This Week at theEHP: 30 April – 04 May

Welcome to This Week at theEHP, a summary of the articles that appeared on the site over the last week.

This week at theEHP we report on glitter, statistics, RPT Decisions & a prosecution.

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A new national task force has been set up to tackle the issue of “beds in sheds” by taking action against criminal landlords and removing illegal immigrants. the task force will find ways to close down thousands of sheds and outbuildings being rented out illegally to migrants, including some with no right to be in the UK. Full details here.

If you would like to submit an article to theEHP, Contact Us for details.

Looking forward to seeing you at theEHP.

Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection: Annual statistics for fly-tipping in England
Fly-tipping incidents in England have decreased by 13.5 per cent between the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 to 820,000 incidents.

Food Safety

Food Safety: All that Glitters is not Edible
Great news for anyone considering the hazards posed by use of dusts and glitters in their HACCP plans. The Food Standards Agency has produced guidance on the use of ‘edible’ and ‘non-toxic’ glitters and dusts with food. The Guidance is intended to apply to food prepared commercially and domestically.

Food Safety: Takeaway owner narrowly avoids jail
The owner of Ocean Queen takeaway has been prosecuted for fifteen counts of food hygiene breaches. Mr Tevfik Akyel, who owns Ocean Queen fish and chip shop in Morris Avenue, Billericay, was given 12 months custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, at the hearing at Basildon Crown Court today (Monday 30 April). He was also ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work. (Photos on Flickr)

Health & Safety

Health & Safety: HSE prosecutions in brief 30 April – 04 May
Welcome to HSE prosecutions in brief. An overview of this weeks prosecutions by the HSE.

Health & Safety: HSE prosecutions in brief 23 April – 27 April (Updated 04-05-12)
Welcome to HSE prosecutions in brief. An overview of this weeks prosecutions by the HSE. (5 New Articles)

Housing

Housing: NLA – Benefit Cuts Making Letting Unaffordable for Landlords
A survey by the National Landlords Association (NLA) has found more than half of landlords can no longer afford to rent to housing benefit tenants because of cuts to the allowance.

Housing: National taskforce to end the problem of ‘beds in sheds’
A new national taskforce has been set up to tackle the issue of “beds in sheds” by taking action against criminal landlords and removing illegal immigrants.

Sustainability

Sustainability: Quarterly statistics for LA collected waste (England) released
Provisional estimates for Quarter 2 of 2011/12 of local authority collected waste generation and management for England and the regions have been published.

theEHP Store

Kindle Touch and Kindle Touch 3G now in the UK
Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family in the UK with an easy-to-use touch screen. With Amazon’s EasyReach touch technology there’s no need to swipe, you simply tap to turn pages, eliminating fatigue and allowing you to comfortably hold your Kindle in either hand. It’s small, light and eliminates battery anxiety with an extra-long battery life. Kindle Touch has built-in Wi-Fi and carries up to 3,000 books.

For readers who want the top of the line e-reader, Kindle Touch 3G offers the same design and features of Kindle Touch with the unparallelled added convenience of free 3G to download Kindle eBooks. Kindle’s free 3G connection means you never have to hunt for or pay for a Wi-Fi hotspot.

• Kindle Touch 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6″ E Ink Touch Screen Display, 3G Works Globally
• Kindle Touch, Wi-Fi, 6″ E Ink Touch Screen Display

Amazon Deals

• Book Deals of the Week–At Least 55% Off.
• Bestsellers in Kindle Store
• Bestsellers in Books
• Deals and Special Offers

British Standards Online Shop

Training

Training: Increase rent the proper way
We live in an age where prices are constantly increasing. So your rent will need to increase periodically too.

It is important that when increasing rent you do it the right way. Otherwise your tenant is entitled to just carry on paying the old rent. If you bring proceedings for possession based on rent arrears – you will lose. You may even be ordered by the Judge to pay your tenants legal costs.

So best to get things right from the start.

Training: How to draft section 21 notices
The best way to evict your assured shorthold tenant (should this be necessary) is via the ‘no fault’ procedure set out in section 21 of the Housing Act 1988.

But there is a problem with this.

Many landlords lose their eviction case due to errors in their section 21 notice.

How to win deposit disputes – An essential guide for landlords
Tom Derrett – former adjudicator has written the definitive guide to getting the best possible result at adjudication.

His new book, ‘How to Win Deposit Disputes’ is available now and covers the following:-

• Why landlords lose disputes
• How the deposit schemes differ
• Separate chapters for disputes with the DPS and the insurance based schemes
• When you need to go to court
• The dispute process
• How to analyse your claim
• How much to claim (including guidance on how you can make the betterment rules work for you)
• How to present your claim
• How to respond to the tenant

As a former adjudicator himself, Tom knows how they think and how they will approach your claim. After reading this book, so will you!

If you get the ‘How to win deposit disputes’, you also have the option to buy the Novice Guide to Court Hearings by Tessa Shepperson with a 25% discount.

It is normally £12 – you can get it now for £9 if you buy the deposit dispute book at the same time (total price £21).

Training: The Novice Guide to Court Hearings ebook
Written by experienced landlord and tenant solicitor Tessa Shepperson, the Novice Guide to Court Hearings eBook has a clear and easy to understand style and includes sample documents and forms to help you prepare your case (Video Embedded).

RPT Decisions

This case involves an Application for a Rent Repayment Order made by 2 Tenants. The Midland Panel ordered the Landlord to pay the sum of £380 to each of the Applicants.

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