Council slammed after moaning about its 8,000-strong homeless list

Council slammed after moaning about its 8,000-strong homeless list

9:20 AM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago 13

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A frustrated landlord has hit out after a council revealed that the housing crisis in their city is so bad that 8,000 households are waiting for a home – but they won’t engage with local landlords to help resolve the issue.

Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, the council’s portfolio holder for housing, Toby Neal, said that Nottingham is facing ‘very specific challenges’.

He said there are 8,000 households on the housing waiting list and most of them are families. But the council only manages to house between 1,400 and 1,600 households every year.

Right to Buy scheme doesn’t allow the council to build

Coun Neal points out that the big challenge is money because the Right to Buy scheme doesn’t allow the council to build replacements.

He also highlights that Nottingham doesn’t have any areas to build homes on.

But local landlord Mick Roberts, who is Nottingham’s biggest private provider of homes for tenants on low incomes and benefits, told Property118.com: “He blames everything else, yet never says private landlords can help us with the homeless.

“That’s because he knows we won’t help because of his and Nottingham council’s actions.

“And the more he ignores us, the more we carry on without them and we won’t help their tenants.”

‘NOT ONCE has Toby Neale called me’

Mr Roberts added: “NOT ONCE has Toby Neale called me, emailed me or engaged with me, to see what we can do to help him and the homeless tenants out.

“Instead, they plough on with Selective Licensing as he ‘knows’ there are a few bad houses he’s out to get.”

Mr Roberts says the big issue for landlords in the city is the council’s Selective Licensing scheme which means many fellow landlords will not engage with the council.

He said: “Yet Toby Neale still ignores this. It is bonkers.

“He will move on in a year or two and absolve himself of all the homeless, while I, the tenants and other landlords will still be here to pick up the pieces and increased rents to pay for the licensing and administration.”

‘Councillor Toby Neale knows ZERO about housing’

Mr Roberts continued: “It makes you laugh; this Councillor Toby Neale knows ZERO about housing people, yet he was made the councillor for housing approximately eight months ago.

“After the last Councillor Linda Woodings for four years brought no good to the private tenants of Nottingham, except a rise in the cost of Selective Licensing mid-way through the scheme – because they found out they weren’t getting enough money in from poor tenants’ rent increases.”


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Comments

Reluctant Landlord

9:26 AM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

ditto! I have tried 8 people now in Birmingham Council to try and offer up 3 x 4 bed EMPTY houses to them for family temp accommodation use and no ones has bothered to contact me back....

I even copied the Labour councillor in on the emails and she said 'to keep her posted'...

No one cares. There are so many people on the hosing list they simply cant see the wood for the trees and are just not interested.

Paul

10:50 AM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Unfortunately as Mick says, councilors and other public servants have portfolios and many without knowledge but they don't need it to get their rewards whether salary or other. It's time all were linked to improvement service

Contended Ted

11:32 AM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Many Nottingham landlords live some distance from the property. When we are summoned for 10 minute inspections this costs us time and money. Prior to the visit they asked us for information that we have already provided. The inspector moaned about knowing many friends who couldn’t find accommodation when he must know how many landlords have left since they started the registration scheme.

Akins Properties

11:56 AM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Councils don't care about the homeless people as many of their employees and decision-makers are jealous of the private Landlords. All they care about is making Landlords’ lives as miserable as they can. I have never seen so many wicked people in my entire life. They are all the same throughout the country mischievously going after the Landlords with their selective licensing and prosecution nightmares.

Mr.A

12:11 PM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Those who can't do ,look on enviously and try to cause problems for those that do .

Mike D

12:28 PM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Socialism makes you Poorer.
They attack the hard working to take the money they earn, and as a result the poor become poorer because the hard working self made won't play your game.
I would urge all landlords to kick back against socialist run councils he'll bent on attacking the PRS. Stop cooperating and let them solve their own mess out, they created it with their own foolish thinking anyway.
Socialism makes you Poorer

Mick Roberts

15:12 PM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 06/12/2022 - 09:26
Well said DSR.

Mick Roberts

15:13 PM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Yes Paul, how can u go from one role to another with no experience. It's bonkers.

Mick Roberts

15:13 PM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Contended Ted at 06/12/2022 - 11:32
Yes Ted,
Asking for stuff they've already got is annoying.
Inspectors not their fault, they just being paid & the Councillors are detached from it.

Mick Roberts

15:13 PM, 6th December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Akins Properties at 06/12/2022 - 11:56
When they gonna come & ask us to help them? Instead of penalising us for doing a good job.

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