Liverpool granting licences to Agents and not Landlords?

Liverpool granting licences to Agents and not Landlords?

11:06 AM, 21st June 2022, About 2 years ago 59

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I have received a letter today from a Letting Agent:

“We have been in discussion with Liverpool Council regarding the issuing of licenses under their new Selective Licensing Scheme. We have had a number of applications rejected on the basis that the landlord is not the most appropriate person to hold the licence. Instead, the Council have advised that the managing agent is the most appropriate person to hold the licence and therefore applications must be made in the name of the managing agent.

A number of landlords have made applications direct and received the same rejection and response. We have also been advised that if a licence application is rejected the initial application fee may be forfeit.”

The letter goes on to say ”the council will not grant licenses unless they are in the name of the managing agent”.

Does anyone know what is happening here, please?

Peter


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Comments

Peter Hindley

19:08 PM, 20th June 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Nick Stott - The Homesure Group at 20/06/2023 - 17:12
PurpleBricks have not gone bust. They have been bought out by Strike.

Gra Rock

23:00 PM, 20th June 2023, About 10 months ago

..
has been sold to Charles Dunstone-backed rival Strike for £1 with all of its more than 750 staff put at risk of redundancy
...

Gra Rock

23:04 PM, 20th June 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Nick Stott - The Homesure Group at 20/06/2023 - 17:17
Unfortunately NOT the same answer provided to one of our other agents by LCC... they tell you one thing, they tell others something else... the inconsistency by LCC is not helpful.

Phil Harris

7:43 AM, 21st June 2023, About 10 months ago

Thanks for the comments above. My wife mentioned that PB had gone bust, while I was on a business trip in China. I assumed it was the sales part of the business - and not also the newer rental part.

I replied with Purple Bricks’ redress scheme number, to let’s see if they just accept it!

The property is owned by my Ltd Co, so maybe they assume the company is an agency, which is why they asked the question.

Nick Stott - The Homesure Group

8:28 AM, 21st June 2023, About 10 months ago

Strike doesn't do lettings so, they may have bought Purple Bricks for the sales, but the Lomond Group have started buying the managed portfolio (not all of it) on the lettings side.

If they're still operating, I'd love to know how to get hold of them.
We've got several ex-PB landlords bringing their properties over to us, but can't get information & documents from PB which means they're either at risk of not being compliant (because they can't get a copy of a certificate) OR they're having to pay again (because they don't even know if a certificate, or deposit, was ever dealt with).

@Gra Rock - I know who to contact at LCC and what to ask. You have my details already...

LL Minion

10:19 AM, 21st June 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Nick Stott - The Homesure Group at 20/06/2023 - 17:12
by 'self manage' you mean if you you own the property yourself AND you deal with the tenant directly? What if you have a family member manage the property and the tenant on your behalf, and the rent gets still paid into the property owners account?

Assume this is still regarded as 'self managed'?

Owner is listed on the AST as the landlord and the family member as the agent so the tenant has this persons contact details for any issues etc.

Nick Stott - The Homesure Group

11:24 AM, 21st June 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by LL Minion at 21/06/2023 - 10:19
Yes, that would be self-managing if you deal with the tenant yourself.

If you have a family member doing it, they're just acting as your 'personal assistant' effectively. You are still the responsible person (as the owner) as you cannot make another person legally responsible unless you have an agreement with a regulated letting agent.

FYI - your family member cannot act as an agent on an agreement unless they are regulated in a professional capacity to do so. It puts them at risk of prosecution.

If I were you, I would leave their NAME off it, but put their number down as if it is you so the contact goes to them.

LL Minion

16:11 PM, 21st June 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Nick Stott - The Homesure Group at 21/06/2023 - 11:24thanks for your reply. I will make sure reference to the name and mobile number of the family member is noted as the ' main tenant contact in the first instance' for anything in future ASTs rather than stating them as 'the agent' (even though they are essentially acting as an agent on the LL's behalf)

Just the LL address details will then be given on the font part of the AST (who is the property owner anyway).

Bl##dy terminology!

Selective licencing is more confusing as they want to know the 'appropriate person', 'persons with other interests', the 'agent' and 'the landlord'. The landlord can be one of two people or the same - the owner/and or Landlord. Totally confusing.

Nick Stott - The Homesure Group

9:06 AM, 27th June 2023, About 10 months ago

Reply to the comment left by LL Minion at 21/06/2023 - 16:11
No worries. Just get in touch if you need any more advice.

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