10:20 AM, 29th November 2014, About 11 years ago 47
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The Tenancies Reform Bill presented by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather and aimed at stopping Revenge Evictions, has failed to secure enough votes to pass in Parliament, much to our relief at Landlord Action and other industry organisations.
This is great news for landlords. Whilst I fully agree that tenants need to be protected from the small minority of rogue landlords, there simply wasn’t enough evidence to support the need for more legislation, which would have impacted a large number of good, reliable landlords.
In the 24 years I have been dealing with problem tenants, I have only ever heard of the words Retaliation or Revenge Eviction in the last 18 months. Section 21 gives a landlord an automatic right of possession without having to give any grounds (reason) once the fixed term has expired. Shelter’s figures that 213,000 tenants have been served Section 21 notices as revenge evictions must be guess work because without surveying every landlord, it is hard to understand how they have reached this figure.
A recent survey of landlords that had instructed Landlord Action to serve Section 21 notices revealed that only 2% had served a section 21 because the tenant had asked for repairs. 28% served notice because there were rent arrears and 15% needed the property back so they could sell, 13% needed to move back into the property, 11% wanted to re-let to another tenant to obtain more rent and 8% said the tenant wanted to be evicted so they could be re-housed by the Council.
Passing this Bill would have created a loophole for tenants to remain in properties for longer, lead to further rental arrears problems, stretched the resources of local authorities even further and lead to longer delays at court. Yes, we want to make sure tenants live in a safe and pleasant environment, but preventing the proper use of Section 21 is not the way to do this and would simply tarnish good landlords with a bad name.
We at Landlord Action would like to acknowledge the hard work carried out by RLA in relation to this Bill.
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Changing landlords and statutory periodic tenancy
Colin Dartnell
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Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 252
14:00 PM, 6th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Julie Ford” at “01/12/2014 – 12:43“:
Your first comment.
“Surprisingly, the private rental sector is not there just for landlords, tenants need to have an equal playing field too”
Yes there are rogue landlords who need to be dealt with but there are also very many rogue tenants as well, and Landlords need to have the legal right to remove them from their properties as quickly as possible.
And in your second comment.
“If a landlord is conducting his rental business correctly then he should have no fear of this Bill.”
I conduct my rental business correctly, but how does it protect me from the tenant who has good references and seems perfectly okay, but within a couple of months of moving in becomes the tenant from hell, stops paying their rent and starts damaging the property.
The whole propaganda campaign to get this bill through, has completely ignored the problems landlords face, and has given no mention at all to that fact there are very many bad tenants who need dealing with, but then of course that wouldn’t exactly help them get their bill through if they told the whole truth would it!
If we are to have legislation then it must be prepared jointly between landlord and tenant associations not just by one side.
Seething Landlord
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Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 428
17:24 PM, 6th December 2014, About 11 years ago
i expect that you’ll all be pleased to know that parts of the defeated bill have now been added to the deregulation bill.
Monty Bodkin
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Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1549
19:20 PM, 6th December 2014, About 11 years ago
You are jumping the gun a bit SL.
It hasn’t been added yet, far from it.
It has just been tabled as an amendment by 4 dotty Lib Dem peers, clueless about the private rental sector, who have fell for the anti-landlord spin.
Alan Loughlin
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Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 264 - Articles: 1
19:49 PM, 6th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Monty Bodkin” at “06/12/2014 – 19:20“:
probably thanks to the very biased and factually incorrect rhetoric from the pratts at Shelter.
Seething Landlord
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Member Since August 2013 - Comments: 428
20:10 PM, 6th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Monty Bodkin” at “06/12/2014 – 19:20“:
Yes, I know, but it makes the rejoicing over the defeat a bit premature – let’s hope the noble Lords kick it out, but I wouldn’t hold your breath. The proposed amendment can be seen at
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2014-2015/0058/amend/am058-b.htm
Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118
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Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12120 - Articles: 1363
0:44 AM, 7th December 2014, About 11 years ago
I think I have found a gaping loophole in favour of landlords which both Shelter and the politicians supporting their campaign have missed. However, I am not going to reveal it unless or until this crazy and badly thought out piece of legislation has been passed.
I am, of course, hoping that common sense will prevail and that I will not have to reveal the loophole because, as we know, further legislation could follow to ensure the loophole is closed.
.
Monty Bodkin
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Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1549
13:11 PM, 7th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Mark Alexander” at “07/12/2014 – 00:44“:
Yes, you are right Mark and it just shows how daft this whole thing is. There are quite a few other flaws to be explored should emotional politics prevail over common sense.
It has not been properly thought through from the very start to the inevitable car crash consequences.
John MacAlevey
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Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 137
9:47 AM, 8th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Reply to the comment left by “Alan Loughlin” at “06/12/2014 – 11:38“:
Alan, quite right. Organised religion has been the scourge of mankind. Hopefully the internet will enlighten the young and all these fantasy groups will fade away. I`m amazed supposedly intelligent people give attention to any religion.
Alan Loughlin
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Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 264 - Articles: 1
10:17 AM, 8th December 2014, About 11 years ago
in a word, brainwashing. but while that is bad, what is really dangerous is the indoctrination in these so called free schools that will manifest itself into much more violence in the future, it is all so obvious, but we not only allow it to happen, we fund it.
Jamie M
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Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 179
10:27 AM, 8th December 2014, About 11 years ago
Read “Londonistan” by Melanie Phillips