Critic says tenants paying off a landlord’s mortgage ‘can’t be right’

Critic says tenants paying off a landlord’s mortgage ‘can’t be right’

0:01 AM, 5th February 2025, About 2 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.”

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.


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Shaheen Hamadani

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20:30 PM, 8th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Tiger at 08/02/2025 - 19:50
they probably wouldn't fix the boiler or take out insurance

DP

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23:35 PM, 8th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Robb at 05/02/2025 - 12:34
Well put, suggest you send it to all the papers, social media, TV etc, its sickening keep hearing all the usual one tracked reports if this goes on there is going to be a serious problem in this country as far as housing goes before long, even if they build all the houses are there enough people who can afford to buy them, they are in for a massive shock if they do and have to maintain them as well as pay a mortgage etc . as you point out. There's soon going to be a whole generation of people who wouldn't have a clue about how to look after a property. This government wants to start building social housing to meet the demand and leave private landlords alone to do what we do best.

Shaheen Hamadani

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23:39 PM, 8th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by DP at 08/02/2025 - 23:35
expects in the building trade like roger bisby of skill buider said that the 1.5 million homes will not get built probably not 50%

DP

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0:44 AM, 9th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Zen at 05/02/2025 - 17:29
Agree, too many people expect everything for nothing these days. My parents spent their whole working lives paying off a mortgage and reared their family etc, not on the state, and I followed on with this doctrine that you work hard to get what you want or need and make sacrifices and take risks on occasions to make progress and its just sickening to be attacked in this way by vote seeking politicians who are actually relying on us to house people as its turned out. A lot of us invested our hard earned cash in housing with the intention of providing for our own pension requirements in later life to avoid being dependant on the state and chose to work at the management of both the houses and tenants in the meantime. Whether this in now viewed as something to be encouraged or not does not alter the fact that this is what happened and lots of us are in this situation. And, it is a job and becoming more so with all the legislation etc and it's about time it was viewed and valued as such we are not all rogue greedy people and the sooner the term 'landlord' is dropped the better. A voice which will be listened to might help but as the saying goes ' there are none so deaf as those who do not want to hear'

Shaheen Hamadani

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0:50 AM, 9th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by DP at 09/02/2025 - 00:44
actually some people live with their parents or do 3 jobs sometimes with a partner also working...it's probably not easy but eventually they are able to afford a home...the world owes no one a living.

JohnSnow

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4:51 AM, 9th February 2025, About 2 months ago

I just spent the last month repairing, cleaning, replacing the entire contents of yet another filthy property whilst investing thousands in materials following the tenants leaving what was a perfectly clean and new property in a filthy, broken state, to buy their own home.
Why should I be expected to work for free and pay for their mess from my pocket?
Sorry Mr big issue, if you’ve never been a landlord you’re showing naivety.
Maybe go say the same about supermarkets selling food, or energy companies selling energy.. I suppose all their employees should be expected to work for free too right?!

Shaheen Hamadani

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5:16 AM, 9th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by JohnSnow at 09/02/2025 - 04:51
totally agree. it's usually renters who don't keep other people's properties clean. but if they own anything they take care of it. the big issue comments are from envy

Londonlad

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10:37 AM, 9th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 05/02/2025 - 08:34
I also object to paying for my vet's range rover and prime minister's shades.

GlanACC

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11:19 AM, 9th February 2025, About 2 months ago

Big Issue sellers can claim benefits as they are considered self-employed, which means they can potentially access benefits like Housing Benefit

The problem is the average Big Issue seller only earns between £60 and £200 a week - not really a useful job is it.

However as they are classed as 'self employed' - this is a status that landlords don't enjoy - Big Issue sellers are classed as a business and as such being 'employed' they are eligible for a whole string of benefits - and who pays for those

Shaheen Hamadani

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12:16 PM, 9th February 2025, About 2 months ago

so why should we pay for supermarket shopping this should be free just like rents should be free and cars should be free

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