What Planet Are They On?

What Planet Are They On?

14:17 PM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago 39

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If it wasn’t enough that we are now expected to provide housing services for free for very lengthy periods – due to the eviction ban – where tenants decide not to pay the rent, the left are also trying to get rent arrears cancelled and even rent-free housing.

I don’t know what planet they are on.

Would any of them save up for years for a deposit on a house, get a mortgage arranged, work during their evenings and weekends to renovate, decorate, purchase and put together furniture, set up utilities, get gas safety certificates and EPCs done, set up and pay for adverts to let the property, do all the viewings, check tenants’ credit and tenancy history, whilst paying the mortgage, insurance, maintenance and so on, and then let people stay there indefinitely for nothing?

No, I thought not. And yet they expect us to.

Of course, in addition to the eviction ban and 2-month extension announced last week, the Government is also now plotting to bring in a lengthy delaying tactic – called a pre-action protocol – to set traps which judges and charities working for defaulting tenants can exploit to grant non-paying tenants more time in landlords’ properties. No doubt costly adjournments will be de rigueur.

With the current 5 month moratorium, the further minimum 5 months it usually takes to get a possession case through court, the additional months because of the huge court backlog built up since March, and then the rigmarole of the protocol, we are looking at more than a year becoming a likely length of time that non-paying tenants can stay. This is going to be devastating for landlords unlucky to cross paths with one or more of these rogue tenants. With subletting scams in particular, the damage to the properties will be that much worse, along with huge arrears.

Tenants’ lives will also be put at risk.

I have written about this on CapX today – a site read by Conservative Ministers and MPs – pointing out the farcical nature of what is going on. The latest rental ‘reprieve’ is another kick in the teeth for landlords – CapX


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Comments

Chris @ Possession Friend

15:56 PM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago

and the Select Committee of 6 Conservatives and 5 Labour M.P's who recently re-elected the Labour Chair, Clive Betts ??? want the Govt to impose a 12 month ban on eviction !
See our article today, " Even more worrying requests by the select committee. "

MoodyMolls

18:46 PM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago

It is devastating along with S24.
They really don't give a toss about the landlord.
The agenda appears to be let landlords take the hit. They know its near on impossible to get rent arrears back.

The whole thing is a joke they could have just paid the rents to avoid the evictions.
They have given landlords no help no furlough, no grant, still 100% c tax still S24. No delay on elect certs.

Gromit

20:29 PM, 9th June 2020, About 4 years ago

The Government couldn't send a clearer message, they want private Landlords out of the PRS.
(and they want all that pent up CGT).

10:51 AM, 10th June 2020, About 4 years ago

I think the poltics have sadly changed, The NHS and a hatred of the PRS seem the only way to unite people. I think it'll be bloodbath in the next few years. Landords sent to the chopping block.
I'm going to sell up in the next year even if I make a loss on the property value, God knows, what comes after if i hold onto my y properties will be even worse.

Darren Peters

11:09 AM, 10th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Out of curiosity, supposing a landlord needs the rent to pay the BTL mortgage but the rent has stopped. The landlord has probably used their savings to pay the mortgage to start with but the process has dragged on so long that the landlord has nothing left and the property is repossessed. Something becoming more and more likely as the eviction process is made longer and longer

Does the bank continue the eviction process started by the landlord with the same case number and start date? Or must the process start again? Or does the bank chuck the property into auction to get what they can? I did hear that once the bank became mortgagee in possession the tenancy was nullified and the bank could give the tenant 2 weeks' notice after which the tenants were trespassers and could be dealt with accordingly. Any truth in this?

Alternately, once the landlord has lost the property to the bank, can the landlord still pursue the tenants for past unpaid rent or consequential loss

Mike

11:10 AM, 10th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Landlords rights matter..............

So no notice is being taken......ummmmm. let us learn something from black lives matter.

(EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL)

Ironically the whole movement started by a fake $20 bill, and many landlords are owed thousands in rents owed, properties being damaged, and yet no one is prepared to care or bring the culprits to justice.

Hardworking Landlord

11:14 AM, 10th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Yes, i have come to the same conclusion. Its time to move onto different investments. There is little point pushing against this. Better planning an orderly exit and investing in something that is currently in favor with government policy.

I am sure Polly Neate will house my tenants!

Ed Cole

11:16 AM, 10th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Thank you for a great article! I love the Tesco shopping analogy! It would be great to hear you on radio or TV to get this point across!

KarenS

11:17 AM, 10th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Totally agree with you Rosalind. Would any of these lefties work for "free" I think not!

Would they go into Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury etc, load up a trolley and expect to walk out without paying, I think not!

Would they expect a car or mobile phone on a lease contract for "free", I think not!

Not sure why folks feel it's ok to "steal" rent. A PropCo, like any other business has staff costs and other overhead, it also needs to generate profit.

Chris @ Possession Friend

11:30 AM, 10th June 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ed Cole at 10/06/2020 - 11:16
Watch this space Ed 😉

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