News From PSG Cornwall

19/01/2012

PSG Cornwall are delighted to announce a property related CPD session at their offices at Pool Innovation Centre, Trevenson Road, Redruth on Thursday the 23^rd February 2012

The seminar will feature Adam Rousell from South West Water & Paul Raglan from Mining Searches UK (formerly Cornwall Mining Services).

Adam will speak on the subject of the CON29DW search highlighting risk and liability issues including:

Proximity of Sewers, treatment works and pumping stations
Sewer flooding
2011 private sewer transfer
Water supply
Low water pressure
Water quality

Paul’s talk will be titled

‘The Whole of the South West as a Hole’

The talk will touch on the history of mining, the plans and charts available, how the mine workings manifest themselves and how we might remediate them. Whilst looking principally at the metalliferous mining in the South West, he will also show the distribution of workings across the UK.

The Seminar carries one CPD point and spaces are available in the 12.30pm session.

A minimal charge of £10 per delegate is payable upon booking to cover room hire & refreshments.

Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis so please email caroline@psgcornwall.co.uk straight away to reserve your place.

On receipt of your email we will contact you to arrange payment

07/12/2011

PSG Cornwall Shortlisted for Excellence in Business Training Awards

We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the Excellence in Business Training Awards 2012 in the catagory Commitment to Graduate Development. We are looking forwards to the awards ceremony in January & we are keeping everything crossed!

02/12/2011

Energy Performance Certificates for holiday lets in England & Wales

The Department for Communities & Local Government have recently published revised frequently asked questions regarding whether properties let as holiday lets require an EPC. It appears that the criteria is whether or not the property is let by licence and whether the holiday maker has exclusive occupancy of the property.

See below for the full document.

Energy Performance Certificates for holiday lets in England and Wales: Frequently Asked Questions (revised November 2011)

Is an Energy Performance Certificate needed for holiday accommodation?

In certain circumstances, yes – basically, an Energy Performance Certificate is required whenever a property is rented out (unless it is intended to be used for less than 4 months in a year), including when it is rented for use as holiday accommodation. A rental arrangement is one where a person pays the property owner for the exclusive use of the property.

When will the amended guidance clarifying this requirement come into effect?

Immediately.

Has there been a change in the existing regulatory regime?

No. The existing Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations[1] have been in force since 1 October 2008 and state that any building that is constructed, sold or rented must have an Energy Performance Certificate. The Regulations do not specifically exclude short term holiday lets.

Where do the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations come from?

They flow from the European Union Energy Performance of Buildings Directive[2].

Where do they apply?

The Regulations apply in England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.

At what point is an Energy Performance Certificate required?

On sale, rent or construction of a building. The owner or managing agent of the holiday let must obtain the Certificate at, or before the point, when a property is first rented out.

What difference does it make if holiday makers do not have exclusive use of the property?

Properties which are let under a licence to occupy do not require an Energy Performance Certificate. A licence to occupy is where a person is permitted to stay in a property or part of a property such as a room, and (usually) pays the property owner or their agent, but is not entitled to refuse entry to the property owner, agent, or someone working for them, during the period of the booking.

How do you define a building?

In relation to Energy Performance Certificates, a building is defined as a roofed construction having walls for which energy is used to condition the indoor environment. A building can include a part of a building where this is a self sustained unit such as an apartment.

What about mobile homes, caravans and park homes?

The Certificate is only required for a building or part of building which has walls, a roof and an energy conditioned interior. Mobile homes, caravans and park homes as defined by regulations[3] are exempt.

10. Does it apply to bed and breakfast accommodation as well? What about hotels?

Energy Performance Certificates are not required when individual rooms are rented out. However, a Certificate would be needed if the whole building was put up for sale.

11. What about holiday parks?

This depends on the individual circumstances. If the holiday park is actually selling a holiday rather than letting a specific property, then this is not covered by the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations.

12. Are there any other exemptions?

Yes. Places of worship, temporary buildings with a planned time of use of two years or less, industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings with low energy demand and stand-alone buildings with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2 (which are not dwellings) are all exempt.

13. Are you proposing to introduce any other exemptions?

Yes. We are planning to consult on the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Recast. As part of that we propose to amend the Regulations to exempt residential buildings which are used or intended to be used less than four months of the year. This will bring the Regulations into line with the current guidance.

14. How should the four months be calculated?

The total four months can consist of any combination of individual bookings; these may be for a period of days, weeks or months.

15. Whose responsibility is it to ensure that a holiday let has an Energy Performance Certificate?

The owner of the property is responsible.

16. How much should it cost?

The Certificate would normally cost in the range of £50-£75.

17. How long does it last?

The Certificate is currently valid for 10 years.

18. How long does it take?

It takes about an hour to complete the inspection.

19. How long until I get the Certificate?

It should take no more than a week.

20. Is a holiday home counted as a residential or commercial property?

It would depend on the individual circumstances but we would expect the majority of holiday homes to be residential properties, notwithstanding that they are run as commercial enterprises and business rates are payable. Both residential and commercial properties require Energy Performance Certificates.

21. Will I need a domestic or non-domestic Energy Performance Certificate?

You would need a domestic Certificate. This is because the domestic Certificate is more likely to fit the particular characteristics of a holiday home. Therefore the Certificate would have to use a model called Reduced data Standard Assessment Procedure and be lodged on the Domestic Energy Performance Certificate Register.

22. Where would I go to find an energy assessor who can provide me with an Energy Performance Certificate?

A list of local energy assessors is available on the Domestic Energy Performance Certificate register at https://www.epcregister.com/searchAssessor.html.

23. What if there is a restriction on the use to which the property can be put, for example if the local authority says it cannot be used as a dwelling.

It will still need an Energy Performance Certificate unless it is a stand-alone building with a total useful floor area of less than 50m2.

24. If the property owner pays all of the utility bills, does the building still need an Energy Performance Certificate?

Yes.

25. Who is responsible for enforcement?

Trading Standards Officers.

26. What is the penalty for non-compliance with the requirement to provide an Energy Performance Certificate?

Owners could have to pay a fine of £200 per dwelling or 12.5 per cent of business rates for commercial buildings.

27. Why does the UK have to comply with European Directives?

If the UK does not comply with European Directives then the European Union can start what are called infraction proceedings and these could lead to a fine being imposed on central or local government.

28. How quickly are owners expected to hold an Energy Performance Certificate or have commissioned it?

Enforcement is a matter for Trading Standards Officers to decide. However, the regulations allow owners a reasonable amount of time to comply.

29. Is there any defence against non-compliance?

Yes: being able to demonstrate that a Certificate has been commissioned within a reasonable time before letting the property.

30. Will the new guidance be retrospective?

The guidance will not be applied retrospectively.

31. How and when should the Certificate be made available?

The Energy Performance Certificate should be made available (in electronic or paper format) to a prospective tenant at the earliest opportunity; and in any event before entering into a contract to rent out the building.

32. Can I start marketing a holiday let without an EPC?

Currently, yes, but the Government intends to change the law with effect from 6 April 2012. From this date, an EPC must either be available or have been commissioned before a property can be marketed for sale or rent.

33. Are there any other changes planned from April 2012?

Yes: there will also be a requirement for the first page of the EPC to be attached to any written particulars produced for a property being sold or rented out.

34. How are “written particulars” defined?

For a rented property, written particulars are defined as a document (whether electronic or paper) that includes at least two of the following:

a photograph of the building or any room in the building
a floor plan of the building
a description of the size of the rooms in the building
the measured area of the building
the proposed rent.

[1] The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 as amended (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/991/contents/made)

[2] 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 16 12 02 on the Energy Performance of Buildings, O.J. No L1 04.01.2003 (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:001:0065:0071:EN:PDF)

[3] Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 and Caravan Sites Act 1968 and Social Landlords (Permissible Additional Purposes) (England) Order 2006 (Definition of Caravan) (Amendment) (England) Order 2006.

20/10/2011

The Energy Bill becomes law

PSG Cornwall are able to confirm that The Energy Act 2011 has received Royal Assent and become law, setting in stone the legal framework for the Green Deal. It is now one year to go until the launch in October 2012. The Green Deal is set to revolutionise the energy efficiency of the nation’s homes and businesses. It will help people insulate against rising energy prices, creating homes which are warmer and cheaper to run.

Greg Barker Climate Change Minister said “ As well as helping people save money through home energy improvement, the Green Deal will be a massive business opportunity. The Energy Act is a crucial milestone, allowing us to move onto the next steps of making the Green Deal a practical reality. "

PSG Cornwall will provide further updates and information throughout the next year as work continues to get Green Deals ready for market.

For a full copy of the Government press release see

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_83/pn11_83.aspx

11/10/2011

PSG Cornwall celebrates seven successful years trading and an even brighter future

It has been a double celebration for PSG Cornwall as we celebrated our seventh birthday last week and achieved the major milestone of servicing 25,000 property transactions with the recent instruction from solicitors’ firm, Borlase and Company Solicitors based in Helston. To mark this occasion Simon Gill, Managing Partner of PSG Cornwall presented Eileen Mason conveyancing solicitor from Borlase & Company with a luxury hamper from The Corner Deli in Porthleven.

Eileen was delighted to receive the hamper and said of the relationship with PSG Cornwall “Borlase & Company have used PSG Cornwall since 2005 as a provider of searches connected with the Conveyancing process. PSG’s professional approach and helpful & efficient service have been a great help to us in a competitive Conveyancing market.”

In the last year PSG Cornwall have increased their market share in the county from 53% to 61% and gained eight new estate agent and solicitor clients. PSG have worked with 38 firms of solicitors & 34 estate agents based in the county over the same period.

Simon Gill said, “We are thrilled at these achievements, which are very hard earned with the slowing down of property market in the past 30 months. We have established the company and penetrated the market to such an extent that when we compare our data to Land Registry monthly statistics we see that we are involved in over 60% of all property transactions in Cornwall. “

PSG Cornwall last year relocated to state of the art offices at the Pool Innovation Centre (PIC), Cornwall’s premier location for ambitious and innovative businesses, and this has been a major contribution to the growth and success. The professional support PIC provides for new and innovative small businesses and the networking it facilitates and encourages has helped to generate new clients for PSG.

Simon concludes,” We are in really good shape to excel towards our first decade. With a great team on board and client satisfaction ratings at their highest ever, PSG Cornwall will work to continue to increase market share in existing residential and commercial property sectors and extend our services to lettings and holiday lettings markets.”

04/10/2011

Cornwall Property Professionals Association

PSG Cornwall are attending the first meeting of the Cornwall Property Professionals Association on Tuesday 11^th October at Bodmin Town AFC Social Club at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

This new Association provides a great opportunity for property professionals to meet and network with fellow professionals and as such the Association is open to all, from Estate Agents and Conveyancers to Surveyors and Financial Advisors.

There is a guest speaker after which a buffet supper will be served.

For further information and to book your place please contact Ian Lindsey,

Email ian.lindsey@ymail.com

Telephone: 01566 776311

Mobile: 07967 251406

04/08/2011

PSG Cornwall is also delighted with the recent successes of Andy Nicholas, Team Leader, with support from Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP). Andy, a maths graduate, joined PSG Cornwall in 2008 as a research consultant and was promoted to Team Leader in 2010.

At the UCP awards last month, Andy won the ‘Best Contribution to Business Improvement’ category against some very tough competition. Andy says, “I have developed so much personally in the last year, taking on some massive challenges for PSG Cornwall to improve and develop its business. I have had fantastic support from the company and my mentors at UCP and being at PIC, in a really professional environment with like minded people, has been both inspirational and highly motivating. Winning the award really is the icing on the cake.”

To view the video footage click on the following link

http://www.youtube.com/user/UCPtalent

19/08/2010

Exciting News About PSG Cornwall

We are pleased to inform you that on Monday 16^th August PSG Cornwall moved to the brand new Pool Innovation Centre.

The Pool Innovation Centre is a high quality office building incorporating state of the art ICT and environmental technologies. It has been designed to encourage interaction between businesses with a large atrium at its core, space for formal and informal meetings and conference facilities.

As a company we are committed to the ongoing growth of our business and we are also conscious of our environmental impact within the county so therefore see the move to this brand new environmentally friendly, state of the art building as an exciting opportunity.

Our move was recently featured as a case study in the Western Morning News and online (see link to article below)

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Growth-possible-new-base/article-2517726-detail/article.html

You can continue to contact us on our usual numbers however our telephone number will be changing in due course. Please keep a lookout on the website for details of the new number.

If you have any queries regarding the services PSG Cornwall supply please do not hesitate to contact us by email simon@psgcornwall.co.uk

12/08/2010

Encouraging Growth of the South West's Property Market

The region’s property market continues to perform well in 2010 despite prices elsewhere in the country remaining static according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).

Regional representatives from the NAEA believe that the urban centres of Bath and Bristol are assisting growth but that the more rural areas also continue to see growth.

Stephen Morris, of the National Association of Estate Agents said: “We believe that growth has been maintained by an influx of people coming to the region as a result of the recession and perhaps wanting to leave behind big City life.

“Areas such as Saltford are near enough to thriving areas like Bristol and Bath but do provide an alternative to living and working in London, for example.”

The average house price for the South West is £227,866 – an annual increase of 13.5 per cent (*statistics from the Land Registry and the NAEA monthly survey) which makes it one of the best performing areas in the country for house prices. This growth has been led by Bath and North Somerset but also the coastal counties of Dorset, Cornwall and Devon.

“We feel confident about the prospects of the region. Having operated here for a long time, we are aware of how strong the region’s performance has been and exactly why it is that buyers are attracted to the region. As well as beautiful scenery, a strong tourism industry and good transport connections, we also have a compelling compromise between rural and urban life, good schools, and, I think, a regional identity that draws people in from across the country.”

09/08/2010

PSG Cornwall Radon Test Now Available

What is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground and into the air entering buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundations. Any home, workplace or school may have a radon problem including new or old, well-sealed or drafty homes or buildings with or without basements.

Radon gas from the soil produces the highest levels however in a limited number of cases radon can enter a building through the water supply.

How do I test for Radon?

Alpha Lab's activated charcoal fast-track 48 Hr radon screening test is the most popular type of radon detector. The short-term tests are highly accurate and are deployed when a reliable indication of the radon levels in a property are required very quickly.

The 48 Hr test provides property buyers and sellers a fast means of screening a property for dangerously high levels of radon prior to any exchanging of contracts during the Conveyancing process.

How do I order a test?

Complete our PSG Energy order form giving the clients name, address, contact number and email address
Payment can be made either by cheque, debit card or bank transfer (on account options are available for solicitors and estate agents) £50 + VAT
The test will be sent directly to the home owner which they will then return directly to Alpha Lab when completed
The results will be sent in a report to PSG Cornwall which we will forward on to the client

If you have any queries or would like to order a test please do not hesitate to call us on 01209 204629 or email searches@psgcornwall.co.uk

19/07/2010

Audio Tours - The Online Marketing Revolution Continues

PSG Cornwall recently launched an exciting new product in conjunction with Audio Agent to enhance property marketing. AudioTours are designed to deliver a genuine point of differentiation for estate agents and letting agents in a highly competitive world. They not only significantly enhance your ability to attract buyers and generate quality viewings, but also offer a powerful new listing tool. Vendors and landlords alike simply love them.

AudioTours deliver the visual content in a trusted photographic format allowing viewers to digest the content in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Through the use of professional voiceovers and even background music the result is a hugely powerful interactive presentation tool which has the appeal and impact of a TV or cinema ad – but crucially, at a fraction of the cost.

All the user needs to do is email PSG Cornwall with the relevant web link or brochure. Audio Agent then do the rest, from creating the slide show and writing the script, to recording the voiceover.

Each script is individually crafted to reflect not only the writing style favoured but also the qualities of the property concerned. AudioAgent can also call on the skills of a whole team of professional voiceover artistes – so if required, you can even specify a particular regional accent or even a different language!

The tours can then be uploaded a company website, or any of the major portals, including Rightmove, PropertyFinder and Primelocation. Similarly, given the growing importance of online social networking, they can also be uploaded to sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Amazingly, a batch of 5 audio tours can be purchased for just £99 + vat or £39.99 + vat per tour.

For further information on Audio Tours contact PSG Cornwall on 01209 204629 or email simon@psgcornwall.co.uk

13/07/2010

How you can add value to your property

A recent survey of over 200 of the UK’s leading estate agents across the UK, carried out by movewithus, has revealed the top 14 ways in which home owners can add value to their property ahead of a sale.

Based on the average house price, as reported by the Land Registry*, adding an extra bedroom could increase the value of the average property by just over £14,500. Less expensive options include a simple installation of an alarm system and new conservative decor, which could increase the value of a property by £2,650 and £6,127 respectively.

Loft conversions remain popular, adding a typical value of 7.1 per cent or £11,757, an extra bathroom could add another £10,101 and a new kitchen presents a return of around £9605 on average. That last figure may not seem quite high enough when you look at the price of a new kitchen, so presale kitchen instalments may need to be carefully considered.

Parking space is another big winner with buyers; so if there is no space currently, it might be worth looking at the front garden – you never sit in it but if you could get access and lay a good hardstanding, it could add an average of £8611!

Robin King, movewithus director, commented, “There are a number of affordable home improvements that can be made to add value to a property, which often results in thousands of pounds more being achieved at the point of sale. Our survey revealed that sellers on a budget can add value to their home with a few low-cost improvements, such as improving the garden or having an alarm system.”

* Average house price of £165,314 – according to the Land Registry, May 2010.

21/05/2010

HIPs Suspended and EPC Regulations Changed

As of Thursday 20th May 2010 the duty for homeowners or agents to have a Home Information Pack (HIP) in place before any marketing of a residential property can take place was suspended (pending their outright abolition by primary legislation). It is no longer a requirement to have a HIP before you market a property.

The Government on 21st May 2010 introduced new legislation - the “Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010” which introduced a number of new requirements relating to the provision of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) including:

A new duty on the seller to secure that an energy performance certificate (EPC) has been commissioned before marketing of the property commences where no such certificate is already available
An EPC has been commissioned when a Domestic Energy Assessor has been instructed to prepare the EPC and the EPC has either been paid for or has given a clear undertaking to pay for it
A new duty on the person acting on behalf of the seller (meaning the estate agent) to be satisfied that an EPC has been commissioned before commencing marketing
A new duty on both the seller and a person acting on their behalf to make reasonable efforts to secure an EPC within 28 days
The EPC is valid for 10 years
The EPC ratings must be supplied on any written particulars
All of the new duties carry fixed penalties where somebody fails in the duty conferred on them by the new regulations as early as possible or at least before you enter a contract for sale or rental.

It has been clear from the feedback we have received since the suspension of HIPs that although they had weaknesses in their legislated form, HIPs did help to provide more transparency in the house-buying and selling process. Furthermore in Cornwall where standards of quality and accuracy were maintained many solicitors and estate agents valued their inclusion in the conveyancing process. As a result, PSG Cornwall is working with estate agents, solicitors and other interested parties to develop a cheaper, more local home selling pack on a voluntary basis. If you would care to be involved in this please do not hesitate to contact us on 01209 204629.

15/05/2010

Management Changes in PSG Cornwall

PSG Cornwall has re-structured in order to provide maternity cover for Karen Wright, our Operations Manager, and to recognise the achievements of two members of the team, Andy Nicholas and Sally Murfin who will be changing roles within PSG Cornwall to this end. Andy was previously a Research Consultant who has detailed knowledge of our local search product and has been instrumental in efficiency improvements in the office.

He will now be our new Team Manager looking after the smooth running of the office and our team. Sally, who previously was PSG Cornwall’s Client Liaison Officer, has spent almost four years with PSG and has undertaken most roles within the company building a great rapport with our clients. She will now be our Customer Manager, expanding her role to be the first point of contact for customer enquiries and marketing and will support Andy as Team Manager. We would like to pass on our congratulations to them both.

24/03/2010

Employment Opportunities at PSG Cornwall

PSG Cornwall is re-structuring to provide maternity cover for Karen Wright our operations manager.

This opens two opportunities within PSG:

Team Manager:

You will be responsible for the smooth running of the office and managing our excellent team to deliver a quality service to our valued customers. Already a strong people manager with good operational experience, you will have a customer focused approach and excellent coordination skills. Legal property and HR experience would be advantageous.

If you fit the bill, are a highly motivated, proactive team leader and excited at the prospect of inspiring our team, please email karen@psgcornwall.co.uk for the chance to be considered.

Closing date: Friday 30th April

Salary: dependent on experience

Administrative Apprentice:

You will be fulfilling a key role in a busy team undertaking general administration duties including monitoring the telephone, inputting new orders onto databases and scanning documents.

If you fit the bill, please email karen@psgcornwall.co.uk for the chance to be considered.

Temporary - Permanent Position

Closing date: Thursday 15th April

Salary: dependent on experience

01/02/2010

Win a luxury break with PSG!

PSG Cornwall are offering an amazing opportunity to win a stunning pampering package at The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate. The lucky winner will receive

Overnight accommodation for 2 people in a deluxe room to include breakfast (http://www.thecornwall.com/hotel/the-white-house.aspx)
Massage for 2 people in The Clearing Spa and use of the spa facilities (http://www.thecornwall.com/spa/spa.aspx)
Dinner for 2 people in the fine dining restaurant The Arboretum (http://www.thecornwall.com/hotel/restaurants.aspx)

All you need to do to enter the draw for this amazing prize is to order a PSG Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or a Home Information Pack (HIP) with a PSG EPC during the month of February. With prices from £45 plus VAT for an EPC and from £225 plus VAT for a full HIP including EPC, most Cornish property professionals now turn to PSG.

Every participating HIP or EPC order placed will be automatically entered into the prize draw to take place on the 1st March so that our lucky winner can be amongst the first to experience the luxurious surroundings at this new jewel in the Cornish countryside.

Please note:

All drinks and extra’s will be chargeable
Accommodation dates will be subject to availability

If you need any assistance in placing your HIP or EPC order please contact our friendly team on 01209 204629 or by emailing sally@psgcornwall.co.uk.

29/01/2010

Will the current house price rises be sustained?

Data released by the Halifax indicates that three Cornish towns are included in the top five of UK areas with the highest house price rises in the past decade. The report, discussed in the Financial Times, can be found by clicking here:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/2d8d4966-0d0c-11df-a2dc-00144feabdc0.html

Such price rises are unlikely to be sustained, as discussed in the Worldwide Financial Planning's latest Finance Update. To view the full article, click on the following link:

http://www.wwfp.net/weekly-articles/mortgage--housing/29-january-2010.htm

09/11/2009

Landlords to be targeted in Trading Standards swoop

Landlords who have ignored recent changes in the law are about to be targeted in a swoop by Cornwall Trading Standards.

Since April 2008, all properties now require an energy performance certificate (EPC) before going on the market for rent or sale. The EPC documents the energy efficiency of a building, focusing on the amount of carbon dioxide estimated to be released from the building during its normal use. It shows CO2 ratings in bandings, from A to G, with A being the least polluting. The property’s performance is benchmarked against current building standards and cost-effective improvements are recommended. The certificate gives potential buyers or tenants the opportunity to calculate their energy and environmental costs prior to signing a contract so they can consider energy efficiency as part of their decision to buy or occupy that building.

The legislation applies to both residential and commercial landlords, however Cornwall Trading Standards officers have suspected some landlords have been flouting the law by letting or selling buildings without the required certificates. Following a ‘desktop survey’, officers from the local authority have compiled a list of 120 commercial properties without a commercial EPC, that are being marketed through the local press in the county – and they are about to take action.

Landlords who do not comply with the rules face a fine of upto £5,000 based on the rateable value of the building, however Trading Standards officers intend to contact landlords and sellers who are marketing without an EPC with a 28-day warning first.

Cornwall Trading Standards officer, John Tutchier, said: “There appears to be a trend for delaying the provision of an EPC until the last possible opportunity or, in some cases, for not providing one at all. Not having an EPC and marketing a property for sale or rent is against regulations and landlords who do so may be served with a penalty charge notice.

“Commercial landlords should already be aware of the requirement for an EPC. There has been extensive publicity and a wealth of resources exists to advise and inform as to the requirements. Trading Standards will answer any query relating to enforcement and compliance that people wish to raise.

“Landlords of residential properties range from individuals with single homes to large operators with multiple homes for rent. For residential properties, the legal obligations are the same whether you own one or many properties. They simply have to obtain an EPC at the earliest opportunity for any property they are going to offer for rent.

“From an enforcement perspective, the situation is clear: If a property is marketed, then an EPC must be provided at the earliest opportunity”.

Simon Gill, partner in PSG Cornwall, one of the county’s largest suppliers of commercial EPCs, said: “Much effort from both the private and public sector has gone into explaining the new legislation to landlords and property agents but some people still seem to be unclear of their responsibilities.”

“Our role as a supplier of EPCs is to ensure we can help landlords meet their responsibilities and remain within the law – but they have to come to us first. We will endeavour to ensure that anyone who approaches us with a 28-day warning letter from Trading Standards will have a certificate in time to avoid any fine.”

06/11/2009

PSG Joins the Know Your Flood Risk Campaign

PSG Cornwall are proud members of the Know Your Flood Risk campaign - a campaign set-up by Landmark and the National Flood Forum with a mission to help raise awareness of the issue of flood, and encourage practical guidance and support to help protect homeowners, and property professionals against the risks. By signing up to the campaign, PSG Cornwall have joined a community of organisations whose goal is to raise awareness of flood information and the potential risks.

For more information please call PSG Cornwall on 01209 204629.

13/10/2009

Enforcement of HIP/EPC Regulations in Cornwall

PSG Cornwall today attended the Estate Agency Seminar run by Cornwall Trading Standards. This event was extremely well attended by estate agents, solicitors, energy assessors and other property professionals some of whom had travelled hundreds of miles to listen to the keynote speakers at this event, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.

The morning session was an overview of the current legislation relating to Estate Agents. The speaker was Roger Young, Manager of Estate Agents Enforcement at The Office of Fair Trading. He covered the current legislation and gave the practical implications of failing to comply with the current law from the point of view of The Office of Fair Trading.

The afternoon session was split between Denis Purshouse and Mark Cousens who are both Policy Advisors with the Communities and Local Government Office.

Denis Purshouse spoke regarding Home Information Packs. He explained the law around them, what they must contain and the exceptional occasions when one was not required. He went through some common questions that arise around Home information Packs and he finished off by outlining the enforcement action that can be taken if a property is marketed without a Home Information Pack.

Mark Cousens spoke on Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s). He explained that as part of a European Directive EPC’s are required. They inform potential buyers or tenants about the energy performance of a building, so they can consider energy efficiency as part of their investment or business decision to buy or occupy that building.

The seminar was concluded by a question and answer session during which local Trading Standards Officer, John Tutchier, stated that Cornwall Trading Standards were currently carrying out a desktop survey to ascertain which commercial properties were being marketed in the County without having a valid EPC in place. Mr Tutchier went on to say that once the survey had been completed the intention was then for Trading Standards Officers to go into estate agencies to audit them on non-compliance.

Delegates left the seminar with the up to date position on current legislation, Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates from Government Offices. They also heard first hand how seriously local Trading Standards are taking non-compliance with the home buying and selling requirements.

Should you require any further information on Home Information Packs or Energy Performance Certificates (Domestic or Commercial) please do not hesitate to contact us.

25/09/2009

New manager and growth plan for PSG:

PSG Cornwall have appointed a new operations manager – and moved to bigger offices – as we continue to grow. We have risen rapidly to become the county’s biggest provider of Hips, EPCs and searches following changes in the laws on house-buying during the last three years.

Our firm is now strengthened by the addition of Karen Wright, a solicitor with 15 years’ conveyancing experience who brings with her a wealth of leadership experience, having been part of the management team that grew Welsh law firm John Collins and Partners from 30 to 150 staff.

Bringing the PSG Cornwall team up to eleven, Karen will work with partners Simon Gill and Uzma Bozai to oversee and streamline our systems.

Uzma, PSG’s operational partner, said: “We are delighted to welcome Karen to the team. Her legal skills will be a huge asset in overseeing the day-to-day production of Hips and property searches.”

Karen’s appointment coincides with our move to new larger offices on Cornwall’s Cardrew Business Park with further scope for expansion and meeting rooms.

The key to our growth has been monitoring and forecasting the way the market would react to government legislation that was introduced piecemeal during 2007, 2008 and 2009. While this year’s crisis in the housing market slowed business, the market is now starting to recover and growth plans are back on track.

“I’m thrilled to be joining PSG Cornwall,” said Karen, “it’s a company that benefits from a good base of staff who really know what they’re doing and are keen to embrace change to continue to improve the high quality of service that our customers have come to expect.”

We have continued our proactive approach to informing the county on property issues through the recent launch of www.propertysalesguidecornwall.co.uk, our website that informs people of their responsibilities when buying and selling property and offers advice throughout the process.

Simon Gill, managing partner of PSG Cornwall, said: “It has been a difficult year for everybody in the property sales sector. The marketplace we are in now is quite different from the one we were in a year ago.

“Thankfully, our business model has always been about focusing on what’s going on around us – and what’s about to happen – and reacting quickly, so that has set us in good stead.

“We are very pleased to have Karen as our new operations manager and we’re very excited about the possibilities presented by our office move.

“Karen’s background in conveyancing means she understands the importance of the work we do and how our products have to satisfy the needs of solicitors and estate agents in order to help people move house as quickly and seamlessly as possible.”

20/06/2009

PSG is recruiting:

We are looking for a Operations Manager responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the office and managing our excellent team.

With a significant demand for property services supplied by a local, knowledgeable team, PSG Cornwall is growing. We would like to welcome Natasha Dowling to the team as Customer Services Administrator and now we are looking for a Operations Manager responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the office and managing our excellent team to deliver a quality service to our valued customers. If you would like further information, please email uzma.cornwall@propertysearchgroup.co.uk for the chance to be considered for this great career opportunity.

18/06/2009

PSG at the Royal Cornwall Show:

At this year's Royal Cornwall Show PSG Cornwall are providing an "Ask the Experts" service.

There will be representatives from PSG, local estate agents, NAEA, local solicitors (the Fastmove Initiative) and Landmark Information Group. This will be your chance to come and see who we are, what we are all about , pick up some information or just come along for a cup of tea! We will be launching our new leaflet "Guide to buying and selling in Cornwall" and providing a Flood Check service so come and see us on Stand 344 right next to the main ring.