In your weekly PCA update this week:

• TrustMark’s latest Scheme Operator meeting
• NEW Herbicides course to launch in May
• Technical Team presents responses to Government Policy Makers
• Law Society – ‘speeding-up’ the conveyancing process
• Understanding wood-destroying insects webinar!
• Missed the Webinar? View the Recording!
• Welcome to our New Members
• CITB Virtual Employer Conventions

TrustMark’s latest Scheme Operator meeting

PCA’s CEO Steve Hodgson attended a meeting recently with TrustMark’s scheme operators, which Steve shares his thoughts on in his latest ‘Hodgson View’. Has Trustmark slightly lost its way and original purpose?!?

Click on the button below to read the full review.

NEW Herbicides course to launch in May

We are delighted to share with PCA members & the public that from May 2021, we will be launching our NEW “Safe and Sustainable Use of Herbicides” course, as Technical Manager Peter Fitzsimons refers to in his latest blog.

This course offers tailored CPD training for those working in the Invasive Weed sector to develop knowledge and maintain standards, but is also an option for admin and surveyor staff too as an introduction to herbicides and their use.  The best part…it is FREE for all PCA members!

To read more about this new addition to our online training portfolio, click on the button below…

Technical Team presents responses to Government Policy Makers

Earlier this week PCA’s Technical Manager James Berry attended a meeting with The Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to present collated responses from PCA members on the Future Buildings Standard consultation – the proposal on the revision to Approved Document F (ADF).

Connecting the PCA Technical Team with Government Policy Makers on industry standards is a fantastic opportunity and speaks volumes about the high regard the Property Care Association & its members is now held in. The feedback we were able to provide was greatly received and we look forward to building this relationship further.

When speaking with PCA members about their views on the proposal, the consensus was that the changes were a step in the right direction, but some of the points requiring attention included:

• Lack of reference to Positive Input Ventilation (PIV)
• Greater clarity on the requirement for commissioning appropriate ventilation systems in all existing buildings
• Concerns over a potential loophole for not providing suitable ventilation in buildings with Lime render and mortar

We would encourage as many PCA members as possible to comment on the Future Buildings Standard consultation, which you can access via the button below.

Law Society – ‘speeding-up’ the conveyancing process

The Law Society has announced a new initiative to speed-up and smooth-out house buying and selling transactions. The Property Information form TA6 can have a big impact on house sales, usually very late on in the process, causing delays, costs and even deals falling through altogether.

A shortened version of the form called TA6 Part 1 is being trialled at the time the property is placed on the market, and will gather data on: “compliance with building and planning applications, the supply of services, flooding, common parts shared with neighbours, Japanese knotweed and septic tanks”.

More information will follow over the next few weeks, but for now, you can read the announcement by clicking on the button below.

Understanding wood destroying insects webinar!

Join us and PCA’s James Berry on Thursday 29th April 2021 from 9-10am for our next LIVE broadcast on ‘Understanding Wood-destroying Insects’. What exactly are ‘Wood destroying insects’? How much damage can these insects do to our homes and how can we spot the ‘tell-tale’ signs of infestation?

James will share his expertise on how to identify these common insects, how to recognise the ‘tell-tale’ signs of timber damage/infestation and how to treat the issue.

Click on the button below to find out more and to register.

Missed the latestWebinar? View the Recording!

Thanks to all who joined our live webinar yesterday on ‘How to Assess if an Existing Home has “Adequate Ventilation‘.

If you missed the live event, you can always watch it ‘on-demand’ via our webinar section on the website. Click on the button below to watch presenter John Bradley discuss the legal obligations towards ventilation, fulfilling the needs of the ‘Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act’ & how we can actually measure ‘adequate ventilation’.

Simply click on the button below to watch the replay.

Welcome to our New Members

We are pleased to welcome the following companies into membership:

• Japanese Knotweed Control Ltd
• Remmers UK Ltd

CITB Virtual Employer Conventions

PCA Members can register for the next CITB ‘Virtual Employer Convention’, which will be held on 8th April 2021. The convention will discuss:

• how CITB employers will be assessed to pay the CITB Levy for the next three years
• what’s been identified as the areas of greatest need for employers in developing skills for their business success, whilst best supporting the wider industry
• how Levy registered employers can take part in consultation on the Levy Proposals 2022-25 and have their say on the proposed areas of support for construction businesses

PCA Members can find out more by clicking on the button below.

Remember to keep in the loop…

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