The real reason why landlords are now going to be forced to evict tenants

The real reason why landlords are now going to be forced to evict tenants

11:26 AM, 30th January 2017, About 7 years ago 28

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In an article for the Northamptonshire Telegraph Councillor James Burton was reported as below:the real story

“The problem is one that has affected councils across the country, and Cllr James Burton (Con, All Saints) says it is not one members are taking lightly. He said: “Homelessness is happening throughout the country, not just in Kettering. It is a huge issue at the present time.

“I believe Kettering is coping and it is on the increase, there’s no doubt about that, but we have reasons for that. “We know what the reasons are and we are putting things in place hopefully to manage with that.”

Cllr Burton said one of the main reasons is people being evicted by private landlords. He added: “What they’re doing is getting people on a lower rate out and getting people on a higher rate in.”

“It’s all to do with business, but unfortunately it puts a strain because they’ve got nowhere else to go so they come to us.”

Click Here to read the full article

 

The Letter I wrote in response to this is copied here:

 

Dear Mr Burton.

It has been drawn to my attention that you have suggested that rising homelessness in Kettering is caused by private landlords evicting.  Unfortunately, you have not given the reasons why this would be so. Because you have not done this, it implies that private landlords just like to evict, or as some people suggest, that we do so in order to replace tenants with others who can pay more, as we are greedy people. In fact, the main cause of landlords evicting up till now has been when tenants have broken their tenancy agreements, often by not paying the rent and/or damaging the properties.  Most professional landlords like myself have never increased rents for tenants in situ or evicted good tenants who abide by their tenancy agreements.

You will also find, if you look into this more deeply, that the real causes of homelessness are things like drug or alcohol dependency; that is, homelessness is not ’caused’ by landlords, even if they have to evict tenants. To blame landlords for evicting tenants in breach of their agreements is rather like saying that it is an employer’s fault if she or he sacks someone who has stolen from them. This constitutes a kind of infantilisation of people and encourages the abrogation of their responsibilities for their own behaviour (and, as usual, the displacement of this responsibility onto landlords).

However, I will acknowledge that landlords are now in fact starting to evict tenants in order to raise rents; this is generally a new development as it has not been in our business interests to have unnecessary churn, which leads to voids, contrary to popular stereotype. Landlords are not, however, raising the rents in order to pocket the proceeds, but rather to pay the potentially infinite tax rates which will apply from April 2017. If you are not au fait with Section 24 of the Finance (no.2) Act 2015, I put the link here to my comprehensive report on it. You will find it enlightening and will see how this measure is going to prove catastrophic for levels on homelessness in this country.

Yours sincerely

Dr Rosalind Beck


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Comments

Old Mrs Landlord

10:12 AM, 31st January 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Laura Delow" at "31/01/2017 - 09:41":

Oh great, Laura, I hadn't heard of this proposed tax. As you say, any landlords not bankrupted by legislation already imposed will be taxed out of any remaining profit. It's death by a thousand cuts for the PRS from politicians pledged to "solve the housing crisis". The verdict of history will ensure many of the measures introduced in recent years are rescinded. At the moment it seems to be revenue raising above all, with no regard for all-too-predictable consequences,

Steven Burman

10:48 AM, 31st January 2017, About 7 years ago

Tobias, its not just the left. Remember that Osborne and his Tory cronies are responsible for section 24.

CazT

13:36 PM, 31st January 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Laura Delow" at "31/01/2017 - 09:41":

I honestly cannot believe what you have just posted! I have held on to two of my properties to help with my pension (I'm already retired) and if that happens I will sell those too! Just do not understand where this government is coming from. I will NEVER, EVER vote Conservative again! ???

CazT

13:38 PM, 31st January 2017, About 7 years ago

BTW! I remember little "Jimmy Burton" when he had a tiny 'antique' shop in Kettering back in the early 70's. He's come a long way, pity he's joined the party with the least intelligence!!

Jamie M

17:31 PM, 31st January 2017, About 7 years ago

Gawd it's bloody depressing Gary, I wake up each morning feeling punch drunk and wonder what has to happen before this shit gets sorted out and I only come to one conclusion.

Its going to take a Trump like character to do something outrageous to get the attention of the liberal left fkwits or someone uses violence somewhere

UKIP for sure!

terry sullivan

9:59 AM, 4th February 2017, About 7 years ago

joined UKIP?

Dr Rosalind Beck

10:03 AM, 4th February 2017, About 7 years ago

UKIP hasn't come out in our favour either as far as I have heard. The most they do is say that they have no intentions to further regulate the PRS as they are anti-regulation. I believe that landlords who have approached them regarding their position on s24 for example have been largely ignored. Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm right then there is not a strong basis for recommending landlords vote for them. It might be that once they start actually thinking about it and the fact that currently attacking landlords is a populist move (promoted by the media and the likes of Shelter for several years now), that they too will stick the knife in.

terry sullivan

10:22 AM, 4th February 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Dr Rosalind Beck" at "04/02/2017 - 10:03":

typical doctor-comment

Jamie M

10:22 AM, 4th February 2017, About 7 years ago

I will ask Nigel

Jamie M

10:23 AM, 4th February 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "terry sullivan" at "04/02/2017 - 09:59":

3 years ago

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