Government shifts away from blanket bans on benefit recipients and families

‘unfairly denied access to a home’.

totally irrelevant if they cant afford it.

So another ard hitting ‘ban’ where it it completely meaningless.

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 16/11/2023 – 09:23
Now they are becoming even more greedy giving Local Authorities more powers to fine us up to £30,000 if the property does not meet decent home standards and the tenant can claim up to 24 months rent money.

What is to prevent a tenant from turning the property into a mould – ridden home or doing something else to the property that will make it sub – standard so they can claim 24 months back rent.
I have an ex – local authority flat and from my experience the council are much worse at dealing with repairs and keeping the standards up.
For example it took them 6 months to fix a downpipe that caused penetrating damp to one of the bedrooms and resulted in having to move my tenants out so that we could take the wall back to the brickwork and tank the whole wall.
This could all have been prevented if the problem was dealt with in a timely manner by the local authority.

The wall was covered with black mould as a result of the local authorities negligence so I wonder who would be responsible for paying the tenants their 24 months back rent under these circumstances?

Gove is diliberately destroying the PRS to allow the pension companies/banks/LA`s to control this form of tenure. This isnt about protecting tenants, its clearly to destroy landlords ability to invest in property.

Government shifts away from blanket bans on benefit recipients and families?????

But the government has tabled amendments to make it illegal for landlords and letting agents to have blanket bans on renting to people who receive benefits or who have children.

Yet, despite the message to Local Authorities from Brandon Lewis, the then Housing Minister, telling Local Authorities not to routinely advise tenants to stay until Bailiffs arrive, where the tenant has received a valid S21 notice, i.e. “a blanket approach”, some (most?) Local Authorities still have this blanket policy approach and ignore the statutory guidance.

The guidance states that housing authorities should not, in every case, insist upon a court order for possession and that no local authority should adopt a blanket policy in this respect…..some (all?) do!

I am afraid it is one rule for them and another for us.

Michael Gove apparently seems oblivious to the problems and needs of landlords, preferring instead to listen to those who think they know what is happening rather than those who actually know.

This Conservative Government has completely lost my faith and support and would not be getting my vote if it were not for the fact that Rayner and mob are even worse.

What a shambles.

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 16/11/2023 – 10:10
What is to stop the tenant doing those things? Nothing – however if you have for eg a window and extractor fan in the bathroom you will have a defence against bathroom being mouldy for (having read the mould guidance released a few months back). And just having a extensive inventory at the beginning of tenancy and a periodic inspection also. So these sort of things would be help a lot in regards to your fears I would suggest.

Reply to the comment left by Sam B at 16/11/2023 – 11:01
Yes I agree
However if the Local Authority as freeholder are negligent by not maintaining the block (as in my case) and as a direct result have caused the the sub let property to become substandard and the tenants exercise their right to demand 24 months rent, it would be interesting to see how the Local Authority dealt with the problem.

Would there be provisions in the bill to take account of this scenario.

‘BYE !

I’d agree that every rent-paying tenant deserves a home that is safe. This must include social housing.

They also deserve a home that is affordable.

If I am forced to install a new kitchen based on age rather than its suitability, rents will rise. Of course, government has a vested interest in demanding things are replaced unnecessarily. The VAT on bathrooms/kitchens and income tax from the tradespeople will be a nice little earner for HM Treasury.

I’m watching the RRB with interest. Section 21 and Section 8 being prepared for April. CGT is minimal for my properties.

It will be a sad day for good tenants that look after their kitchens.

How much should I raise the rent on a 4 bed semi-detached? Currently just £500 per month (s lot less than market rate and a lot less than the LHA which has been frozen at 2020’s value). I’m guessing a new kitchen would be £8k and a new bathroom around £5k. So, the decent homes standard could easily add £50 per month.

Well I think they need to target BTL lenders as most stipulate no letting to benefit claimants plus the insurance companies who also have it in the small print.