Letting Agents Registration and Code of Practice Comes into force 31st January 2018 ***Scotland Only*** The Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 made provisions for the mandatory letting agent registration, regulation and training requirements in Scotland. Housing (Scotland) Act 2014: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2014/14/contents/enacted Part 4 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 makes provision for the registration, regulation and training requirements for letting agents in Scotland. They include a mandatory register of letting agents, a ‘fit and proper’ person test, training requirements, a code of practice to which all letting agents must adhere and enforcement through the new First-Tier Tribunal. The Letting Agent Registration (Scotland) Regulations 2016 sets out the training requirements that those applying to join the register of letting agents must meet and additional information required for registration. This was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 22nd December 2016 and comes into force 31st January 2018. The Letting Agent Registration (Scotland) Regulations 2016: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/432/introduction/made Letting Agent Registration Guide: https://www.mygov.scot/letting-agent-registration/who-needs-to-register/ The Register of Letting Agents will be a list run by Scottish Ministers that will make sure every letting agent is suitable to do the job and has met minimum training requirements. --legal obligations relating to letting agency work and the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords --handling of tenants’ and landlords’ money --arranging and managing a tenancy --managing repairs and maintenance --customer communications --complaints handling --equality issues The Letting Agent Code of Practice (Scotland) Regulations 2016 were laid before the Scottish Parliament and will come into force on 31st January 2018. The Letting Agent Code of Practice (Scotland) Regulations 2016: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2016/9780111030912 Those engaged in letting agency work must also comply with the Letting Agent Code of Practice. The Code of Practice is set out in The Letting Agent Code of Practice (Scotland) Regulations 2016 and contains general duties including: --complying with relevant legislation --providing accurate information --applying procedures consistently and reasonably --dealing with complaints --ensuring compliance by employees and subcontractors --handling private information sensitively --not to unlawfully discriminate --carrying out services in a timely fashion and with due skill and care Housing and Property Chamber First-tier Tribunal for Scotland: https://www.housingandpropertychamber.scot/

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/keeper-liability-impact-assessment-due.html

I am trying to help a friend who received their EAS50 form dated 1st December for a deadline of 1st January 2016 to be returned. My friend has a complex medical history including mental health and the benefit advisor hurriedly completed the form as he finished work for Christmas and New Year on 17th December, The main hospital consultant who co-ordinates healthcare is providing a supportive letter but this has been delayed as his secretary retired and it has waiting in a pool of secretaries at a hospital and the consultant is also on holiday, I rang DWP and they were not supportive at all. The 1st is a Friday and public holiday and in Scotland they have 1 and 2bd as public holidays. Can any advice me what other action I can take. This is a migration from IC to ESA and I have been told by other the deadline is strict and my friend could get their current benefits stopped. A little panic given little time. Any suggestions would be appreciated. They letter maybe ready on 29th but might not be signed off by the consultant. Many thanks

Hi All, I had was involved in a RTA back in January; happy to say not serious and not my fault. Third Party admitted liability, so I made a direct claim to their insurers, who promptly arranged for repairs to my car, arranged a hire car, and paid out a sum to my passenger in injury compensation. I didn’t make a personal injury claim at the time as I didn’t experience any effects that I could attribute to the accident. However just about a week later I did experience a stiff neck and shoulder pain, also pain down my arm, I knew that it must’ve been as a direct result of the accident, but I was under the impression that I would be out of time to make a claim, so I put it down to experience and forgot all about it. I had a call recently from an accident claims specialist who said that the insurers put aside an amount for injury compensation, I did explain that I thought it would be too late, however the guy was very persistent, so I agreed to make a claim through them. I was passed on to their legal team who took details. I then got this letter from them via email, however something appears to be “Not Quite Right” :- “Dear Mr Murphy Re Your Accident on 29th January 2015 Please note as requested, we have arranged After the Event legal expenses insurance to cover you throughout this case. On the information currently available to us, we believe, that a contract of insurance with AmTrust Europe Legal is appropriate to cover your opponent’s charges and your own disbursements in case you lose. What this means is that if your claim is unsuccessful, the insurance then takes effect to protect you, as previously discussed the premium amount is deferred and costs £350.00 which is payable by you upon conclusion of your claim as it is no longer recoverable from your opponent since the government changed the rules with effect from 1st April 2013. If you lose the premium is still not payable. Full details are contained in the insurance policy documents. It is generally this type of cover which we recommend; we do not have any financial interest in recommending to you AmTrust Europe Legal. We only select from a limited number of insurers for After the Event legal expense insurance contracts but we are not contractually obliged to conduct our business in this way. You can ask us for a list of the insurers that we use. Yours Faithfully” Shall I tell them to go do one, or do think it’s OK Thank for your help Ken

CAG Newsletter - October 2010 01 -October 2010 Newsletter.pdf CAG Newsletter - November 2010 02 - November 2010 Newsletter.pdf CAG Newsletter - December 2010 03 - December 2010 Newsletter.pdf

I wanted to read more of the article "Guide to calling Customer Services" in the January newsletter. I can't seem to develop the article?

Channel4 Dispatches programme on the new pension rules. http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches

Payday loan charges cap announced by FCA http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30000472

hi my situations bleak and have need help. I have been suffereing domestic(mental) abuse at home and had no idea that we ere going to be eviticted until a field agent working for g.e money knocked on my door. i received a bailiff eviction order on thursday and its due to go hed on 30th january. i went straight into my local council whom said they had a property for me but it wont be ready until until end of feb and the housing lady put this in writing and told me to fill in an n244 to ask for more time as i have a disabled son who wouldnt cope with moving twice I have three dependant children. i have no idea how to fill in an n244 and feel i am running out of time...i have no where to store my belongings and am going to lose everything. the g.p has put me on antidepressants and sleeping pills and has offered to write a letter supporting me but he says he has no idea what info he would need to put in it so wants me to supply some bullet points for him and i dont have a clue.

Hi all, Would any one have any thoughts on my situation? I work as a night shift cleaner for a large Catering / Cleaning company. We have know for about 7 months that we were up for retender. Tender was lost few months back and it went to a rival. The new employer turned up last week to show their plans off for the new contract. The current staff set up is 3 Night shift and 1 day time Janitor. Our supervisor retires next month just leaving 2 night shift. All the catering staff and day time Janitor are going to tupe over as a like for like with some getting enhanced contract, New job positions and more holidays etc. Our new employer to be has confirmed that there will be no night shift and that the cleaning is to be done by 14 part time staff in the evening along with a new Supervisor. They said they will be cutting our contract hours by 5 per week and gave us some idea that we will be working possibly a back shift??? They have also said as the client is moving to a new building it is a blank canvas and that everything that will be happening to us will be covered by ETO. I have been with current employer ( no break in employment ) for 26 months but only that particular site for 10 months. Were would I stand for hour reduction and not signing new contract? I cant afford to lose £2400 off a £16.500 yearly wage before tax. I don't earn a great wage so any reduction will have an massive impact on life. New to be employer has said that they will be paying in arrears and we will have to work a month for 2 weeks pay and will get a full wage after 8 weeks. They said we can borrow from them to tide ourselves over during that time and will take it back when we leave. My current position doesn't exist so could I get a redundancy rather than transfer? Currently hours and loss of money is leaving worse off after tupe.

I found an old HFC Loan Agreement from 1986 not sure if anyone has claimed back that far. Will be sending the doc's off today will keep you informed. It's Ironic that at the top of the agreement it says TRUST would you trust them:roll: davsib:-)

Well with oil prices falling to $90 a barrel and forecasters saying it could drop to $50 as demands fall,you can bet they will be looking at a bigger increase than 3p come January. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18588855