0:01 AM, 5th February 2025, About 10 months ago 101
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John Bird, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Big Issue, has criticised tenant-landlord dynamics and highlights the urgent need for more public housing.
In an article for the magazine, he writes: “All I know is that we have to end the vulnerability of tenants who are caught in a trap that only enriches the landlord at their expense.
“Tenants in most agreements have only one role, and that is to pay off the landlord’s mortgage.
“That can’t be right in this day and age.”
He adds: “There must be a cleverer way to end this tyranny of housing over getting on with your life.”
Mr Bird argues that private rentals only benefit the landlord or the tenant depending on the prevailing legislation.
He notes that the new Renters’ Rights Bill could mark the beginning of a tenant-favouring period.
He goes on: “The vulnerability of the tenant, with such things as section 21 ‘no fault evictions,’ undermines the security of the tenant.”
Mr Bird points out that even the threat of eviction can cause stress for tenants, particularly those raising families or living alone.
He is advocating for a ‘vigorous public housing corporation’ which serves the community, including the homeless, trainee doctors, police officers, disabled individuals and students.
A well-thought-out public housing programme, he claims, could alleviate the century-old housing crisis and address the socio-economic disparities that have plagued the UK.
Mr Bird says: “Public house building for the public should include mixed usage, incorporating different demographics in need of housing.”
The Renters’ Rights Bill, he believes, could shift the balance in favour of tenants once again, much like Harold Wilson’s Rent Act of 1965.
He adds: “Ending section 21 has become a priority for those of us who do not want to see insecurity legalised.”
Mr Bird proposes borrowing land for temporary housing and utilising brownfield sites for new homes.
He also points to post-World War II prefabricated homes and says we need modern equivalents to deliver temporary relief while permanent solutions are developed.
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Mick Roberts
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3187 - Articles: 79
14:12 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 06/02/2025 – 10:35
Ha ha brilliant:
One would think that the tenants would be only too pleased to told to leave and stop finding the landlord’s mortgage.
graham mcauley
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Member Since August 2023 - Comments: 40
15:12 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Jonathan Willis at 05/02/2025 – 19:54
Sensible comment I like it
but then the councils would have to become the developers, they would have to employ people to do the work for them, because, as like the government at the moment, none of the front bench have ever had a job, so would not have clue where too start. So by the time they paid for all the advice, and everyone to build these homes they would probably end up more expensive
Shaheen Hamadani
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Member Since February 2025 - Comments: 52
16:04 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
the high cost of living which affects everyone from home owners to renters is causing frustration to everyone…and landlords are being given negative coverage especially by renters…large institutions are now going to be large private landlords and will probably demand higher rents and will not be having a mortgage they buy on full cash…some tenants also will never meet the criteria to buy..
NewYorkie
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Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1553 - Articles: 3
17:52 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Shaheen Hamadani at 06/02/2025 – 16:04
BTR is building/buying on investors cash, and they will expect a decent return.
NewYorkie
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Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1553 - Articles: 3
17:53 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by graham mcauley at 06/02/2025 – 15:12
Councils have a habit of paying top dollar for inferior quality.
Shaheen Hamadani
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Member Since February 2025 - Comments: 52
19:00 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 06/02/2025 – 17:52
definitely the large corporate investors will actually be the real sharks ? as opposed to private landlords many of whom are fair with landlords. i wouldn’t want to rent from companies like BLACK ROCK
Peter Merrick
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Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 168
20:26 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Shaheen Hamadani at 06/02/2025 – 19:00
The government are fixated with the highly emotive issue of perpetual tenure that can be offered by the BTR and social sector. Contrast this with the vagaries of the PRS where landlords can and occasionally do reclaim the roof they provided over the tenant’s head any time they want, subject to 2 months’ notice.
Of course, when we have been taken over by the corporate sector, the government will then find that there are a million people stuck in rental no-man’s land with nowhere they can afford to live. So they will start seriously demanding that BTR provide accommodation at “affordable” levels of rent like the PRS used to do before they were pushed out in favour of the corporations.
maurice Whitaker
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Member Since February 2025 - Comments: 1
20:38 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
This is an open market. All tenants are entirely free to put down a deposit, take a mortgage and buy a property. If this is not economically possible for them we, the landlord, are willing to extend credit to them (at our risk, using our own capital). Why is this service regarded as somehow morally wrong?
Shaheen Hamadani
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Member Since February 2025 - Comments: 52
20:43 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Peter Merrick at 06/02/2025 – 20:26
definitely i also doubt old terraced houses will be expected to have an epc above d as long as there is central heating double glazing and loft insulation more than this will make no difference…there’s alot of hype in the media by investors trying to get private landlords to sell…if you read between the lines you can understand this 60% of uk houses were built decades ago…there’s a difference between fact and loose rumours
Stella
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Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 581
20:52 PM, 6th February 2025, About 10 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Peter Merrick at 06/02/2025 – 20:26
I agree but the corporates are already demanding special treatment and I do not believe that they will dance to the Government’s tune when we have been taken over.
The mere threat of them pulling out of the sector will be enough to make the government roll over and give them everything that they demand.