Give small landlords a break?

Give small landlords a break?

9:39 AM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago 12

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Hello, I rent out one property, and a significant number of other landlords do the same. The rental from this property is my only income since I am retired.

It was an investment, but it also provided a home for somebody else which is more than you can say of most investments.

It has always rented because it is in the centre of London and people there are not necessarily long term so they don’t want to buy.

Under current regulations, it has to be kept to a higher standard than my own home can be. I have always been able to evict a tenant if they don’t pay their rent or cause a ‘nuisance’ before now.

If the Renters’ Rights Bill goes through I will have to go through the courts to evict and the courts are already clogged up. Also, it will be hugely expensive.

I can sell and buy another property for rental abroad, but this leaves the private rental market in the UK, which is in huge demand, losing their stock.

I think the landlords the Government seeks to target are people with multiple properties given over to ‘social housing’ which are not well maintained.

The Bill is far too wide-spread. Not all small landlords are ‘slum’ landlords!

Who understands that?

Thank you,

Rachel


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Downsize Government

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12:21 PM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

You are exactly who they seek to target.
That is why there is no easy out for you.

DP

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12:43 PM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

I understand it, I say the same, that there are different tiers in renting out an investment for people to live in and these people are not always off the street so to speak they are people who want something specific because they are passing through an area or have sold their house and want some time to look around before they buy again or whatever and need to stay a little longer than a short term let provides. They are happy to be flexible and the person letting out the property works in with them and draws up a term which suits both. Often these properties are high standard like holiday lets and it is not realistic to have people living in them for very long term or they will not stay the same standard as they need to be refreshed every so often. I typically let mine for a minimum of twelve months up to two years and it has worked very well. However, with the expected new RRB a tenant could turn round and say they have changed their mind and don't want to move out, then what ? Or, renters could not tell the truth saying they are looking for a period of time knowing they are going to stay on for a long time. It isn't going to work for these kind of properties or property owners and there are quite a lot around providing an excellent service. We need a flexible fixed term contract as we had before.

Godfrey Jones

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17:30 PM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

I read a horrendous story where someone had a job offer abroad for 12 months so they advertised their property in England for someone to rent for exactly 12 months whilst working away. Contracts drawn up and duly signed. Rent came in and communications were good.

A couple of months before the owner was due to finish their job they reminded the Tenant and still all was good. Until the owner returned home and put their key in the lock which now didn't fit; locks had been changed. Basically long story short: Tenant didn't move out and refusedto, stopped paying rent, Council Tax had not been paid and same with utilities. Last I heard a further 12 months had gone by and the owner was having to live in a hotel, then rent a place of their own. Police, Courts, Council etc did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Jonathan Willis

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17:42 PM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Godfrey Jones at 05/02/2025 - 17:30
We don't offer truly fixed term tenancy agreements. If they needed them out, it would need to be serviced accomdation, and they would be a licensee.

But by offering a tenancy agreement, then by law, as it has been for along time. A fixed term just becomes a periodic tenancy. Only a judge or the tenant can end a tenancy.

I think we should offer multiple types so if you really want a fixed term you can do that. But in this case the owner hasn't done their due diligence based on the existing status quo.

Kitcat

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21:02 PM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Downsize Government at 05/02/2025 - 12:21
Why?

Kitcat

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21:14 PM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Jonathan Willis at 05/02/2025 - 17:42
I'm sorry, we are not on the same page. For a long time I have been able to offer a shorthold tenancy agreement for 6 months renewable. If I wish the tenant to leave I have been able to give 2 months notice without needing to go near any court. If the RRA goes through then I will not be able to do this. Shorthold tenancies have existed since I started renting out in 1987.

Kitcat

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21:31 PM, 5th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Godfrey Jones at 05/02/2025 - 17:30
Totally agree. It's difficult enough at the moment evicting tenants if they refuse to go without the new bill. What gets me is the need to go to court. The courts are absolutely jam-packed, very slow to act, and very expensive. Why should landlords pay through the nose to get a bad tenant out? Nobody wants to evict a good tenant.

Joey Barton

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7:09 AM, 6th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Godfrey Jones at 05/02/2025 - 17:30
I have a smart lock on mine with PIN access. The day the tenancy ends is the day the PIN expires.

Jonathan Willis

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9:32 AM, 6th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Kitcat at 05/02/2025 - 21:14
I was under the belief that "shorthold tenancies" were no longer available. Rather it was either the most common "assured shorthand tenancy" (AST) or an "assured tenancy " (AT).

Just trying to do some quick research since 1989 an AT was the default tenancy unless a valid section 20 notice was given, then since 1997 the default was an AST. It sounds to me like "shorthold tenancy" stopped back in 1989 but I maybe clearly misinformed. AT and AST needs a possession order, unless the eviction is under "right to rent" with a notice from the home office.

Nonetheless RRB is looking to replace these again with yet more legislation.

Paul Essex

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12:07 PM, 6th February 2025, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Joey Barton at 06/02/2025 - 07:09
Locking a tenant out is an illegal act - you are opening yourself up to prosecution.

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