General Election 8th June – Who on earth do landlords vote for?

Reply to the comment left by "Gary Dully" at "04/06/2017 - 16:34":

Hi Gary. You're spot on regarding who to vote for. I would say in safe or marginal Tory seats unfortunately it has to be a vote for the Tories and I agree UKIP should be the choice in safe Labour seats. I think it might be worth a new thread on 118 giving this as advice. Obviously it's gutting but there's no safe alternative.

Reply to the comment left by "Dr Rosalind Beck" at "04/06/2017 - 16:59":

Hi Ros,
Have you got facebook? Because Suzanne Evans is on it and unlike other politians she actually replies to people. Might be an idea to give her the low down about section 24 and the alternative the tories are pushing is the build to rent bunch etc. She may be receptive.
Ps I dont have facebook my nephew does hense why I have not messaged her, and I dont think I can bring my self to sign up for it.

Reply to the comment left by "Tobias Nightingale" at "04/06/2017 - 19:07":

Hi Tobias
Actually Jamie Moodie did a presentation to Paul Nuttall - who also read my report on s24. They then spoke to us about how they were putting it in their Manifesto. They then chickened out. The most that can be said about UKIP is that they are not against us. You are right though and it wouldn't hurt for us to get into contact with her.

Reply to the comment left by "Dr Rosalind Beck" at "04/06/2017 - 21:00":

Thanks for the info Ros! Given the right drive and determination and people willing to look beyond the 2 parties (Labour and Tory) UKIP could easily do at least a snp. It would be quite easy really they could for eg weaken 21 (satisfying the anti LL brigade) but in tandem strengthen 8 so LL would be no worse off and for all but the blatent LL haters appear to be anti 'the bad landlord' Also where UKIP are to ruthless enough and as you said chicken ie Not putting in manifesto still keeping foreighn aid when they should be unafraid of saying they will get rid of it.

In today's City a.m:
http://www.cityam.com/265975/general-election-2017-londons-housing-shortage-set-balloon

It is imperative that ALL landlords keep the pressure on their MPs, IF you don't you'll suffer in silence and segregated and defeated....Take any opportunity to email new evidence and enroll them in the effect of the outputs of S24.
I have written 4 times to my MP and 2 other MPs where i have property in their wards, i have written Letters with working examples of the tax changes and huge increase in losses for my tenants telling them why the rent is going up. I have attached Tenant-tax website details and their MPs email so they can complain, I will be sending these out after the election with a view that increases will take effect in the Autumn ready for 50% Tenent Tax, i'm looking at an 8% increase to fund the tax man. Here is a draft letter for you,

FORM 4

Landlord’s Notice proposing a new rent under an Assured Periodic Tenancy of premises situated in England.

Housing Act 1988 Section 13(2), as amended by the Regulatory Reform (Assured Periodic Tenancies) (Rent Increases) Order 2003

Dear Tenant,

As you may be aware from the news, there has been a material change by the Government to increase taxation of rented properties (deemed as the ‘Tenant Tax’) in the Private Rented Sector which came into force from April 2017.

The taxation will be based on taxing ‘Turnover’ or Rental income instead of paying Tax on the Rent minus the costs/expenses of running the property ie: Mortgage costs, Insurance, Agent fees etc.
This will have a very dramatic effect of any profitability that comes from the property that helps pay for ongoing improvements and repairs.

Here is your Property;
Rent: £750
Here are your Current Property Monthly Costs; £630
After Tax (40%) Remaining £72

Under the New Taxation this will change too;
Property Monthly Costs; £630
After Taxation (40%) Remaining £-180

As a result of these changes, there will little/no money left-over or even a Loss, to be able to look after the long term refurbishment and maintenance of the Property, as a result it is very likely that rents will have to rise to help pay for the government taxation that has now been introduced.
I will be looking at what is required as a potential increase in order that it is still viable to run the property expenses, any large costs of repairs such as kitchens, bathrooms, boilers etc, or if this isn’t possible the only other course of action would be to sell the property.

I will keep you informed in the coming months as to what course of action will be required.
I fully support you complaining about the Tenant Tax to your MP for Parliament, as I have already done this with my MP.

Kind Regards
Mike
http://www.tenanttax.co.uk/videos
sajid.javid.mp@parliament.uk

The notes below give guidance to both landlords and tenants about this notice.

To: ........................................................................................ [Tenant(s)]
of: ......................................................................................... [Address of the premises
.............................................................................................. subject to the tenancy]
..............................................................................................
From: .................................................................................... [Landlord(s)][Landlord’s agent]*
*delete as appropriate
............................................................................................... [Address for correspondence]
...............................................................................................
...............................................................................................
............................................................................................... [Contact telephone number]
1. This notice affects the amount of rent you pay. Please read it carefully.

2. The landlord is proposing a new rent of £..................per [week][month][year]*, in place of the existing one of £................per [week][month][year]*
* delete as appropriate

3. The first rent increase date after 1st September 2017 is ...............................................................................................
(see note 11 below)

4. The starting date for the new rent will be ..............................................................................................
(see notes 14 to 18 below)

6. If you accept the proposed new rent, you should make arrangements to pay it. If you do not accept it, there are steps you should take before the starting date in paragraph 4 above. Please see the notes over the page for what to do next.

Signed: ............................................. [Landlord(s)][Landlord’s Agent]* (see note 13 over the page)
* delete as appropriate
Date:...............................................

Reply to the comment left by "Mike D" at "05/06/2017 - 21:31":

@Mike
Totally agree with you. Great letter.

Last night I wrote to my UKIP candidate the following:

'Hi there. My family members and I are trying to decide whether to vote UKIP on Thursday. Can you tell me what the views of Liz Wilks are on the private rented sector?'

[I deliberately didn't write 'as a landlord' in order to get her genuine views/political position]

The following pinged at me around midnight last night (spoiling what should have been my first hour of sleep):

'I think the private rented sector is open to abuse by rogue landlords. I welcome the fact that it is now more regulated by having to register with an agency or act as your own agent. It is also good that deposits have to be held independently. It appalls me that people take advantage of disadvantaged people and do not do repairs and maintain their properties and often charge exorbitant rents. All they often appear to be interested in is the money. Everyone is entitled to a nice home to live in and just because they cannot afford to buy their own place they should not be penalised. Ideally there should be enough social housing to go around but unfortunately at this moment in time that is not the case. I hope this helps. Any further information you require please do not hesitate to contact me.'

I haven't answered yet. I'm keeping my gunpowder dry. She lost a few potential votes there though. Actually, this doesn't appear to be the national UKIP policy - the one they reckon they have when talking to us behind closed doors but are too scared to announce in their Manifesto or in public... Mmm. Very disappointing.

They are all a waste of time and really couldn't care less about our industry and only focus on the negative minority we have no friends in politics that's why all evergies should be focused on sorting your own ships out before it's to late

Reply to the comment left by "Mike D" at "05/06/2017 - 21:31":

Great Letter Mike,.
In May we increased the rent on average 5%. Together with Section 13 we supplied a letter to our Tenants, explaining the rise, very much along the lines you provided but in more details. We have also provided all relevant links (incl; Ros report) and encouraged our tenants to write to their MPs, Gavin Barwell, Hammond, etc, providing all relevant email addresses -
asking them to write citing specifically Section 24 as a reason for the increase. We also advised that if the Government does not abolish S24, we will have to execute similar rises until at least 2020.
So far all accepted and started paying new rent, except one family who begged to defer that till October, We agreed, they are excellent tenants, no problem whatsoever, take great care of the property.
I am not sure if they have actually written to anyone, but at least they have a reason for the increase, which we will otherwise not do.
I think we all need to get together, and put a well written letter to the TTs , urging them to take action.
I am repeating myself here, but if we do not have tenants on our side we do not have a chance to overturn that dreadful tax.