Robert Mellors
BEST PRACTICE – letter template to go with eviction notices
Author: Robert Mellors
16th January 2019, 7 years ago | 11
Homelessness Reduction – Four Simple Ideas
Author: Robert Mellors
19th October 2018, 8 years ago | 12
Got land? Add a studio flat for £15k, no planning permission required.
Author: Robert Mellors
23rd January 2018, 8 years ago | 0
property118
Readers advice for landlords letting to single tenants on Housing Benefit
Author: Robert Mellors
6th January 2014, 12 years ago | 7
Robert Mellors
Registered with Property118.com
26th October 2013
Total Posts
10
Total Comments
1,310
Bio
Landlord since 1997, (and from 1989 to 1992).
Set up a Housing Association in 2004, and still running this. Mainly providing supported housing to people experiencing homelessness who may have complex needs.
Worked in Citizens Advice Bureaux 1999 to 2001 (and again 2009 - 2010), as debt and benefits caseworker.
Worked in Local Government homelessness departments 2001 - 2005, and 2010.
20th April 2026, 2 days ago
While I welcome Crisis becoming landlords and offering properties to tenants directly (as indeed I would Shelter and Generation Rent), it appears that this is being set up with funding donated by Lloyds (as well as lending arrangements). While this...
Read More →Reply to comment left by [email protected] at 13/04/2026 - 09:17
Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 09:17 There was no evidence that the Council told the tenants to stay on, (let alone insisting on it), only that they had a right to stay until the bailiff eviction,...
Read More →7th April 2026, 2 weeks ago
Your "management company" is either very dodgy, or simply don't understand anything about tenancies. If they rent the properties from you, then that agreement should be a "lease". You are the leaseholder, and the company are your tenant. If they...
Read More →6th March 2026, 2 months ago
A problem with the heating at one of my properties was reported to me at 17:48 on Wednesday, by 18:30 I had got my handyman there, and the issue was fixed by 18:45. From being advised of the issue, through...
Read More →2nd March 2026, 2 months ago
The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate is based on figures from the year preceding the LHA setting, so if the rates are frozen again in April for a second year (as this article predicts), then it would be the April...
Read More →26th February 2026, 2 months ago
But only for HMOs? so presumably does not apply to students in a 2 person shared house/flat, or a self-contained 1 bedroom flat/studio?
Read More →18th November 2025, 5 months ago
My long-term (housing benefit) tenant moved out in Summer, and as the property is some distance from where I live, I decided that the best option would be to sell it. Unfortunately, this has coincided with buyers hesitating due to...
Read More →11th November 2025, 5 months ago
This sounds like it could be a good addition to current housing stocks, however....... Will these Crisis owned and managed properties be let at a "Social Rent", or at "Affordable Rent", or at "Market Rent"? Will these properties be "Supported...
Read More →11th September 2025, 7 months ago
Great article Mark. As a not for profit charity R2R operator with 20+ years experience, I can recognise the risks and pitfalls that you've mentioned, and many more besides. We are often contacted by private (for profit) R2R operators and...
Read More →3rd September 2025, 8 months ago
Completely misleading nonsense! Of course the GROSS income from HMOs is more, but there are multiple extra costs, extra regulation, extra risks, and increased workload to manage those properties. The bottom line is the NET income from HMOs as compared...
Read More →28th April 2025, 12 months ago
Shelter (and some other tenant rights groups) have already done huge damage to the private rented sector, and as a consequence forced upon tenants a severe shortage of PRS homes, and a necessary increase in rents (higher costs and risks...
Read More →18th March 2025, 1 year ago
While I understand that for many renters it can be difficult finding someone to act as your guarantor (rent AND damage guarantor), if your friends and family don't trust you enough to be your guarantor, then why should a landlord...
Read More →21st January 2025, 1 year ago
This is presumably a big blow to the "rent to serviced accommodation" business model, as it potentially adds a 20% VAT charge onto the operators' rental income figures (which presumably would, in most cases, need to be passed on to...
Read More →5th December 2024, 1 year ago
Could Section 18 of the Distress For Rent Act 1737 apply in this situation? Does it apply to corporate tenants? Could it apply where it is the landlord that has issued notice, BUT the tenant then agreed to hand back...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Lisa Newton at 03/11/2024 - 13:28
No, I am not Sherwood, (or Shergroup). We do use the services of the debt collection company, Shergroup, with the process that my post links to. We do not offer any sort of debt collection service ourselves, but we have...
Read More →28th October 2024, 1 year ago
You are running a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), so it is YOU that is responsible for paying the Council Tax, and you that is responsible for paying the utility bills (gas, electricity, water, broadband, etc). You are also the...
Read More →25th October 2024, 1 year ago
Debts owed by former tenants, can sometimes be recovered, even if they are in receipt of benefits. This is our process: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/rkhu1hbx2vu09mattbzhb/CHT-Shergroup-Debt-Recovery-Process-Dec-2022.docx?rlkey=v1nr5avrci545hj0g23hczmeb&st=3dl5mx1m&dl=0 While this process doesn't work every time, overall it does seem to be an effective debt recovery strategy...
Read More →23rd October 2024, 1 year ago
I have a second floor flat where there were frequent reports of water leaks into the flat below. Upon invasive investigation it was found that the copper pipework had been set into the concrete floor of the flat, without any...
Read More →22nd October 2024, 1 year ago
The post didn't make it clear as to how the situation jumped from talking to the tenants, to the landlord having regained control of the property, but you have then explained to Paul Essex that you utilised the forfeiture clause...
Read More →Reply to comment left by Mick Roberts at 19/09/2024 - 19:12
Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 19/09/2024 - 19:12Did any of the councils or housing associations take you up on your generous offer Mick?
Read More →Showing 20 of 1,310 comments