4 minute read
North Somerset rental crisis
NORTH SOMERSET’S RENTAL CRISIS REQUIRES GOVERNMENT ACTION
A severe shortage of rental property will have “dire long-term consequences” for North Somerset’s economy unless urgent action is taken, according to a leading property agency. The supply of long-term rented accommodation in the area is falling far short of demand, says Parker’s Estate Agents in Backwell. And Parker’s director Andrew Simmonds says that this could act as a drag on economic development for years to come. “Research has consistently shown that the supply of long-term rented accommodation in North Somerset is not meeting demand, which is among the highest of any local authority in the country,” says Andrew Simmonds.
Advertisement
“There is also a continued pattern of tenants leaving cities such as Bristol as the trend towards home working continues, and this also impacts areas like North Somerset. “Private rents have been growing faster than inflation and the Government must take immediate steps to address the downturn in investment across the private rented sector. “For property owners becoming a landlord has never been more attractive as long as you team up with an organisation that can manage the properties for you. The current trend will have dire consequences for our local economy unless it is urgently addressed.
“North Somerset is a great place in which to live and work, but the mix of rental and owner-occupied property needs to be right to ensure it thrives.”
Andrew Simmonds says the extent of the problem is illustrated by the fact that viewings are so oversubscribed.
“Anecdotally we usually we have six or seven applications on day one of viewings and landlords generally find it very hard to differentiate between them. In fact, recently I have had two properties fetch over the asking price for monthly rent in order to be secured.”
Has your property gone up in price?
Quality doors. Great service. Free fitting.
Gotta get a Garolla.
WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH EVERY DOOR:
FREE EXPERT MEASURING & FITTING
TWO REMOTE CONTROLS
ACOUSTIC & THERMAL INSULATION
AVAILABLE IN 24 COLOURS
APPROVED It’s time to upgrade your garage door to a Garolla electric door. Not only are they strong and secure they are also thermally insulated. So if you’re transforming the garage into a home gym, office or even a bar, Garolla is perfect for you. All our doors are made to measure in our own factories in the UK. And expertly fitted by our installers.
Give us a call today and we’ll come and measure up completely Free.
GOTTA GET A GAROLLA
CALL US TODAY
MOBILE
PRIVATE PARKING FINES TO BE CAPPED
Motorists will receive better protection from the “aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees” through a 50% cut to the private parking fine cap. Under a new parking code of practice introduced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, the maximum fine will be reduced from £100 to £50 for most cases in England and Wales, but excludes London.
Private car parks will also have to display prices more clearly and use a fairer appeal system and give drivers a 10-minute grace period for lateness, according to the new rules.
The maximum charge will be reduced to £50 in most cases, but £70 for more serious breaches.
Private companies who breach the new code could also be banned from collecting fines in the future, by having their access to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency data cut off. Levelling-up minister Neil O’Brien said online the measures aimed to protect motorists from “aggressive debt collection and unreasonable fees”.
He also said: “Private companies issue roughly 22,000 parking tickets every day, often adopting a system of misleading and confusing signage, designed to extort money from motorists. “The new code of practice will set out a clear vision with the interests of safe motorists at its heart, while cracking down on the worst offenders who put other people in danger and hinder our emergency services from carrying out their duties.”
Vehicle insurance and breakdown companies RAC hand AA ave welcomed the new code.
The president of the AA, Edmund King, said online: “These much-needed upgrades to private parking rules will give better protection to drivers. For too long, those caught by private parking firms simply pay the charge to get rid of it. Thankfully these days are numbered.
“Drivers should feel confident that having a single code of practice and a new appeals charter will give them confidence to appeal and be properly heard. “We are also pleased that honest mistakes, like mistyping the car registration into the machine, will now be automatically cancelled.” The RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, added in an online statement: “The RAC has campaigned for years to end the sharp practices in the private parking sector, so we welcome the new national code that will usher in higher standards and will introduce a lower cap on penalty charge notices, an independent appeals system and an end to rip-off debt collection fees.
“This will undoubtedly make drivers’ experience of using private car parks fairer while at the same time force rogue operators to clean up their acts once and for all.”
WHERE SPEED CAMERAS WILL BE THIS WEEK
With reports of mobile speed cameras increasing, never get caught speeding again with a full list of sites to expect a mobile speed camera at anytime.
Click any of the areas on the map to go staight to the police speed camera website page.
NORTH SOMERSET SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
