The last couple of months have been busy with training and mentoring to the fore.
Two sell out courses (80 delegates) in London on Consumer Protection and Money Laundering Regulations in September plus several similar sessions and audits for individual businesses following significant changes to the required compliance regimes of companies have been delivered. Another sold out course took place in London on December 7th and I am currently taking bookings for a programme on January 18th 2018, again in London. Details of the programme and how to book here:
The September programmes saw delegates from as far away as Inverness and Bristol in attendance.
Government plans to ban all fees charged to tenants have moved closer. I had been predicting that the draft legislation would be announced by the Chancellor in his autumn statement, with many industry commentators and professional bodies suggesting this was far too early. We were both wrong as the draft legislation was issued at the beginning of November!
Given the fairly simplistic nature of the legislation and its cross party support across Parliament, I anticipate this becoming law as early as April next year. Again, many in the industry see it as being later than this but we’ll see. One thing is certain, it is coming, and I am working with several businesses on their strategies for operating under a new order of things. How to win business from landlords at higher fees, creating additional income streams, increasing productivity through better systems, training, use of technology and outsourcing, finding key points of differentiation to grow.
In January, February and March 2018 I am running a series of free half day round table meetings in conjunction with teclet for agents to discuss the issues and the opportunities. These will take place around the M25 ring. The plan is to have a dozen senior people from non-competing firms in each session so that an open dialogue can take place to everyone’s benefit.
Dates and locations can be found here:
If you would like to come along, please contact me at msd@integra-ps.com
I was delighted to be rated as Exceptional in the EA Supplier Guide 2018 (supported by the Property Academy) and to win the overall Bronze award in the Small (but perfectly formed!) Supplier of the Year Award.
I was also delighted to be shortlisted as a Finalist in the Supplier of the Year (Professional Services) Award at the Negotiator Awards. This was the fifth successive year I have been a finalist and recognition that the services I deliver are recognised as market leading by my peers in the property sector.
Many of you will be aware that I have been working with D_lighted, an innovative insurance product that replaces the need for a tenant deposit when renting a property. The landlord is better protected by cover far in excess of that achieved by a deposit and the tenant doesn’t have to tie up monies needlessly by way of a deposit.
There is currently approaching £4.5bn tied up in deposit schemes doing nothing. Much better to see that money being used to enable people to save or used in the general economy.
For agents, the ability to market properties deposit free is a real instruction winner and business generator.
Excuse the pun but I was delighted to be invited to join the board of D_lighted and have done so. I look forward to working with the team on exciting times ahead.