Fergus Wilson Panorama documentary – now available on iPlayer

Answers Q1 Yes.
Q2 No.
So Adam what you're actually saying or implying, or as I think it is, mirrors what I have previously stated in at least two comments. This in regards to why on earth iMr Wilson is going on a show set up by the very parties that will undoutably work against him.
Especially with his very poor conduct/background/reputation as can be found on the internet. Its a lamb to the slaughter.....a very big one yes. Hope he swings a few on air. That would be great publicity for the anti PRS.
Not too sure of your last paragraphs credentials. But yeah I am not complaining about my modest wealth, moving it little by little out of the UK rental sector in to a varied portfolio. Two properties gone 4 to go. Most notable and most recommended are where I ve been getting 7% pa quarterly paid income tax free in Gibraltar and Malta with a good protection to the down side. Certainly beats what a landlord has to put up with in UK.
After 25 years at it made enough, the golden years are long gone. Cheers Adam I m out of this barren discussion, just like the UK PRS. Lol

Maybe he hasn't directly contributed to this programme, but instead the Beeb are going to splice old content of him in between commentary and interviews with his tenants facing eviction. Being evicted, particularly for the sale of the property (which remains even in Scotland's 'endless tenancy' scenario) is a known-fact of renting. This is sensationalising a non-story.

Good point, smart comment.
Absolutely possible....more than probable Luke. So why pay the hangman. As I said don't given them any credance or opportunity by even going on the show.

Pity we didnt know about this previously, we could have offered as his representative body to speak on his behalf. Good PR and perhaps a more polished performance. I fear he will be crucified.

I thought the government was hoping Landlord’s would sell up, so that owner occupiers could snap them up. If this is the main issue, then Fergus is simply doing what the government hoped for. They can’t have people renting and owning the same house can they? They can’t have their cake and eat it.

Doubt if the BBC will see it like this. Panorama is in the business of finding issues at anyone's cost.

As most of the forum comments so far here are not too supportive of what or why Fergus Wilson is engaging with a fiercely anti landlord media. In particularly the BBC's Panaroma. Or BBC full stop!

So I must ask myself and I am sure many of you on 118 do too. What is Fergus hoping to achieve here?

Support? Sympathy? A change in Taxation? Amendments to Govt laws?

Its not as if he is in a bad position really, a multi millionaire, one of the 500 richest people in the land. He's got to be admired for sure, making a vast fortune from property. Which let it be said, most of the BBC Panaroma viewers can ill afford ONE!! When Fergus has God knows how many. I can't see that gaining much sympathy there then.

He has amassed a huge property empire and now he is in a quandary on hiw to liquidate the £100M plus!?! This is much like some footballers Robbie Fowler springs to mind, having a huge property portfolio. I would like to ask Robbie, does he feel a 60 minute stint on Panorama might help him gain some traction or advice with the dilemma of liquidating a fortune?

Of course not, when you are worth £100s of Millions you employ accountants and lawyers to find the solution. Not setting yourself up before the British public who are nearly all skint, waiting in limbo, peed off with Brexit and don't know which way to turn or where their country is going next.

Fergus has nt been regaled with support here on 118 a from a partisan, landlord based forum, so then how will he be treated and presented by the very media who seek to besmirch us all as greedy landlords. When in both appearance and his wealth it might just appear this is so in Mr Wilson's case.

Fergus, if it were myself, I d set up my own financing, I d be selling those properties to the tenants who want to remain as "Homeowners" and if they can afford it, on a a fixed term financial package equating to the same 4-5% pa as most properties yield in rental returns. The properties that don't shift then package them up in several small Ltd Co and sell them as going concerns with tenants in. Perhaps get the local council's blessing on 3 year fixed term tenancies.

I am without any doubt with your wealth, experience and business accumen there's lots of ways to depart gracefully and profitably.

Phone the Beeb and tell them to pull the show, stick up their........

Reply to the comment left by Munro at 16/03/2019 - 05:06Munroe, I'd agree with most of what you say, other than support on this forum for FW.
He has as a proportion of his tendencies a minute problem with some tenants, and the L.A.
Because he is so successful, organisations target him. I think he could benefit with some PR advice, and like you, with or without it I fear for him and Landlords in general in 'going into the BBC's Lions den.
Has he ever made a mistake, like the rest of us ? - probably.
Given the percentage of his satisfied tenants, is he a too often quoted 'Rogue' landlord, certainly not in my view.
Nor do I see the role of a landlord forum to ' re-try ' him here on the basis of a few disgruntled tenants ( or L.A's ) amplified by the baying media.

Reply to the comment left by Chris Daniel at 16/03/2019 - 07:57
Fair comment Chris, thank you and very valid points. If I ve been unduly critical of Fergus or what he's attempting to do, then I deserve criticism too.
Just don't think this will gel.

Seems FW only interest is FW, and any publicity is good as far as he is concerned. Having ridden the BTL rollercoaster perfectly during the golden years he is ejecting...

Shame that some of us still have to work in this industry and this cartoonish figure does us no favours in public perception and cannot exactly be helpful going forward!

cartoonish figure ?? useful comment!!