Industry news Product Focus The Platform Lift Company www.platformliftco.co.uk


Where space is an issue, the FlexStep from the Platform Lift Company provides an ideal 2-in-1 solution. This clever product can be configured as a flight of stairs and transformed at the touch of a button into a platform lift. The FlexStep is available in different step widths and step heights: the 6-step FlexStep model is intended for travels up to 1250 mm. Customers can choose from a variety of materials and finishes to complement an existing interior or exterior design. The Platform Lift Company provide full installation as well as ongoing service and maintenance of the FlexStep.


Vectaire www.vectaire.co.uk


Vectaire have three new models in its vertical MVHR range. To ensure the user experience is as comfortable as it possibly can be, the Midi, Maxi and Maxi Plus are now available with advanced acoustic attenuation. With extremely low noise levels, the “AT-BY” models are complete with summer bypass and frost-stat, and commissioned via an integral LCD. Functions including trickle, purge and boost speeds for each motor, boost speed over-run time, the time delay before the boost speed kicks in, holiday mode and night-time boost are easily adjusted. Products are SAP PCDB Listed and manufactured in Vectaire’s own factory in the UK.


Horbury Property Services www.horburypropertyservices.com


Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group of companies, has secured a project to replace fire doors and update fire compartmentation in a number of buildings, including offices and a library for Nuneaton and Bedworth Council. This is part of a significant programme of fire door installations to blocks of flats where there is a closed balcony/corridor. The new fire doors will meet current requirements for fire resisting doors. Horbury Property Services will also ensure that the fire compartmentation within ceilings is brought up to the latest standard.


Tenants to qualify for better credit scores


Tenants who regularly pay their rent on time will soon be able to qualify for better financial products such as loans and mortgages as a result of changes made by credit reference agency Experian. Following a public campaign and a Parliamentary debate, the company said it was now taking account of the payment habits of 1.2 million tenants, with the vast majority of those (79 per cent) standing to benefit from improved credit scores. "Tenants pay a significant amount of money each month for the roofs over their heads, so it's right to


recognise these regular payments in a similar way as mortgages," said Clive Lawson, managing director of Experian Consumer Services. Some 150 social housing providers have


signed up to the scheme so far, called the Rental Exchange. It was developed with the help of Big Issue Invest, the social investment arm of the Big Issue group. On the down side anyone who has a poor record


of paying their rent on time could see their credit scores adversely affected, making it harder or more expensive for them to access financial services.


Legal Aid Agency criticised for refusing to help rough sleepers


The human rights organisation Liberty is taking the national provider of legal aid to court because of its refusal to help rough sleepers challenge the use of powers to move them on. Over 50 councils have used Public Space


Protection Orders (PSPOs) to prohibit begging and loitering, among other things. They have also issued hundreds of fixed-penalty notices and pursued


criminal convictions for “begging”, “persistent and aggressive begging” and “loitering” since being given strengthened powers to combat antisocial behaviour in 2014. This is despite updated Home Office guidance


at the start of this year, instructing councils not to target people for being homeless and sleeping rough.


22 | HMM November 2018 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


Liberty has now launched the legal challenge


against the Legal Aid Agency because the LAA will not offer assistance to rough sleepers and other local residents who want to challenge local authorities’ use of PSPOs. “Many local authorities are criminalising


those in need, but the Legal Aid Agency’s position robs all but the wealthy of their ability to challenge council abuse of power. It is essential this case goes ahead so that anyone can challenge illegitimate public space protection orders,” said Rosie Brighouse, a lawyer for Liberty.


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