Fergus Wilson’s response to “Hero or Villain”

Fergus Wilson’s response to “Hero or Villain”

10:17 AM, 26th July 2018, About 6 years ago 93

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Please see the response from Fergus Wilson to the article “Kent Landlord – Hero or Villain“:

“Hi, I have noted the Property118 article this morning.

Property 118 talks about Zealots. We call them Petty Little Hitlers (PLH).

A Council Officer can never be wrong. He is always right and when he is not right he is never wrong!

Ashford Council brought a case against me for no hot water for not acting quickly enough! The Council then had to withdraw the prosecution for not acting quick enough itself! It was out of time!

The Council then said we will set up a procedure to help if you cannot find a Gas Safety Engineer! Well what a great idea!

However, the reality is this. No one Answers the telephone. It turned out all three in the Chain of Command were on holiday at the same time!

So this is all about an Organizational Deficiency at the Council! It is nothing at all to do with Single Mums or Pregnant ladies!

I certainly never mentioned them and it is a total figment of the imagination of Journalists who do not apply the standards of journalism they should abide by and amend to the point where they focus on something that is untrue.

What the real issue is at the moment is the serious shortage of Gas Safety Engineers!

Joe Public things the term plumber and Gas Safety Engineer are interchangeable terms. They are not! Plumbers are in short supply but Gas Safety Engineers are in even shorter supply!

The Council says it has the answer and is there to help!

I am afraid it is Hot Air!

Fergus Wilson”

Click Here to read the original article Kent Landlord – Hero or Villain


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Comments

AA

20:07 PM, 30th July 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Chris Daniel at 30/07/2018 - 15:37
Good point, most likely the latter but not looking to be elected or win the popular vote. Therefore I would not be remotely phased - others might be.

Michael Barnes

23:53 PM, 30th July 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 30/07/2018 - 08:43
Wilson wrote: The average tenancy now lasts 4 years whereas a decade ago it was under 2 years!
That tells me that it is twice as hard for a young family to find accommodation as it was 10 years ago.

What kind of logic is that?
It means that tenants are not being made to move as often as they were

Chris @ Possession Friend

0:57 AM, 31st July 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 30/07/2018 - 23:53
or, ... Not choosing to move.

Mick Roberts

7:16 AM, 31st July 2018, About 6 years ago

There is logic in the moving bit.
Most mine are long term 20 years etc. But those that do want to move, live near their Mam etc., can just not get anywhere.

And I used to have several swaps a year where if one did move, 5 or 6 tenants can swap with each other in one 6 house swap move, & that's not happening now, as the very first person isn't moving away from me.

Definitely harder in Nottingham to get somewhere. Maybe 5 years ago, some tenants would treat Landlord a bit of crap as they knew they could get somewhere else. Now they being much more respectful, as they can't get anywhere.
I wish it wasn't so tough out there, as I expected all my HB lot to leave me 3 to 4 a year natural wastage over the next 10 20 years so I can ruddy start to retire, but they just can't get anywhere.

The local Housing Homeless people few years ago would say u may be in Homeless 2 months or so, now it's a year +. Although with Homeless Reduction Act, watch this space.

Neil Patterson

10:11 AM, 1st August 2018, About 6 years ago

Update from Fergus Wilson:

The final position is that I met with a Group of Ashford Landlords over the weekend and the summary is as follows:-
1) Landlords, Council Officers, reporters have to understand the difference between a Plumber and a Gas Safety engineer.
2) A normal “jobbing” plumber is not allowed to touch the Boiler. It is only a Gas Safety Engineer that can touch a boiler.
3) The Council recognises the difficulties in getting hold of an available Gas Safety Engineer. It has a mechanism to assist in locating a Gas Safety Engineer.
4) However, that mechanism is difficult to access during holiday time!
5) A Landlord is “On Duty” as soon as he is notified. He is responsible from that point. If the Agent is notified then the Landlord is vicariously responsible of the Agent.
6) It was compared to the NHS Service, Just because you need a GP does not mean you can access one. Just because you need a Brain Surgeon does not mean you can access one and there are long queues.
7) Everyone is entitled to the repair to be done immediately! However, the Council seeks to teach a lesson if the Landlord does not deal with the matter immediately where young children are concerned. (Under 5). That you cannot access a Gas Safety engineer is no excuse.
8) Independent Gas Safety Engineers must be used and not direct employees.
9) One Kent Council in response to a FOI request admitted that 11% of its Council Stock did not have a current Gas Safety Certificate.
10) A PSL would be prosecuted if he did not have a current Gas Safety Certificate.
11) The long term requirement is for a National Training Programme to increase the number of Gas Safety Engineers but we as landlords, at the coal face, have to deal with the immediate shortage.

Gromit

10:22 AM, 1st August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 01/08/2018 - 10:11
"A PSL would be prosecuted if he did not have a current Gas Safety Certificate."

Unless your name is "Luminous Group Ltd" when you can get off scot-free not having 1,000+ certificates.
http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/letting-agent-furious-after-social-landlord-escapes-prosecution-despite-gas-safety-breaches-in-1000-homes/

Chris @ Possession Friend

10:25 AM, 1st August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 01/08/2018 - 10:11
Absolutely spot on Fergus, ... just a slight disagreement with Point 10. - If you recall about a year ago, the Social Housing provider who was found with 1000 properties without a Gas certificate, They were NOT prosecuted.
This just goes further to illustrate the bias and uneven treatment of the PRS.

Luke P

12:37 PM, 1st August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Neil Patterson at 01/08/2018 - 10:11
What is meant by point 8?

Mick Roberts

12:46 PM, 1st August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 01/08/2018 - 12:37
Luke, I reckon they are saying u can't use your own Gas engineers if they work directly for u.
Yet the council can use their own......

Luke P

14:22 PM, 1st August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 01/08/2018 - 12:46
Who’s saying that and why not?

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