Three Generation Households – by Fergus Wilson

Three Generation Households – by Fergus Wilson

13:46 PM, 7th August 2018, About 6 years ago 38

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If Councils up and down the Country ask the question Have you got any children under age five years in this property there is a reason for the Question.

The clue is in Cllr Paul Clokie’s statement The council’s cabinet member for housing Cllr Paul Clokie said: “In cases such as this where a young family were without hot running water and the matter was not resolved, it was right that the council stepped in and took this matter further!

Ashford Council has 1500 families on its waiting list.

It does seem to me that Ashford Council has not thought it out terribly well!

Articles like this in the press are unlikely to result in Private Sector Landlords (PSL) rushing to take a young family!

The average landlord owns one BTL property. The average length of tenancy is four years.

Now what does the average PSL think when he reads such a statement?

If Councils wish to get PSL to take young families and be ONSIDE then they need to anticipate far better the reaction of a PSL reading the piece!

I take children from age 0 to 17 years. That way I reduce voids to a minimum. I do have tenants with children who have been with me for over 14 years. I assume they are happy with me as a landlord.

I have tenants with children who have been in three different houses of mine. I assume they are happy with me.

Most recently I have noticed the question from Kent Councils Do you have any three generation families?

This sets me wondering why they ask such a question?

So you think is this due to a concern about overcrowding? Or is it to do with Council Tax?

Now if a tenant moves in grandma I am very much in favour of it (albeit I do not always know). However, I am on guard? Why is that Council asking me? Is the Council trying to trip me up?

One Council found that Grandma had moved in with her son and daughter in law and small child  without my knowledge or agreement?

When I asked why the Council asked the question the answer was Do not worry we are not going to take any action? So why ask the question?

In that circumstance we did not wish to lose the tenant as he was never a penny in arrears with his rent. The house was immaculate! Net result I offered him a three bed house!

So what was behind it? The tenant lost his job and applied for Housing Benefit which he is fully entitled to do.

Apparently the application flagged up a three generation house. Also two households as grandma had to pay her share of the Council Tax. Then it throws up where does Grandma sleep as she is not allowed to sleep in the same room as her granddaughter.

Now I am all for three generation houses! However, if it is a two bed house and grandma moves in after grandpa passes away there is a Statutory Overcrowding situation.

So I am thinking. Is there a situation here where the Council could take action if it chose to?

Would one Council decide to take action and the neighbouring Council not?

We have a policy that the family must fit the house which basically means a three generation family has to live in a three bedroomed house!

Fergus Wilson


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Comments

Mick Roberts

16:02 PM, 10th August 2018, About 6 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Liam Strid at 10/08/2018 - 15:55
Don't get me started on Nottingham Council forms.
Their website is the worst website I've ever used. And all of other Nottingham Landlords.

Ha ha I have cut off that I won't work by as common thing stress and heart problems amongst people that kept going till 9pm at night.

I am ruddy good if got tenants been with me 20 years.
I've gave about 5 rent increases out this week cause of Licensing.
One gal been with me 17 years, never had rent increase off me. She was crying but totally understood cause of Licensing.

I think us Landlords have turned it round in Nottingham with the Media & tenants & Facebook etc., I'd say we've got about 80% of tenants on our side now against Licensing. Whereas at beginning, all tenants hated Landlords 'cause of the Bull Nottm Council was putting out.

user_17131

16:12 PM, 10th August 2018, About 6 years ago

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user_17131

15:55 PM, 12th August 2018, About 6 years ago

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Mick Roberts

17:53 PM, 12th August 2018, About 6 years ago

He's spent his own time & money plastering house.
He's paid to have the boiler moved by my plumber.
He's had all fan dang gooly shelving in walls in kids bedrooms, fancy lighting, new kitchen which I supplied cause he was going his bit, but he sorted labour & fancy oven hob extractor etc.
He's had wham bham doozy shower, new composite doors I've supplied & he's done one.
He's taking awful render off front of house.
He's been at it 3 years or so now.
Ha ha I han't got to check it or lawfully as he used to & still does perfectionist work on my houses.
He han't took any liberty with me, if he can bring a houses into 2018 moderness, he can do what he likes.

user_17131

17:38 PM, 13th August 2018, About 6 years ago

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user_17009

19:10 PM, 13th August 2018, About 6 years ago

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user_17131

22:15 PM, 13th August 2018, About 6 years ago

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user_17009

23:00 PM, 13th August 2018, About 6 years ago

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user_17131

2:52 AM, 14th August 2018, About 6 years ago

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Mick Roberts

8:31 AM, 14th August 2018, About 6 years ago

Quite a few of my tenants if they have the money, spend a bit on their house. As I have a good reputation for not kicking tenants out willy nilly & not selling houses just cause I feel like it. They know I fix stuff to good standard when goes wrong ie. £1000 good make boiler instead of £600 cheap one.
They have my word as long as they pay their rent & no hassle, they can stop there forever.
So they don't mind spending, as they say It's their home & if they ain't buying, why not have your dream house to your standards.
I've got a woman been with me about 15 years, she's spending 3k on her own design bathroom, as I will only put in nice minimum standard bathroom.
The lad above who's spent 10k, he's had false grass & all sorts.
And they do say We've done this house up for u & say U han't, u living in it, it's for u, as I'm not selling it, so I'm not getting any benefit out of it.
I'd only benefit from it if I sold it tomorrow.

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