Fergus Wilson’s response to BBC Panorama

Fergus Wilson’s response to BBC Panorama

8:45 AM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago 26

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The Remit of the Programme was:

What happens to the Tenants when the Landlord Retires or Dies!

Why are Private Sector Landlords (PSL) leaving in droves, because of the punitive tax regime!

Unfortunately Panorama sacrificed an informative explanation of the reasons for the PSL exit in favour of two “non stories” from tenants and thereby bringing Panorama into disrepute.

Why were these none stories? Firstly Mr and Mrs Holmes had been to court and the Council had withdrawn its case! The Council was perfectly entitled to withdraw the Case!

Contrary to what Richard Bilton said there was no prosecution for No Heating! The prosecution was for no hot water. The next tenant moved in and found a working immersion heater. Mrs Holmes had failed to turn it on! Yet Panorama ran its left wing piece instead of explaining the reasons for landlords exiting the Sector!

The second couple were equally at sea and had no case! Their shopping list of faults were all non-faults, but that is not why I gave a Section 21. It is because the tenant said that he was upset at a £50 a month increase and did not want future increases which were inevitable! It is far better to deal with the situation immediately rather than have a repeat next year.

I noted one tenant had to pay £2,600. Well that is a surprise! Cheaper to pay £50 a month for six months! The house has been re-let at £50 more!

If the function of Panorama is an educational one then the programme failed miserably to deliver the message of why PSLs are so annoyed with HM Government Tax Regime that they are pulling out of the Sector. The Government is most un-businesslike  in its methods. If a business has a shortage then it gives incentives, not disincentives which is what the Government is doing at the moment!

That in simple English is tax breaks. I suggest that Capital Gains Tax is reduced to ten percent! The Revenue will suffer a heart attack, but tenants will have a Roof over their Heads!

There should be Full Tax Relief on Mortgage Payments at the top rate!

Again, HM Government has to decide whether it wants tenants to be housed or not!

Fergus Wilson


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Comments

Dr Rosalind Beck

9:26 AM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

Perhaps if Fergus had seen my article from last year, he would have been less likely to engage with Richard Bolton or Panorama. It is like lambs to the slaughter. Hopefully others will not engage with these propagandists in future. My critique of the earlier programme is here:

https://www.property118.com/landlords-union-slams-bbc-panorama-report/comment-page-11/

TC

9:33 AM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

I did think of asking Panorama if they would like to feature me in a follow-up program named 'Britains Least Controversial Landlord' But I guess because I pay my taxes, look after my tenants, worked for 20 years building a solid small BTL business, they would not be interested as it would not make great TV. Like the majority of Landlords I suspect...

Dennis Leverett

9:45 AM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

What happens if we can't or don't pay our TV License? I just can't think what the answer is!!!!! Oh, of course, big trouble. Oh well. Time for the BBC to become self supporting. If we don't want SKY we don't pay for it.

Simon Smith

10:20 AM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Leverett at 21/03/2019 - 09:45
Spot on Dennis I could not agree more

Dylan Morris

10:32 AM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Leverett at 21/03/2019 - 09:45
If we don’t pay for the BBC licence it is a criminal offence which is likely to result in a prison sentence. Even in North Korea they get their State TV for free.

JB

11:36 AM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

BBC = Biased Broadcasting Corporation

Rob Crawford

12:55 PM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

Dear Mr & Mrs Wilson, taking all into consideration I think you both did quite well during the programme. The houses in particular were very nice and demonstrates that landlords do provide nice well maintained properties. You were able to nip-in-the-bud any controversial issues that were directed at you. In one exchange you did mention that "the landlord is in charge!" Good for you. I was hoping to hear the reasons why your children were not interested in taking on the properties, no doubt due to tax and regulation issues, so edited out. In your situation, selling up is probably an astute call and I suspect many will be following you! All the best for the future - don't forget to take time out for the odd holiday!

Mike T

17:42 PM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

Sorry, this may not be the right place to post this - just in from 38 degrees.
Dear friends,

I just signed the petition "No one moving onto Universal Credit should be left worse off" and wanted to ask if you could add your name too.

This campaign means a lot to me and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding. You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make-sure-no-one-moving-onto-universal-credit-is-left-worse-off-1?bucket=email-blast-21_3_2019_universal-credit-petition-rt-swork-topper

Can you also take a moment to share the petition with others? It's really easy – all you need to do is forward this email or click these links:

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Thank you!

Michael

Cathie

20:14 PM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

I saw the program and was disgusted, though not surprised by the bias.

10% CGT?! - lovely. Couldn’t trust the govt to keep it that way for long so think we would all be selling (may or may not buy something else).

michael holmes

22:25 PM, 21st March 2019, About 5 years ago

Obfuscated Data
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