BTL blacklist

[Deleted User]

Jowo wrote: »

Previous landlord references are notoriously unreliable - a landlord who has a bad tenant may provide a good reference so they are no longer stuck with them.

My friend had a tenant who passed all the comprehensive checks - unfortunately, these aren't fool proof and therefore she unwittingly leashed a woman with alcohol problems who antagonised the other tenants when drunk, couldn't hold down her long-term job any longer.

Then there are really sophisticated tenants who have fake ID.

uuugh, sounds great. Don't understand why the previous lld felt the need to give a reference though. If I wanted someone out I'd give notice and would refuse any request for a reference. That's one of the incentives for tenants to behave reasonably.

abaxas

Why not regulate the market with LL licences?

That way it can be revoked.

[Deleted User]

Heyman wrote: »

There are no simple solutions as it is a complicated area.

Don't discount the role of letting/managing agents either, they generally don't give a s**t once they've filled the property and they're getting their monthly commission. Had an absolute nightmare getting a boiler repaired with them, once we managed to actually speak to the Landlord it was sorted - he was furious as they hadn't communicated anything to him!

I know a lot of people tenants and llds who don't have a good word to say about agents.

I live in the north but have properties 'darn sarf' as well and use agents there when I can't get tenants via the concierge. Generally they're OK but I did manage to get one who was a drug dealer and using escorts to move his merchandise. I also had some great tenants but later found out they were money launderers. Looked after the place though and when they left it was clean and tidy but full of boose they said I could have. I miss them They also did the snagging for me.

The one to watch out for with agents is full management. How do you know the faults they fix are genuine?

[Deleted User]

abaxas wrote: »

Why not regulate the market with LL licences?

That way it can be revoked.

Because many on here who hate people simply for being landlords would abuse the system.

[Deleted User]

Another problem would be that you would end up with all the things that are currently assessed as reasonable or not on a case by case basis in the event of a dispute would need to be more qualified and ideally quantified.

ie You would need SLAs for fixing every different type of item and reporting it for that matter. Think how many different issues or problems or faults can develop in a property or in a contract from either party's point of view. ASTs would become 100 page documents!

IIRC the state doesn't provide legal aid in libel cases because of the complex nature (hence expense) and little end value. The more I think about it this must have been dreamt up by a solicitor!

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Ultimately macaque, you have two choices.

Choose to rent and put up with the inconvenience and lack of security that will occur from time to time when you live in someone else's property.

Or choose to buy and live in your own property, without those inconveniences, and with a great deal more security.

There are of course pro's and con's to both, but whining about it on the internet won't change any of them.

And expecting the government to legislate against property owners rights just so you are not inconvenienced as often, simply won't happen.

macaque_2

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Ultimately macaque, you have two choices.

Choose to rent and put up with the inconvenience and lack of security that will occur from time to time when you live in someone else's property.
Or choose to buy and live in your own property, without those inconveniences, and with a great deal more security.
There are of course pro's and con's to both, but whining about it on the internet won't change any of them.
And expecting the government to legislate against property owners rights just so you are not inconvenienced as often, simply won't happen.

For many, renting is a matter of necessity, not choice. Renters are also entitled to a minimum standard of service.

As the law stands, there is a lack of accountability for landlords and far too many have proved unfit or unqualified for the role. Whilst you might not approve of a blacklist, it is an effective way of weeding out bad landlords. Good landlords should have nothing to fear.

[Deleted User]

macaque wrote: »

For many, renting is a matter of necessity, not choice. Renters are also entitled to a minimum standard of service.

As the law stands, there is a lack of accountability for landlords and far too many have proved unfit or unqualified for the role. Whilst you might not approve of a blacklist, it is an effective way of weeding out bad landlords. Good landlords should have nothing to fear.

I agree with the sentiment of this. However I also feel llds could do with more protection and they take more risk.

Producing a system that isn't too subjective and therefore open to abuse and too complicated to be of merit is the difficult part in my opinion.

What is wrong with the current system? Genuine question btw. The lld already has legal responsibilities to the tenant, a vested interest in looking after the property, and the deposit scheme offers considerable protection, as does the Landlords and Tenants act etc.

Shakethedisease

feel llds could do with more protection and they take more risk.

..Financially, that is.

However, there are more than a few that don't bother or are unaware of Gas Safety checks etc etc. This sort of amatuer landlord stuff needs coming down on, and hard.

I wouldn't see anything particularly wrong with some sort of 'landlord checking agency' setting themselves up. Providing credit checks, income verification, previous tenant references etc etc if required. As well as making sure the property is let out in a safe and servicable state of repair.

Whats the problem with that ?

[Deleted User]

Shakethedisease wrote: »

..Financially, that is.

However, there are more than a few that don't bother or are unaware of Gas Safety checks etc etc. This sort of amatuer landlord stuff needs coming down on, and hard.

I wouldn't see anything particularly wrong with some sort of 'landlord checking agency' setting themselves up. Providing credit checks, income verification, previous tenant references etc etc if required. As well as making sure the property is let out in a safe and servicable state of repair.

Whats the problem with that ?

I'd be amazed if someone wasn't doing gas safety checks. There are already a lot of well enforced laws covering this.

Lettings agents require proof of gas safety etc already. Or they won't market the property.

Tenants are credit referenced to ensure they can meet their financial obligations as they are the ones paying for the use of the property. Why would you need to credit reference your landlord?