Property118 Founder Sends Open Letter To Chancellor Philip Hammond
8 years ago | 18 comments
Will you be hit by the Budget?
9:53 AM, 14th November 2017, 8 years ago
42
Categories:
Hi, I write for The Guardian (I’m their money editor) and we’re keen to profile a landlord ahead of next week’s Budget – looking at the sorts of things that have affected you financially over the past year, what you want from the Budget, etc.
On the day we’ll ring back for any reaction. We’d need to name you and photograph you, and preferably say how many properties you have.
If you’d like to take part, contact me at [email protected]
You’ll find I’ve written a mix of stories about landlords representing Guardian readers’ views on the sector.
My most recent one, “Have we gone too far in vilifying landlords” Click Here to view the article.
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
or
Next Article
Property118 Tax Overwhelmed Pre-BudgetRelated Articles
Property118 Tax Overwhelmed Pre-Budget
8 years ago
Council desperation U-turning Government attacks on Landlords!
8 years ago | 10 comments
Personal to Limited Company
8 years ago | 4 comments
Member Since January 2011 - Comments: 12193 - Articles: 1395
1:52 PM, 20th November 2017, About 8 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Rob Crawford at 20/11/2017 – 13:32
What? Me cook? LOL
Member Since March 2016 - Comments: 163 - Articles: 1
3:21 PM, 22nd November 2017, About 8 years ago
Dear Mr Collinson,
I would like to draw your attention to a few points of fact which may enlighten you in regards to how landlords are often constrained by the T&Cs within their mortgage and/or insurance documents.
We had a campaign earlier this year, supported by Property118, to get Santander to remove a clause forcing its BTL landlords to increase tenant’s rents every year to the maximum. Please see the following links to some of the articles:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/investing/buy-to-let/santander-tells-buy-to-let-landlords-raise-rents-maximum/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_tw
https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/santander-review-controversial-buy-let-clause/?cmpid=msmorning_3061250&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=ms_morning
The outcome was that Santander would remove this clause from future BTL mortgages but existing mortgage-holders’ T&C would stand.
In addition, we attempted to remove the clause limiting Assured Shorthold Tenancies to 12 months, to allow landlords to decide on the length that suited both them and their tenants. This clause has not been removed, yet the government is looking to “encourage” landlords to provide tenancies of 12 months or more. Anything more than 12 months would put us in breach of our mortgage conditions, the penalty for which could be forfiture of the property!
A final point is that our mortgage prevents us from renting to those on benefits, or as a House in Multiple Occupation, limiting our tenant base and our ability to support our local community.
I applaud your approach to landlords for real-life examples of circumstances affecting us (if it is a genuine desire to understand the market/situation better) however, this is a complicated mix of cause and effect with many factors influencing the situation so I would encourage you to engage more, question more and learn more before you write another piece of one-sided, misleading and divisive copy for print.