Private landlords and Tenants

[Guest]

I see today that Labour are suggesting changes to private renting including a Cap on rent rises tied to inflation.

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-32471507

 

I just find it incredible how the Private landlord is demonised in the UK and has been for many years.

 

The landlord takes the risk and the cost of buying a house. They furnish, decorate and put it on the private market for people to CHOOSE whether they want - people who can't afford to risk putting their money into a property for whatever reason.

 

Now they are going to be told not only how much they can charge (the possible case at the moment) but how much they can increase the rent by each year. To make it worse many of the tenants get the rent to pay for these properties from benefits which some don't pay onto the landlord yet continue to live in the property knowing just how difficult it is to get them out let alone get the outstanding rent from them.

 

There is a high percentage of defaulters in rented property and many of them eventually leave owing 1000's and leaving the property in such a state that several £1000 has to be re-invested in the property to make it liveable.

 

A private landlord should have the right to make any agreement on price that he/she so wishes and all benefit payments should be paid directly to the landlord and not to the tenant.

 

Rant over. 

[Webbo]

 

 

I just find it incredible how the Private landlord is demonised in the UK and has been for many years.

 

 

You're the socialist.

[Guest]

You're the socialist.

 

That's just a label.

 

I'm left of Centre with socialist tendancies but I do understand open markets and I back them - just not extremist capitalism.

[MooseBreath]

Socialist when he wants to be. Ruthless capitalist happy to see people struggle to afford a home, a basic human right, when it's adding to his bank balance.

Nice people, these lefties.

[Guest]

Many socialists own property.

 

Especially many of those hard working Asians in Leicester

[Webbo]

Many socialists own property.

 

Especially many of those hard working Asians in Leicester

You don't have to sell it to me, I'm all for property ownership. But then I'm a tory.

[Guest]

Socialist when he wants to be. Ruthless capitalist happy to see people struggle to afford a home, a basic human right, when it's adding to his bank balance.

Nice people, these lefties.

 

I'm a real human who doesn't get on a racist/capitalism extremist bandwagon like some. It's great how you all think that you have to agree with one parties thinking in order to be in favour of helping the many.

You don't have to sell it to me, I'm all for property ownership. But then I'm a tory.

 

This isn't about property ownership, it's about abuse of a minority - in this case private landlords.

[lavrentis]

Private landlords aren't so much of a problem (though some need to actually invest the money back into the property) as much as estate agents

[Webbo]

 

 

This isn't about property ownership, it's about abuse of a minority - in this case private landlords.

I get it. Labour talk about the well off and bankers the same way the Nazis talked about Jews and for the same reasons.You can't beat a bit of hate and blame to get the core vote out.

[MooseBreath]

I'm a real human who doesn't get on a racist/capitalism extremist bandwagon like some. It's great how you all think that you have to agree with one parties thinking in order to be in favour of helping the many.

I don't agree with the tories particularly often on property related policies.

More houses need to be built, if they are then people won't have to put up with unscrupulous landlords unless they want to. Property will be seen less as an investment, and we'll all live happier lives. Except you, because you'll be a bit poorer, and you identify yourself through the money you make.

[Guest]

I was watching one of those bailliff programmes last night "can't pay we'll take it away".

 

A lady had decided to let her own nice house to move in with her ill mother and help to pay for medical bills. A single mother of 6 children moved in. Didn't pay and lived in the house like a shit. The owner got the high court to evict the tenant (which obviously costs money) she was owed over £10,000 in rent which she didn't try to get back (I can assure you it's a waste of time to try). The woman had been receiving full housing benefit (as well as unemployment and child benefits etc...). Of course the council HAD to house the woman and her kids. The house was left in a terrible state, broken and dirty which cost the owner another £4,000 plus to put right as well as time without income.

 

where is the justice in that? The owner has lost out big time and won't let again, so the market has lost out, the tenant has clearly spent the £10,000 on things that she shouldn't have - though didn't seem to have anything to show for it (except a lot of empty cigarette packets). Landlords are demonised in the UK. I'm sure there are still some slum landlords which need to be sorted out but most people are not the hyper rich and they are not treated well. Benefits should NEVER be paid to the tenant, that's just asking for trouble.

I don't agree with the tories particularly often on property related policies.

More houses need to be built, if they are then people won't have to put up with unscrupulous landlords unless they want to. Property will be seen less as an investment, and we'll all live happier lives. Except you, because you'll be a bit poorer, and you identify yourself through the money you make.

 

You are just a joke.

[Guest]

I get it. Labour talk about the well off and bankers the same way the Nazis talked about Jews and for the same reasons.You can't beat a bit of hate and blame to get the core vote out.

 

Home owners are not "the well off". That is a false idea that too many renters seem to believe. I'm sure you have your own property and your own company but I'd be surprised if you think you are "well off" You are a hard working man who pays his dues. There is a massive difference between you and the "well off" who earn more than they need off the backs of others.

 

I believe in fair pay for fair work. I'm against people who want something for nothing and against people who get something for nothing.

[pSinatra]

There are a lot of tenants, as you say, taking the piss & not paying their rent because they know they can get away with it, do a runner & leave the the landlord with a huge bill.

 

That said.  There are also unscrupulous private landlords who simply cream off the money without upholding their side of their deal, knowing that the tenant has little option but to accept that they live in an expensive shithole.  It's easy to say "if you don't like it......move".  Moving itself is not always easy.  Extra expense, inflated rental prices, children at schools, finding a deposit, estate agent costs, etc.  There's a tenency agreement & it's up to both the landlord & the tenant to abide by.

 

There are some bad tenants & there are some bad landlords.  I have rented over the years & I would say I've been quite fortunate (& so have my landlords).  They have always treated me fairly, but then I have given them little reason not to.  I usually left the property in a better condition than I found it.  The only problem I ever had was when an elderly couple sold the property to a small business who had a considerable number of properties.  There were quite a few refugees moving into the block I lived & then they whacked up the rent by about £100 a month.  I always thought that they only wanted DSS tenants, as they could charge what they wanted & it would get paid.  I had to move out, but that cost me money to do so.

 

I do agree though, that housing benefit should be paid direct to the landlord & not via the tenant with a penchant for crack.

[Dr The Singh]

I agree with FIF

[Dr The Singh]

I agree with FIF

I agree with FIF

I agree with FIF

I agree with FIF

[Guest]

I agree with FIF

I agree with FIF

I agree with FIF

I agree with FIF

 

I love you.

[Guest]

There are a lot of tenants, as you say, taking the piss & not paying their rent because they know they can get away with it, do a runner & leave the the landlord with a huge bill.

 

That said.  There are also unscrupulous private landlords who simply cream off the money without upholding their side of their deal, knowing that the tenant has little option but to accept that they live in an expensive shithole.  It's easy to say "if you don't like it......move".  Moving itself is not always easy.  Extra expense, inflated rental prices, children at schools, finding a deposit, estate agent costs, etc.  There's a tenency agreement & it's up to both the landlord & the tenant to abide by.

 

There are some bad tenants & there are some bad landlords.  I have rented over the years & I would say I've been quite fortunate (& so have my landlords).  They have always treated me fairly, but then I have given them little reason not to.  I usually left the property in a better condition than I found it.  The only problem I ever had was when an elderly couple sold the property to a small business who had a considerable number of properties.  There were quite a few refugees moving into the block I lived & then they whacked up the rent by about £100 a month.  I always thought that they only wanted DSS tenants, as they could charge what they wanted & it would get paid.  I had to move out, but that cost me money to do so.

 

I do agree though, that housing benefit should be paid direct to the landlord & not via the tenant with a penchant for crack.

 

Unless things have changed a lot since I was in the UK, every tenant has the right to get the property checked and the rent limited to a "market" value (which is usually under the market value) through their local council.

 

It was certainly the case in Leicester.

[Guest]

And again DSS payments are not made directly to the landlord. They are made to the tenant who then is not punished for NOT paying this to the landlord.

 

More joined up thinking by councils and housing benefits would help everyone concerned.

[Dr The Singh]

Unless things have changed a lot since I was in the UK, every tenant has the right to get the property checked and the rent limited to a "market" value (which is usually under the market value) through their local council.

It was certainly the case in Leicester.

That is right, the tenant holds the cash, and has the right to choice

I love you.

Enough to pop my bum cherry?

[pSinatra]

Unless things have changed a lot since I was in the UK, every tenant has the right to get the property checked and the rent limited to a "market" value (which is usually under the market value) through their local council.

 

It was certainly the case in Leicester.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by this?  I know there is a maximum each council will pay in housing benefit for a certain type of property.  The landlord will charge the maximum the tenant is likely to recieve regardless of it's true value.

 

I have never heard of a tenant requesting the property be checked.  I know a couple of people who receive housing benefit & they have never had anyone visit their property from the council or whoever to calculate any kind of market value.  They tell the council what their rent is & it gets paid (up to a maximum).  A friend's rent is £500 a month, he's single & the council give him something like £350, as that is the most they will pay for a single person.  He somehow makes up the difference.

[Rincewind]

As Psinatra said there are good and bad tenants and landlords. My brother lets out a second property and always is happy with them. There are some landlords that own multiple properties and all they need to do to raise the rent is to evict the tenant or jgnore repair requests to make it uncomfortable. I know someone who moved into a property and was without hot water for over six months dispite several calls to the landlord. He seemed to be unavailable more than available. It was only when a friend called him up and quoted some law facts that something was done.

The place I am in I am protected by a sitting tenant agreement meaning the rent cannot go up by more than a certain %. If I were to move out the next tenant would pay something like £20-30pw more. Which is fair enough. I think what Labour are proposing is to protect the tenant from rising rent or eviction just so a higher rent can be put in. It will not punish the fair landlord.

[The God Emperor]

A price ceiling on rent will inevitably cause a shortage of rented accomadation. Unless Ed repeals the law of supply and demand when he takes office.

[Guest]

That is right, the tenant holds the cash, and has the right to choice

Enough to pop my bum cherry?

 

erm no, but thanks for the offer. 

 

You could do it to yourself and think of me if you wish.

[DennisNedry]

Haha FIF is just a hypocrite. Left wing when it suits indeed. Surely the current housing situation is a very clear example of extreme capitalism? I guess you're benefiting from it so it makes it alright.

 

I guess that's why he loves immigration so much too.

[sphericalfox]

For those aren't or cannot get on the property ladder, you're going to find it very difficult to get sympathy for private landlords. Considering the number of private landlords who own many multiples of property, and helped create the stagnation in the market, them complaining that they are getting the rough end of the stick would be quite ironic.