The Blog - Archive

March 2009



20/03/09 New Gas Safe Register To Be Introduced 1st April 2009

Corgi has maintained a register of approved gas fitters for the past 17 years. From the 1st April 2009 Corgi will no longer be authorized to maintain the register.

The Gas Safe Register (overseen by the Health and Safety Executive) is effectively replacing CORGI as the regulator. It will be the official industry stamp for gas safety. Its main purpose will be to protect consumers from unsafe gas work by ensuring that anyone on the register is competent and safe to work with gas.

Under the old system, a Corgi registered person installing a boiler/heater has to comply with the building regulations 2000 and give a building notice (and if required full plans to the local authority building control department). Health and Safety Executive approved gas fitters (registered on the Gas Safety Register) do not have to give a building notice or full plans to the local building control.

From 1st April 2009 all landlords and employers should check that anyone carrying out any work on gas appliances or flues is registered on the new Gas Safety Register as Corgi registration will cease to have any statutory force. There is no grace period. From the 1st April 2009 you must be on the Gas Safe Register to legally carry out work and to comply with the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998.

For further details please contact Natalie Clarke at D'Angibau LLP solicitors nclarke@dangibau.co.uk

by Natalie Clarke

 

19/03/09 Good news for landlords of business premises - Business Rates on Empty Properties U-turn

As from 1st April 2009, empty properties with a rateable value of less than £15,000 will be exempt from business rates. The Government estimates that this change will exempt 70% of empty properties from business rates.

by Daniel Stanton

 

06/03/09 Lake District 10 Peaks Challenge

We are into our second month of training with two walks under our belts so far: Braemere / Whitsbury 5 miles and Win Green / Tollard Royal 8 miles. The first was an easy stroll but the second one involved a much tougher climb to the top of Win Green at 911 feet in the snow! See Community News section for more info about the challenge and photos. Next month I shall report on our more strenuous walks on the Dorset coast and Cranborne Chase. If readers would like to sponsor us in September, you will see more details in Community News.

by Robert Fielding

 

04/03/09 Happy Birthday Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)

That is not the greeting you would normally expect to see but SDLT (which replaced the old stamp duty) is just five years old. You may think that this has no relevance to you but it does if you are a tenant and your lease was granted after December 2003.

The reason is that, if there is a rent review within the first five years of your lease, then additional SDLT may be payable if the rent is increased above the original amount. If the rent does increase, then you may have to send a further SDLT return and pay the additional tax. If you do not know how this affects you and what to do, please contact Dan Stanton or myself at Poole office for further advice.

by Roger Turner

 


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