Fergus Wilson’s response to “Hero or Villain”

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 02/08/2018 - 15:24Luke's right, you can increase rent by agreement or a term in existing tenancy agreement ( % increase each year ) or by issuing a new Tenancy agreement ( which is just the same thing as Luke suggests )
I do personally like to use the section 13(2) Form 4 though, as it gives the tenants details of what they can do if they object [ Appeal to First Tier Tribunal ] I my view, if the government have seen fit to create a document that gives guidance to Landlords AND Tenants - then it must be sensible to use -
as to be fair, not a lot the Govt does with Housing has any logic, or sense - so when they do, lets use the form. 😉

From Fergus:

Recently there have been two cases of plumbers impersonating Gas Safety Engineers and receiving custodial sentences!

I have a tenant who is a plumber it seems. He describes himself as a “Heating Engineer”

He should not do so. It is unlawful.

Address Withheld!

Then you are not a Gas Safety Engineer are you?

Address Withheld

Hi Mrs Wilson, I’m a mechanical engineer level 2 plumber which I’ve been doing for around 7years, basically my job would be everything pipe fitting etc, not gas work, at work someone else has to complete them tasks and sign them of. But as long as I don’t touch actual gas, then I’m ok to do programmers, rads, pipe work, boilers and boiler elements.

Hope this helps nice to touch base.

Kind regards

Name Withheld
Sent from my iPhone

> On 2 Aug 2018, at 12:44, Judith Wilson wrote:
>
> If you are a Gas Safety engineer can you send me a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate?

>> Hi there thanks for the reply, maybe I honestly can’t remember I did know there was a switch the isolates the programmer this is not normal, but is fine, anyway there is still a fault with the boiler Tanks heating element that supply’s water in case of an emergency boilers malfunction.

>> This is what I do for a living. Heating engineer.

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 02/08/2018 - 15:29
"This is likely the single most important letter that we have sent throughout our 25+ year history and the third year running we have done so (although, for various reasons, you may not have been a recipient in previous years).

UK businesses are taxed on their profits only; that’s to say income (e.g. your rent) minus expenditure (e.g. repairs, building’s insurance etc). Between 2017 & 2021, the Government plan to phase out (for sole trader companies and individuals) the ability to deduct one of most landlords’ biggest expenses: interest on the mortgage/loan with which the property is purchased. This could have a large and potentially devastating effect on the private rental market.

We strongly recommend that you visit the website: http://www.TenantTax.co.uk, paying particular attention to the ‘Tenants’ section (found under the How It Affects You section).

If you are one of our longer-term tenants, you may have been subject to a rent-rise in previous years. Unfortunately, we are having to raise rents again as the Government are staging the increase in tax due by landlords over a four-year period and we too are having follow a similar staged schedule.

However due to these increased costs, particularly the Government’s recent tax grab on landlords -commonly known as ‘Tenant Tax’ or ‘Section 24 [of The Finance Act]’- that will increase substantially the amount of tax we are required to pay (even if we make a loss on our rentals), we have found it necessary, along with our fellow landlords, to increase rents to all our tenants in 2018.

As a direct result of this new taxation, we have taken the decision to regularly monitor rents to ensure that they increase in line with market rates. We have considered your rent record and your apparent long-standing commitment at the property but unfortunately due to this substantial increase we can no longer absorb this cost, which means that from the date below your new rent will be as follows, representing a less than 5% increase.

We appreciate that this will be disappointing but assure you that this increase in rent reflects only a fraction of the increased costs that are being imposed and it is the strong belief of many (including tax lawyers and accountants) that the Government’s discrimination against small independent landlords and in favour of large corporate property owners may have been illegal. Consequently, an attempt to challenge the new rules by Judicial Review in the High Court was mounted, but unfortunately these efforts were unsuccessful. The focus has now very much shifted to landlords lobbying their MP and warning councils of the dire effects this will cause to the private rented housing market, but also to informing tenants of the changes and, in the strongest possible terms, encouraging you to speak with your MP about pressuring Parliament to overturn the legislation.

If this is acceptable, please would you adjust your standing order/payments; should this not be acceptable, or if you wish to discuss this matter further then please do not hesitate to contact our office using the details below."

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 03/08/2018 - 13:12
It’s actually very similar to what I use, but mine includes a paragraph explaining when the rent increase date starts and also what the attached S13 notice means.

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 03/08/2018 - 13:25
I cut the part where there's a space for me to hand-write the (individualised) date of change in.

Never caused any problems, but then I'm increasing at less than 5% in almost all cases.

Yikes - What's happening ? I declare foul play. I turn my back for a minute and there is a tranche of criticism of my friend Mr Fergus Wilson. A philanthropist I hold with the highest of esteem. You cant criticise a rent increase. Lets face it - if you can't put the squeeze on those that are barely keeping their heads above water, who can you do that to ?

Reply to the comment left by AA at 03/08/2018 - 19:57
Asif, that only exemplifies what a fair minded forum this is.

You've diverted a mature discussion about local authorities imposing made-up rules into a childish spat.

Play the ball, not the man.

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 05/08/2018 - 09:29
I think with Wilson, it is fair to have a pop at the man. He has a Trump-like relationship with the truth and a record of saying and doing unpleasant things. He is not evicting single mothers because he needs to - he is doing it because he can, to prove a point, and possible because he enjoys it.

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 05/08/2018 - 09:29
No dispute here regarding the fairness of the forum. The discussion bas meandered but just a couple of points. Fergus Wilson stated he has stated raising rents by circa £50 because there has been an increase of a quarter of basis point.

How many of us are raising rents for those reasons ? s24 yes, loss of allowances yes, Licensing on costs yes, rents been static for several years , yes. But for a 0.25% rise in rates ? And then you have the elephant in the room - base rates are at a historic low. Even the most financially illiterate person knows this. Using the base rate as an excuse to hike the rent is a damn good reason for rent tribunals or rent controls as far as the establishment goes. Whether they work or not, as far as the establishment will be concerned they may have not worked in the past but they will try again. Now who has brought this to the forefront. You maybe happy to be tarnished by his notoriety but I am not.

Landlords are as popular as a sewer rat in this day and age, advertising there are some carrying the plague is going to result in a plethora of pest control regulation to use a colourful illustration. We have had it here North of the border soon to visit the South aggravated by his truly.

I will comeback on the LA issue. Then you can comeback to me whether I am playing the man and not the game - to quote.

Reply to the comment left by AA at 05/08/2018 - 11:19
You know he lowered rents by £50 at the last drop in rates, right? Just wasn’t widely reported because it doesn’t fit a narrative.