Critic says tenants paying off a landlord’s mortgage ‘can’t be right’
12:01 AM, 5th February 2025, 1 year ago
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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.”
Only benefit the landlord
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.
Shift the balance in favour of tenants
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.
Tags:
affordable housing, housing crisis, John Bird, landlord tenant laws, Landlords, public housing, renters rights bill, section 21 eviction, Tenant rights, tenants, UK Housing Policy
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Member Since March 2024 - Comments: 281
12:39 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Peter Merrick at 08/02/2025 – 12:28
Just had a look at House of Lords records for Lord Bird’s attendances (I picked July 2024). He attended 7 times at the daily allowance rate of £361 each time and charged us for his travel too.
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 25
12:43 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
This is more badly informed comment based on ignorance. The myth of ‘paying off the landlords’ mortgage continues. The business is barely sustainable with an interest-only mortgage. There isn’t enough profit to pay off the mortgage, which is usually done when the property is sold with the landlord taking out their investment plus the yield minus capital costs and CGT. Rentals are a symbiotic relationship between landlord and tenant. Both parties benefit. If ‘rights’ shift too much in favour of the tenant, that will result in fewer landlords and higher rents. If that’s followed up with more pro-tenant legislation, such as rent caps, it’s a race to the bottom, which is where we’re heading now.
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1013
12:45 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Johnsy 1961 at 08/02/2025 – 10:52
… like virtually every big charity, the people that run make sure they are well looked after BEFORE the causes they purport to support.
E. G. CEO of Shelter pays themselves over £120k+ pa (along with several other executives on £100k+) and yet do not provide a roof over a single homeless persons head.
I’ve stopped donating to big charities and only donate to small charities run by volunteers.
Member Since March 2024 - Comments: 281
12:54 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Gromit at 08/02/2025 – 12:45What gets me is that the system completely ignores the pay when it comes to handing out the gongs – Dame Polly Neate as she became in 2020 for her ‘charitable’ service..
(I have put a bequest in my will favouring a local housing charity with a provision that my executor can choose an alternative if they no longer exist. I added a rider ‘always excluding Shelter’).
Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 1013
1:00 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Keith Wellburn at 08/02/2025 – 12:54
But look at the sacrifices she made for those charities e.g…………. errrrrm, ????, well don’t look too closely, literally, nothing to see here.
Member Since May 2016 - Comments: 24
1:36 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Makes sense to me and all that needs doing is for the RRB to ban landlords from renting to benefit tenants.
We should be left to survive by renting to people who can afford it.
There, Fixed.
Member Since April 2021 - Comments: 39
2:26 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
How does that work when you hire a car abroad? Are you paying off the cost of the car for the hirer? What about that holiday hotel in Brighton? Paying off the mortgage on the hotel? Perhaps we should remove the word Tenant/tenancies and it stead use the definition, hiring a house of flat, because that’s what it is. Tenants never own the house just hiring for a period of time. As kids our parents used to hire the TV, after a while we probably paid more than the TV was worth but we got upgrades and repairs. These do-gooders are complete idiots. Why don’t they spend time teaching children how to navigate life, make money and live comfortably.
Member Since February 2025 - Comments: 52
3:00 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Bryan at 08/02/2025 – 14:26
most of the complainers are those who didn’t bother to achieve anything in life education or work
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 186
7:50 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Stella at 05/02/2025 – 09:21
They would also not have to worry about the EPC of their home is F or G.
They have to also get their boiler fixed quickly or wait until they can afford to do so. Alos all the maintenance. No worries about all the legislative certificate requirements.
Is this John Bird real?
Well the tenants can buy their own tent and live there, so not responsible to pay any rent to the landlords. Landlords provide homes, so the tenans pay for it. No different from us paying for all the consumer goods, even the taxes etc. Maybe John Bird can find the solution to keep all the tenants of the UK in their homes without bothering with the landlords properties, so they will nto have to be bothered about paying for certifciates, mortgage interest, all the maintenance etc.
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 186
8:03 PM, 8th February 2025, About 1 year ago
John Bird crows useless comments. If he has the “boldness or stupidity” to write such an article, then I hope he has sufficient reasons to read all the comments or responses to his article. Just lashing out the first thing he can think about is not an idea, but silly not to notice how the world lives. Unless he wants people to go back to living in he caves, grow their own vegetables, make their own clothes, he should keep his mouth zipped up.