Wednesday, 6 August 2014

PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation Sheffield & In Association With Sheffield City Council Private Sector Housing



A dedicated team of Sheffield City Council officers is on the trail of rogue landlords who house tenants in properties for residential and student housing Sheffield, which are unsafe or in poor repair, or abuse their tenants’ legal rights.

An increase in the number of calls to the Council’s Private Housing Standards Team reflects the growth of the private rented sector in the city. Private rented housing made up about 12 per cent of the city’s housing stock in 2007*, and the results of the 2011 Census are expected to show this has grown to around 15 per cent when figures are released later this year. These figures combine both residential properties and student houses in Sheffield.

In a recent prosecution at Sheffield Magistrates Court, a landlord was given a suspended 28-day jail sentence for unlawfully locking a tenant out of his student flats Sheffield, made to adhere to a curfew, and fined for failing to get a licence for multiple occupancy and failing to comply with fire regulations. A further ten prosecutions are in the pipeline.

A representative of Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, said: “Private landlords have always played an important role in Sheffield providing both residential and student accommodation in Sheffield, and there is no doubt that the majority of them are providing an excellent service for tenants. We are always willing to advise and work with landlords who may need some help with managing their properties and our qualified inspectors are there to provide technical advice. 

“But where the good name of the majority is being tarnished by a minority who do not take a responsible attitude towards their tenants’ welfare, safety and privacy with the legal and moral responsibility that goes hand in hand with their position, we will resort to taking enforcement action.”

Peter Turkington is a private landlord whose company, PC Properties, manages around 500 tenants, mostly for student accommodation Sheffield. PC Properties are a founding member of the Sheffield Student Landlord Association (SSLA) and have worked closely with Sheffield City Council to improve the standard of student housing in Sheffield.  He said: “As a result of the introduction of the Housing Act 2004, the SSLA began working closely with Sheffield City Council, Private Sector Housing, to assist in the implementation and simplification of the new legislation concerning houses in multiple occupation, particularly in relation to Sheffield student houses.  This new legislation has in the long run, clearly benefited both tenant and landlord, and the improved standards have without doubt contributed towards Sheffield being recently voted as providing  the best standard of student accommodation in the country. I feel it important to state that this could not have been achieved without the good working relationship which has developed in recent years between the SSLA and Sheffield City Council, and which importantly has been to the benefit of student properties Sheffield.  Much of that credit must be attributed to the head of private sector housing, and the dedicated team.

More recently, our focus has been centred on working with Sheffield City Council to address some of the issues associated with students properties Sheffield which are located in residential areas, ie. anti-social behaviour, noise pollution , ’to let’ signs, litter etc.

Despite the introduction of improved regulation, there are inevitably a very small minority of so called landlords who refuse to comply with required standards,  and who purposely evade the need to licence their properties, and in doing so harm what is a very high standard of student accommodation Sheffield.

As part of our continued and evolving partnership with Sheffield City Council, the SSLA are fully committed to assist wherever possible, to identify any individual or organisation, who blatantly disregard their obligations towards the welfare, health and safety of their tenants.  

The private sector has had to endure for far too long the presence of a minority of stereotypical, unscrupulous landlords who continue to compromise the integrity of the responsible landlord, and who take advantage of the high demand for student housing Sheffield. We therefore very much welcome and fully support this latest initiative undertaken by Sheffield City Council”.  
  
The work done by the Council team includes inspecting and regulating private rented housing.  They are also responsible for regulating studentaccommodation in Sheffield, known as HMOs (Houses In Multiple Occupation), some of which may need a licence. Under the law all rented houses of three or more storeys, and with at least five occupants, needs to be licensed by the Council. This means they have to be inspected to make sure they comply with standards such as fire regulations, as their occupants can be at greater risk.

The team also intervenes in cases where tenants have been unlawfully threatened with eviction, and provides advice and information for private tenants and landlords.

Beyond the private rented sector, the Private Housing Standards Team will also carry out legal notice enforcement action on empty properties which have become a nuisance or a danger, or are having a negative impact on the neighbourhood.


PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation Sheffield & It’s Association With Olympic Champion – Sebastian Coe

The Broomhill area of Sheffield is home to some of the most desirable student accommodation in Sheffield.

In particular, the pleasant and leafy Marlborough Road is the location of some of the most attractive and imposing Victorian residential properties, and which provides one of the most sociable mixes of residential and student housing in Sheffield

PC Properties are one of the leading providers of student housing Sheffield, and can offer a comprehensive range of student accommodation in this very convenient and desirable area.

PC Properties own No. 6, Marlborough Road which is a large and superior three storey seven bedroom student house located at the end of Marlborough Road where it meets with Northumberland Road. This property provides excellent facilities and is in close proximity to The University of Sheffield main campuses.

The tenants of many student properties Sheffield living on Marlborough Road may be unaware that Marlborough Road is where one of our greatest athletes of modern times lived during his school and teen years. This is of course, none other than Olympic and World middle distance Champion, Sebastian Coe.

Seb Coe lived with his parents for many years on Marlborough Road and went to school locally, attending Tapton and Abbeydale Grange schools. During his early years, Seb coached by his Father Peter Coe, endured a punishing training schedule here in Sheffield which during those early cold and dark winter mornings and his arduous route would take him through large areas of student accommodationSheffield

Seb Coe’s most notable achievements in the world of athletics as a middle distance runner was to win four Olympic Gold medals including the 1500 metres gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984, and set eight outdoor and three indoor world records also in middle distance track events.

Since retiring from athletics in 1990, Sebastian Coe was awarded the MBE in 1990 and was created a life peer in 2000 and was then given the title of Baron Coe of Ranmore Surrey. In 2006, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours List for services to sport. He is now chairman of the London organizing committee for the Olympic Games being hosted by London in 2012

The house in which Seb Coe grew up in has Marlborough Road has since utilised for student flats Sheffield,although is now understood to have returned to private residential accommodation.


There cannot be many Sheffield student houses which can lay claim to being the home of one the world’s greatest middle distance athletes.

PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation In Sheffield & It’s Association With The Edwardian Suffragette Movement

The pleasant and leafy suburb of Broomhill is home to some of the most desirable student accommodation in Sheffield.

In particular, the impressive Marlborough Road, location of very attractive Victorian residential properties, provides one of the most sociable mixes of residential and student housing in Sheffield

PC Properties who are one of the leading providers of student housing in Sheffield, can offer a comprehensive of student accommodation in this very attractive and desirable area.

PC Properties No. 6, Marlborough Road is a superb seven bedroom student house located at the end of Marlborough Road where it meets with Northumberland Road.

The tenants of many student properties in Sheffield, and who live on Marlborough Road may be unaware that 45, Marlborough Road was the home and work place of Adela Pankhurst, daughter of Emiline Pankhurst, founder of the British Suffragette movement, who lead the fight for women’s rights, and most significantly helped to win the right for women to vote which only came about in 1928

Adela Pankhurst came to Sheffield in 1910 and lived at 45, Marlborough Road until 1911, where she used the house as a base for the suffragette movement. I think she would be very proud to find that as a result of her suffragette movement, Marlborough Road is now one of the main centres for student properties Sheffield and is home to young women studying for degrees which was essentially a male domain and would have been unheard of in the early part of the 20th century

45, Marlborough Road has been previously utilised for student flats in Sheffield, but has been unoccupied for some time, resulting in vandalism and is sadly now in a poor state of disrepair. However, the property has been recently purchased and renovation works will hopefully soon commence.

There cannot be many Sheffield student houses which can lay claim to hosting such an influential and important civil rights leader as Adela Pankhurst.  

The residents of the Broomhill area are aiming to raise funds for a plaque in honour of Marlborough Roads most famous resident, Adela Pankhurst (born 1885 – died 1961)




PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation Sheffield

A dedicated team of Sheffield City Council officers are on the trail of rogue landlords who provide student housing in Sheffield and whose tenants are in properties which are unsafe or in poor repair, or abuse their tenants' legal rights.

A spokesman for Sheffield City Council Homes and Regeneration, said: "Private landlords have always played an important role in providing student housing Sheffield, and there is no doubt that the majority of them are providing an excellent service for tenants. We are always willing to advise and work with landlords who provide student housing in Sheffield and student flats in Sheffield, who may need some help with managing their properties and our qualified inspectors are there to provide technical advice. 

"But where the good name of the majority is being tarnished by a minority who do not take a responsible attitude towards their tenants' welfare, health and safety, we will resort to taking enforcement action against these particular providers of student properties Sheffield."

Peter Turkington is a private landlord, whose company, PC Properties, are a leading provider of student accommodation in Sheffield, managing around 70 properties which support 500 tenants. PC Properties are a founding member of the Student Landlord Association whose membership provide student housing Sheffield to over three thousand tenants. He said: "As a result of the introduction of the Housing Act 2004, our Landlord association began working closely with the local authorities Private Sector Housing department to assist in the implementation and simplification of the new legislation concerning houses in multiple occupation, particularly regarding student housing in Sheffield.  Sheffield student houses achieve the high standards required by both tenant and local authority. This new legislation has in the long run, clearly benefited both tenant and landlord, and the improved standards have without doubt contributed towards Sheffield being recently voted as providing  the best standard of student accommodation in the country. The Landlords and letting agents of Student accommodation Sheffield have achieved significant improvements in their standard of student properties Sheffield and level of service. I feel it important to state that these improved standards of student accommodation Sheffield could not have been achieved without the good working relationship which has developed in recent years with the local authority.

More recently, our focus has been centred on working with Sheffield City Council to address some of the issues associated with student flats Sheffield and in general student housing Sheffield which are located in residential areas, ie. anti-social behaviour, noise pollution , 'to let' signs, litter etc.

Despite the introduction of improved regulation, there are inevitably a very small minority of so called landlords who supply student accommodation in Sheffield, who refuse to comply with required standards, and who purposely evade the need to licence their properties.

As part of our continued and evolving partnership with the Council, our Landlord organisation is fully committed to assist wherever possible, in identifying any individual or organisation, who blatantly disregard their obligations towards the welfare, health and safety of their tenants occupying student accommodation in Sheffield  

The private sector has had to endure for far to long the presence of a minority of stereotypical, unscrupulous landlords who continue to compromise the integrity of the responsible landlord who provide excellent Sheffield student houses. We therefore very much welcome and fully support this latest initiative undertaken by Sheffield City Council".

The work done by the Council team includes inspecting and regulating private rented housing.  They are also responsible for regulating student housing in Sheffield, known as HMOs, some of which may need a licence. Under the law all rented houses of three or more storeys, and with at least five occupants, needs to be licensed by the Council. This means that Sheffield student houses and Student flats Sheffield have to be inspected to make sure they comply with standards such as fire regulations, as their occupants can be at greater risk.

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Finding chartered accountants West Drayton- for your business.


If you are setting up your new business, the most important job that you need to do is to employ a reliable and trained chartered accountant who can assist you with the entire financial as well as legal matters of your business. But need to make sure that you are comfortable with the accountant that you have hired and he should be trustworthy and sincere so that your work can be done efficiently. Chartered accountants West Drayton are especially trained in managing any kind of accounts and they can help you to manage the finances of your business in the best possible manner. They have experience in every field and can assist employers in managing every kind of accounts with ease. But before you hire a chartered accountant, you need to know the exact accounting service that you wish to avail as these professionals are well versed with the different fields of expertise. 


Finding chartered accountants West Drayton is not a tough task if you know how to find someone who is experienced, qualified and trained. Even though it is a time consuming task, you can easily search for chartered accounts with the help of internet. You can go online and then search for a comprehensive list of accounting firms along with details relating to their professionals service, expertise and skills. You can also find reliable and trained chartered accountants through personal recommendations from your friends and family. It is considered as one of the best way of getting an experienced and trained accounts as they are recommended by their satisfied customers. You can also ask for the performance results of these professionals before you hire them. You can also find accountants through local search as you will be able to hire accountants that have the expertise and skills that you need at an affordable price. There are few considerations that you should keep in mind when finding chartered accounts in West Drayton. Firstly you should select an accountant possessing good experience in the accounting industry that you require. You also need to explain your short term and long term plans to your accountants before you hire them so that it can suit your business structure. 

When finding chartered accountants west Drayton you should hire someone who have full fledge knowledge about business ownerships, retirement plans, organizing payrolls, managing expenses and software for enabling flexible bookkeeping. You should also emphasize on the approachability and personality of the accountant to find out how confident these professionals are in dealing with their clients. If you want to assess the knowledge of these accountants, you can put forth your business ideas and plan before the accountants so that you can get valuable advices and inputs that will help you to know the expertise and knowledge of these professionals in matters relating to the financial and legal matters of your business. After finding a reliable and experienced accountant for your business, you will have to ensure that you establish a good and smooth collaborative relationship with your chartered accountant. 


How to find the perfect accountancy


Accountancy is an essential language in any business. It involves recording of financial information, classifying them, summarizing, interpreting and communicating them in a well-organised manner. Therefore, choosing the perfect accountancy for a business is a crucial step in determining the long-term success of a business. It is worth noting that for any business, whether a sole proprietorship to large organisations, there is a need for professional accounting so as to maintain a proper cash flow for the business. Hence, it is important for a business to dedicate good time in choosing the perfect accountant. This article narrows down to the basics of acquiring the perfect accountancy in order to keep a business firm on the ground.

Steps in finding the perfect accountant

Take a background or previous performance check
It is wise to check on the past work and accreditation of the accountant. This will greatly help in understanding the kind of person or firm one is about to incorporate into a business. In other cases, getting former clients of the accountant(s) and obtaining information would be a plus. More information and customer reviews about accounting firms or individual accountants can also be found on the internet.

Analyse your business needs

Determining the needs of a business, whether an accountant is required to handle financial books and file taxes will help in choosing the correct accountant. Apparently, there are other accountants who are all round, in the sense that they can advise a business in cases of leasing, bankruptcy and franchise agreements.

Ascertain accessibility

A larger business with many employees has a high chance of operating complex finances. Therefore, the perfect accountant in such cases is the one that would be easy to get in touch with on regular basis. Selecting a full time accounting firm would be a good idea when there is need for constant assignments.

Hire licensed and professional accountants

Accounting is not an art, but a profession. Hence, it is worth your time to scrutinise the educational levels of an accountant. A good accountant should also be certified by the International Accounting Boards or Charter. This provides an engaging trust between the business and the accountancy firm.
Compare prices of accountancy

Though companies or businesses are charged according to their turn over level, it is good for a business to pay their accountancy work according to the amount of hours worked by accountants. Obtaining information about the amount of fees levied for each service is also a great thing. Similarly, it is good to compare prices of different accountancy firms and choose the best.

Technological know-how

Computers and electronic accounting is slowly creeping and taking over the traditional paperwork and spreadsheets as far as accounting is concerned. For a business to keep trending with the modern-day technology, it should hire an accountant who is well adverse and computer literate. This will essentially help in saving money and the huge cash that could otherwise be spent on manual paperwork.

Finally, as much as it is important to hire an accountancy firm on basis of finance issues, a business should keep track of its records and ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of its operations is highly secured. Keeping a good contact and track of accountancy will broadly assist a business in working towards success.

Basic Information about Employment Law


It is always important to have a law that governs the relationship between employees and employers because it helps a great deal when it comes to solving disputes. The employment law includes a variety of components and some of them include health and safety, wages and hours, protection from discrimination, collective bargaining agreements, contract doctrines and individual employment contracts.   


The organization of social and cultural life at the work place requires a very powerful structure that can only be established when there is an employment law to guide and regulate the employee-employer relationship. It is important to point out that the exchange of labour and money should not in any way override the employment relationship. An employee’s performance, rewards and responsibilities are supposed to help them achieve accomplishment, satisfaction, dignity and self-worth.

The relationship between employees and employers is therefore governed a body of law that is commonly referred to as employee law. It is important to note that both the employer and the employee have specific employment rights that are supposed to be protected by employment law. An employee is entitled to sick pay, leave, proper remuneration and other benefits which are normally written into the law. 

Employees are supposed to be protected against discrimination and undervaluation and this can only happen when employers abide by a set of laws and regulations that constitute employment law. The law includes dismissal guidelines and therefore all dismissals should be justified. An employee has a right to argue their case in a court of law if they think that their dismissal was unfair.

Employees are also likely to face serious repercussions in instances where they fail to comply with employment law. Both parties can file for expensive compensation claims in case any of their rights has been infringed. It is therefore the responsibility of both the employer and employee to ensure that they strictly abide by employment law to avoid the serious repercussions that come with breaking the law. Disputes between employees and employers are a common occurrence in a place of work and the only way to solve such disputes is to call upon employment law. 

Employment related disputes that can not be solved without legal action are in most cases taken to an Employment Tribunal. Both sides are normally represented at the Employment tribunal with specialist employment solicitors that have a proper understanding of employment law and other labour related laws. 

It is always a great challenge for employees when they enter into a claim against their employers and that is why they need top quality legal representation in order to win any case against their employer. Most employers may not have the resources to hire top quality solicitors to represent them and that is the reason why there are some organizations that have come up to provide legal assistance to employees that face discrimination at their place of work. There is no way an employer or employee can avoid employment law because it is the interest of every nation to ensure that employment rights are well protected.