LANDLORDS – You Were Warned!

Yes done it, and had the auto reply so he has it!

yes, done it also

Just wanted to add, thanks Mark for the initiative. Btw, on another blog on your site some one suggested a ‘Landlords’ Party’.

Mark, now that you are semi-retired, why don’t you pick up that ball and run with it ?

he does need the odd half hour of sleep you know Christian !!

I had an acknowledgement on a postcard from Westminster – usual waste of public money when they could have just emailed me back. Nothing since from my Labour MP – safe in the Labour heartland of the valleys of South Wales. And I’m not holding my breath. As for Shelter, my experience is that they are 100% willing to support tenants from hell. It is my personal opinion that they wouldn’t care if that meant a landlord went through untold stress and even died of a heart attack. It’s a blind support of a whole group of people, some of whom are complete shits. It is worrying though.
However, are we weaklings or are we not?
We’ll have to be creative and think of ways of protecting ourselves – this will of course mean turning down a lot of potential tenants. Guarantors will become even more critical. We’ll also have to use attachments of earnings orders more. At the moment if the person is claiming LHA landlords can also get that paid direct after a short time. Let’s not get too panicky (Mr Mainwaring).

Just sent , now awaiting a reply, not going to hold out much hope though.
Keep up the good work Mark, a real insperation to us all.

This is an interesting one Mark.. although I am a landlord I also support Shelter.. I am not sure there should be a conflict,,, I think we should all be in support of their campaign against uncontrolled letting fees charged to tenants for example.

Obviously the changes on 15th January 1989 revolutionised the availability of rental accommodation for use by making the system of eviction easier and the rights of tenants have continued to be eroded by subsequent legislation but surely the key has to be to vet your tenants properly as a landlord before you allow them into occupation.

The court system is as we know screwed and the idea of accelerated possession is somewhat of a joke .. but most tenants are much more vulnerable than their private landlords.. there is a balance to be had .. open up a floodgate and expect to be flooded….increased homelessness is too big a price to pay for extending powers of eviction significantly….

Reply to the comment left by “Anthony Wilson” at “22/11/2014 – 12:32“:

I am often sad at the number of homeless and poor, but have no sadness whatsoever for those resulting from not keeping up their obligations.
Thus eviction for not meeting obligations ought to be strengthened not weakened. As to looking after the homeless, thats their own (and whole society’s) responsilbility not landlords’.

Reply to the comment left by “Anthony Wilson” at “22/11/2014 – 12:32“:

I have to agree with the part about letting fees, some agents and direct let Landlords charge criminal amounts of fees. I am occasionally approached by agents with ridiculously high fees charged to both myself and the prospective tenant and wonder why they don’t get my business.

But, to not have the ability to evict tenants quickly that don’t pay the rent for months and ruin the house is outrageous.

Reply to the comment left by “Anthony Wilson” at “22/11/2014 – 12:32“:

Anthony writes: ” but surely the key has to be to vet your tenants properly as a landlord before you allow them into occupation”. This is true but the tenants prudent landlords reject end up being someone’s problem. I have, thankfully, not had the sort of problems some landlords have had (£1400 debt and £80 damage – latter covered by a deposit are my worst experiences) but it is worrying if an organisation like Shelter feels it has to defend the indefensible and lobbies MPs to do the same. That gives encouragement to the minority of nasty bastard tenants out there that no matter how badly they may act someone will support them and they may “get away with it”.