abstract draft for Residential Management Companies’ Financial Statements The full draft can be viewed here and the FPRA response to the invitation for comments can be viewed here [/level-member]
[level-member] The Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the general principles of the Housing (Wales) Bill. Further details about the Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum can be found on the Assembly’s website and the consultation letter is available here [/level-member]
[level-member] Consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government on its proposal to include government directed repairs/works in the Mandatory Directions. Click here to view the consultation outcome. Consultation period: 7.10.2013 to 18.11.2013 [/level-member]
[level-member] Consultation from the Ministry of Justice, which will impact on fees charged by the LVT. Read the overview here. Consultation period 18 April – 16 May 2013. [/level-member]
[level-member] The Association of Retirement Home Managers is consulting on revising its Code of Practice You can view the press release here and see the FPRA submission here. The consultation ended on 10th April 2013 [/level-member]
[level-member] The Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) is proposing to set up a new self-regulatory regime for its members. It’s a response to the government’s total abandonment of any interest in trying to regulate the sector. ARMA sees their proposal as ground breaking due to the introduction of an independent regulatory body. Find out […]
[level-member] Proposals have been made to the draft legislation governing annual residential property tax. Read the draft consultation here Read the FPRA observations here. [/level-member]
[level-member] The Competition & Markets Authority is conducting a market study into the supply of residential property management services. This is a key development for leaseholders and comments on the scope have been invited. Find out more here [/level-member]
[level-member] Consultation on the proposed consequential changes to the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber (UTLC) rules to enable appeals from the Property Chamber to be dealt with. Full details here. See the FPRA submission here. [/level-member]
[level-member] Respected think tank CentreForum turned its attention to leasehold housing. The Federation of Private Residents’ Associations was consulted during the drawing up of the report and on the final draft. The final report, published on 19th August, though, does not necessarily reflect the views of the FPRA. The report is available here. [/level-member]
[level-member] This review sought views and experiences of working with fire safety officers and local fire and rescue authorities where this affects the day-to-day running of businesses, particularly those with 250 or fewer employees. Consultation period 23.7.12 – 31 August 2012 [/level-member]
[level-member] Views were sought on reform of the Code which sets out the regime that governs the rights of electronic communications operators to install and maintain infrastructure on public and private land. The Code can be viewed here Consultation period 28.6.12 – 28.10.12 [/level-member]
[level-member] Evaluation of ‘Fire Safety Guidance in Purpose Built Blocks of Flats’ published 31.7.12 Stakeholders were invited to comment on the effectiveness of the above document a year after it was published. Consultation period 6.12 – 16 .7.12 [/level-member]
[level-member] Consultation on proposed new (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013 Seeks views on proposed rules for a new Property Chamber due to be introduced in 2013, which will incorporate the existing Rent Assessment Committees; Rent Tribunals; Residential Property Tribunals; Leasehold Valuation Tribunals; and Agricultural Land Tribunals. Consultation period 01.6.12 – 6.09.12 [/level-member]
[level-member] The Institute of Chartered Accountants, via an outfit callled the UITF, sought to determine whether RMCs/RTMs act as principle or agent in transactions with third parties. This has implications for how a management company’s accounts are compiled. Further information from the Whitley Stimpson Factsheet FPRA response is available here Published 10 May 2012, closed […]
[level-member] The LA sought ‘ to understand the nature of service charges in London, how they are calculated, charged and administered by landlords, and paid for by leaseholders’. Details are available here The FPRA has submitted information based on its main campaigning topics. [/level-member]
[level-member] Another Fire Risk consultation. This time a non-government consultation (Fire Risk Assessment Competency Council) on what makes someone competent to carry out a fire risk assessment in non-domestic premises, which includes blocks of flats. Fire Risk Assessment Competency Document [/level-member]
[level-member] This was about proposals for updating the property value limits which are used to determine whether certain rights are available to residential long leaseholders. Details here. [/level-member]
[level-member] The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) commissioned a review of the most effective policies to deal with fuel poverty. Professor John Hill conducted the review. Details are available here The FPRA met with the DECC to explain the implications for leaseholders. [/level-member]
[level-member] View the relevant documents A Department of Energy & Climate Change consultation 15.12.10 The FPRA response here 14.01.11 DECC’s response to the consultation 28.2.11 [/level-member]
[level-member] An important Consultation to improve the currently confusing fire risk assessment process for the common parts of blocks of flats, by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The existing fire risk assessment procedures and guidelines are clearly a cause for concern for members and the ‘responsible person’ for managing the fire risk in […]
[level-member] Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Off-grid Energy Market Study and the impact on long-leaseholders Details here are available here. The FPRA response can be view here. [/level-member]
[level-member] The consultation related to whether blocks of flats are treated as residential or commercial properties, which can impact on other factors such disconnection procedures. The OFGEM open letter can be viewed here The FPRA’s submission can be viewed here [/level-member]
[level-member] The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consultation on ‘issues that have arisen in relation to the implementation of the Right to Enfranchise (RTE) provisions in the 2002 Act’. View here Details of the consultation The FPRA’s response DCLG issued a Summary of Response on 31 March 2010. [/level-member]
[level-member] A consultation on the above topics was published by the Department for Communities and Local Government on 3 March 2010. Details are available here [/level-member]
[level-member] Member organisation Arlington Park Mansions Ltd submitted its views on the issue of regulating managing agents, which the FPRA has forwarded to the Task and Finish Group at the DCLG (which is considering the question of regulation). In summary, Arlington Park Mansions is concerned, as is the FPRA, that regulation for the managing agent […]
[level-member] The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consulted on the question of regulating managing agents. This aspect is hidden away in their report entitled “The Private Rented Sector: professionalism and quality. The government response to the Rugg Review”. See FPRA article about the consultation The FPRA attended the DCLG’s Task and Finish group […]
[level-member] The DCLG consulted on updating the Articles of Association of RMCs, to include changes made in the 2006 Companies Act. Published 29 June 2009. Details are available here. The FPRA expressed its view that the suggestions in the Consultation are ‘sensible and we would support your approach’. [/level-member]
[level-member] The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICs) consulted on transparency in fee/commission payments in the residential and commercial sectors, including service charges. The FPRA attended meetings. [/level-member]