Tent thread

<sebb>

Does anyone have a link to the online clip of this?

An end to squatters rights what about homeowners rights? Great meeting at Parliament today watch out for the story on BBC South Today at 6.3Opm tonight and clip online tomorrow also feature on BBC 5 live and BBC Sussex

dopester

I don't have any link <sebb>, and BBC South Today don't seem to keep their archive past 1 day broadcast on iplayer.

Unscrupulous Landlords
Westminster Hall debates, 8 September 2010, 11:00 am

Mike Weatherley (Hove, Conservative)

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the legal process may be a little slow, not only for legal remedies for tenants, but for landlords when tenants are in arrears? Perhaps both problems should be examined.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2010-09-08a.99.0&s=speaker%3A24835

Yeah... bring us more landlords who think tenancy ends immediately a rent payment is late, have not researched what they're getting in to (law & business), gives tenant scrap of paper saying 5 days to leave, likes to come around "many many times" - tells the press tenant is squatter and wanted house back months ago (despite extension and valid tenancy agreement) ect ect.

<sebb>

I like the response to Mike Weatherly's comment

I do not dispute that there are occasionally problems on the other side, and I think we all agree on that. Such problems also need resolution, but they are completely and empirically outweighed by tenants' problems that confront us as MPs.

SouthCoast

A wise MP would now drop the issue.

<sebb>

SouthCoast wrote: »

A wise MP would now drop the issue.

You'd hope so! Particularly given the lack of responses to the petition.

I think most of us would agree that the current process is not ideal. It does take too long to evict tenants who don't pay rent. But the law is fine as it is, it's the court underfunding that is the problem.

That being said, I don't think a woman who many people believe illegally evicted her tenant is the right person to champion any changes in the current system. I simply cannot understand why she hasn't just gone away quietly thanking her lucky stars she hasn't been prosecuted.

SouthCoast

it's the court underfunding that is the problem.

I understand that cuts are planned for Lewes, Brighton, Worthing, Chichester and Haywards Heath.

tbs624

dopester wrote: »

I

Unscrupulous Landlords
Westminster Hall debates, 8 September 2010, 11:00 am

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2010-09-08a.99.0&s=speaker%3A24835

Thanks for that link Dopester. I think it's worth highlighting some more from that: (my bolding)

Jon Cruddas (Dagenham and Rainham, Labour)
The essential points that I want to make include the following. Most private landlords are responsible and honest in how they deal with their tenants. That is beyond dispute, but those who are not bring down the reputation of the whole sector.

The Government must accept that Shelter's investigation has uncovered significant problems with rogue landlords that require action. Many aspects of existing law are not properly enforced by local authorities. They often do not treat this as a matter of priority or do not have a properly resourced enforcement team available……….

MPs regularly deal with problems associated with unscrupulous landlords……..They include harassing tenants or throwing them out of their homes without notice………. adding exorbitant fees or charges to their account …

What does the law say? Harassment and illegal eviction are criminal offences. Local authorities can prosecute landlords who commit such crimes…”

We like what amounts to a bit of a slapdown for Mike Weatherley, as he sought to highlight a point from Suzy Butler’s “I’m a victim campaign” ( Mr Cruddas, as previously quoted by <sebb>)

Mike Weatherley (Hove, Conservative)
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the legal process may be a little slow, not only for legal remedies for tenants, but for landlords when tenants are in arrears? Perhaps both problems should be examined.

Jon Cruddas (Dagenham and Rainham, Labour)
I do not dispute that there are occasionally problems on the other side, and I think we all agree on that. Such problems also need resolution, but they are completely and empirically outweighed by tenants' problems that confront us as MPs.

…..but maybe Mr Cruddas should also have a private word in Mike Weatherley’s ear ……….

Mr Weatherley's initial decision to back Suzy Butler, whose actions towards her tenant were not dissimilar to those of many a “rogue LL”, was a pretty poor one IMO but he then compounds that by trying (and thankfully failing) to switch the focus and “point score” in the midst of a debate about Shelter’s campaign against rogue LLs?

john539

<sebb> wrote: »

Does anyone have a link to the online clip of this?

Nothing about this was broadcast on BBC South Today on Thu Sep 9.

Probably lost interest, no "Squatter Living in Tent" line to make it more dramatic & appealing.

They're probably spinning each other, J spinning media & media spinning back, saying of course we are going to broadcast your exagerrated story after all the complaints we had previously.
.

john539

On Jeremy Vine Radio 2 show now, discussion with Paul Shamplina from Landlord Action about amateur landlords & tenants not paying rent.

googler

...Vine show apparently following a case in Ireland where the landlord barricaded the house to deny the tenant access, etc