REsidEnTiallettings
Guild of Letting and Management
shoots and scores!
The Guild of Letting and Management held its annual
seminar at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal
Football Club. Our reporter was on the sidelines
he Guild of Letting and agents who have absolutely no idea of their
T
Management scored a series intended use. How? The ‘tenant farmers’
of goals at its annual seminar are very experienced and dedicated to their
on 30 April; held in the goals. Often the people that visit the agent
magnificent Emirates and agree the tenancy are not the tenants
Stadium, home to Arsenal at all. They are knowledgeable about the
Football Club. 120 delegates had time to lettings system, don’t argue over rent, often
take in the atmosphere of this famous pay in advance, usually in cash, and don’t
venue, although no-one was permitted on want to agree to regular inspections.
the pitch, with or without an Arsenal strip. Other warning signs from applicants are
Susie Crolla of the Guild welcomed the lack of job, previous landlord or bank
delegates and gave an overview of the day, references.
which would include presentations on The So why worry? If they pay the rent what
Rugg Review, cannabis factories in rented is the problem? Apart from the fact it is an
property, the new Gas Safe Register, illegal activity in which both agents and
software, energetic survival (read on) the landlords can be implicated, with inevitable
Local Housing Allowance, referencing and prison sentences, there will be severe
its legal implications and Improving damage to the property. Many cannabis
standards in the PRS. farms are only discovered when they catch
A busy agenda, interspersed with fire – a common occurrence because the
excellent refreshments and opportunities plants are grown under very powerful heat
to take in the triumphant history of this lamps, diffused by sheets of paper and
hallowed north London stadium, promised
The agenda included
powered by banks of plugs often wired
an interesting day.
The Rugg Review,
directly to the main grid.
Even if the property doesn’t catch fire the
Cannabis Farming internal structural damage will be costly to
First up was DS Neil Wilson, straight from
the Gas Safe Register,
repair – torn down doors, huge holes in
the Met, where he heads a team in the
Local Housing
walls, floors and ceilings for ventilation
Metropolitan Police Service Drugs ducting, removal of built in cupboards…
Directorate. Neil was joined by Ajoke Allowance and raising Added to this are factors like a rapidly
Falase, a Higher Intelligence Analyst. growing bad reputation – the landlord and
Their aim was to raise awareness, point out
standards in the PRS.’
agent’s name will be reported in the local
the dangers, promote prevention and press, loss of rent while the property is
outline the future. repaired, increased insurance premiums
Concealed within some of the UK’s most and toxic contamination of the property
ordinary houses, in desirable should deter anyone to let knowingly to
neighbourhoods, lie many thousands of these people.
cannabis plants. 43 out of 44 UK police Agents should also be aware that it is not
authority areas have reported 5500 uncommon for a landlord to be involved in
incidences of cannabis farming. The the activity. The temptations of large
majority of the 3000 cases are in let bundles of easy cash in advance may be too
property, where police have seized 500,000 much, especially in this economic climate,
plants with a street value of £60million. may be too much to resist. So beware, be
These properties are usually let through vigilant and be honest!
58 JUNE 2009 PROPERTYdrum
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