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Why do tenants have so many rights

rentmekid
rentmekid Posts: 79 Forumite
First Anniversary
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi there,


I am thinking about becoming a landlord for the first time and one of the main issues that is concerning me is the control that tenants can have over their landlords.


From many posts that I have read, on this forum and others, it seems like tenants can move into a property, look for loopholes, problems, etc, and then decide not to pay their rent, which can often take months for the landlord to evict.


If I was stop paying mortgage payments to my own house, the bank would be breathing right down my neck.


How can this be possible? and when the landlord goes chasing for the money, he can be accused of not allowing the tenant to enjoy his home in peace.


Just because the tenant is paying rent, doesn't mean he owns the house. Surely there must be more rights for the landlord


For example, if I was to hire a car, my deposit wouldn't protected and I'm fairly sure I wouldn't think the car is mine.


Can anyone give me their opinions?
«13456

Comments

  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    rentmekid wrote: »
    If I was stop paying mortgage payments to my own house, the bank would be breathing right down my neck.

    In my experience mortgage repossessions are an even slower process - I've dealt with them professionally and it was often about a year from the first default to eviction.
  • rentmekid
    rentmekid Posts: 79 Forumite
    First Anniversary
    why to both?
  • boliston
    boliston Posts: 3,012 Forumite
    First Anniversary Photogenic First Post Combo Breaker
    i dont think you can compare car hire with renting a home - everybody needs a home unless they love sleeping in a shop doorway but hiring a car is not so essential
  • marliepanda
    marliepanda Posts: 7,186 Forumite
    Businesses have business issues. Businesses have non paying customers. Businesses need things in place to cover themselves if that happens. Businesses need contingency plans.

    Having a rental property is a business.
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,367 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    I think it is right that tenants should have many rights. They pay -a lot- for a service and should be entitled to get what they are paying for.

    However, I agree that some rights have gone too far, and unfortunately, ends up having the opposite effect than intended as landlords are raising their expectations leaving many prospective tenants out of a chance of a good property.
  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    You have got some of this wrong. When a tenant pays rent they own the living space in the house and garden. You cannot interfere with this right because that is what they are paying your for.
  • rentmekid
    rentmekid Posts: 79 Forumite
    First Anniversary
    boliston, I think the principle is the same even if you don't agree.


    on a similar note, everyone needs food, but I don't think you can walk into a restaurant, eat as much as you want and then decide you are not going to pay.
  • csgohan4
    csgohan4 Posts: 10,587 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Name Dropper Photogenic
    on the flip side, you have the right to only offer 6 months and ask them to leave, or ask them to leave with a valid Section 21 thereby disrupting their own life for your gains/ whim.

    Or you can only do the bare minimum renovation and not bother with other repairs and be a bad LL but still be in the confines of housing law.
    "It is prudent when shopping for something important, not to limit yourself to Pound land/Estate Agents"

    G_M/ Bowlhead99 RIP
  • elverson
    elverson Posts: 808 Forumite
    If all landlords were perfect then tenants wouldn't need any protection, but sadly that isn't the case.
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,367 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    When a tenant pays rent they own the living space in the house and garden. You cannot interfere with this right because that is what they are paying your for.
    They do so under the terms of a contract which can't be ignored either regardless of them 'owing' the space they live in.
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