Anyone else think a "Landlord Sticky" would be a good idea?

tbs624

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

I agree entirely with the above post and I'm afraid to say I find #2 rather dismissive and unhelpful.

Don't be afraid ;)The world would be a boring place if we all agreed on everything.

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

If it's OK for property vendors to be treated as 'consumers', and thus deserving of help here, it is totally illogical to treat private landlords as any less deserving.

See comments to may_fair on this one. Property vendor is using a solicitor/conveyancer, an EA and so on.

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

Given the vast numbers of people in this country on lower incomes who rent rather than buy their homes and the increasing numbers of landlords who have stumbled into the business rather than actively chosen it, it is in everyone's interests that their landlords know exactly how to let professionally. It invariably saves Ts unnecessary upheaval, hassle and cost if their LLs know their job and are aware of the rights of both parties to the contract.

Bit of a mindset perhaps there MTG - many renters are *not* on low incomes, and even for those who are, I'm not sure what relevance that has to the OP's suggestion. Of course it is in everyone's interest for both LL and T to be aware of their rights and obligations and the fact is that most of us on here do respond to other LLs (or potential LLs) queries with supportive guidance.

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

Some simple examples : if LLs do not know that they cannot legally hang on to their Ts' deposits but must protect them, then the 'consumer' - their T - usually loses out.

Not where the T knows that the LL is in the wrong. We could of course go off an a whole side issue about the dog's dinner that the actual wording and interpretation of the Tenancy Deposit Regs has become. There are many LLs who are perfectly well aware of how tenancy deposits should be dealt with but nevertheless choose their own path, because the law has failed to give them the "slapping" that they deserve.

Mind_the_Gap wrote: »

If LLs do not realise they cannot just turn up a the Ts' home demanding to 'inspect' (or even, in some cases, demanding that the T moves out), their T suffers a breach of his rights. If the LL doesn't realise they cannot claim 'new for old' (betterment) if T damages an item, their T risks being fleeced.

The key thing is that where *Ts* are well informed about their rights (and yes, their obligations too) there is less chance of an errant LL getting away with it .Of course, LL registration and enforced accreditation courses would have educated ignorant LLs and would be LLs ( let's remember that it's not just the newbies - there are some LLs who have been operating a number of properties for many years and who will always seek to do things their own way regardless of being told that they are in the wrong.) Much lobbying by LL assocs et al however brought the LL registration plans for Eng/Wales to a standstill.

may_fair

tbs624 wrote: »

Property vendor is using a solicitor..., an EA and so on.

Rather like a landlord does.

It seems to me that the fundamental question of whether or not landlords qualify as consumers by MSE criteria needs to be addressed, and only Admin can answer that question. Can one of the senior members find out?

If the answer is no, (and it's why the board title excludes the word 'letting' as you suggested) then it would avoid further confusion if there were a sticky telling landlords not to post here (perhaps with a link to the landlordzone forum).

If the answer is yes, then it would make sense to have a sticky with the basics for landlords.

tbs624

may_fair wrote: »

Rather like a landlord does.

Perhaps the key difference is that the LL is effectively running a business: the majority of vendors don't appear to be and their questions tend to be about the timing of the HB process, what should be declared on a SPIF, what does "exchange" mean and so on. LLs can of course set the costs of professional services
( solicitors/accountants/LL assoc membership fees) etc down on their tax return

may_fair wrote: »

It seems to me that the fundamental question of whether or not landlords qualify as consumers by MSE criteria needs to be addressed, and only Admin can answer that question. Can one of the senior members find out?

You are of course absolutely right - all any of can post is our own views and I did say that others may have ones that are different to my own.

Despite the fact that in the LL and T relationship it is pretty obvious that the LL is absolutely not "the consumer" it's MSE Martin's site and if he wished to have LLs seen as "consumers" on here then that his prerogative. Be aware that as the site is not "moderated" as such you would need to PM the team.

may_fair wrote: »

If the answer is no, (and it's why the board title excludes the word 'letting' as you suggested) then it would avoid further confusion if there were a sticky telling landlords not to post here (perhaps with a link to the landlordzone forum).

Many of us do already link to LLZ and to Tessa Shepperson's excellent site, as well as giving other helpful info to other LLs.

The ones who get shortshrift from many other regular posters ( and some non regulars) are those who initially post a tale of woe about their Ts asking how they can get rid and then later post the details of their own multiple shortcomings.

Newbie LLs can of course read posts intended for Ts *and* they can use the search function to uncover threads with queries similar to their own. If a new "sticky" was slapped up every time we had a glut of similar queries, whether from T or LL, we'd have couple of pages of them. Perhaps of more use would be a greater flagging up of that very useful search function?

It seems that one or two escapees of LLZ (welcome though they obviously are, with their usually knowledgeable contributions) are perhaps keen to have this board replicate the very place they left - the two sites offer different things IMO.

G_M

Not sure I find the tit-for-tat debate on this thread that helpful.

Or relevant.

Are LLs 'consumers'? Is this an exclusively 'consumer' forum? Well, as someone said I guess only the mods, or Martin, can answer that.

Personally I think it's the wrong quesion. Most of the time we get 'ordinary Joes' (the guy on the back of the Clapham omnibus as lawyers used to say!) here asking for help. And we give it.

We regularly give advice to tenants and landlords alike, and personally I think that's a good thing.

Given that much of the advice IS repetative, a sticky would be useful.

And whilst I differ in my opinion from tbs624 I admire many of your contributions made - indeed the post I regularly link to, and have amended/improved (I hope!) over time, came originally from a contribution by you tbs. So thanks!

may_fair

tbs624 wrote: »

It seems that one or two escapees of LLZ (welcome though they obviously are, with their usually knowledgeable contributions) are perhaps keen to have this board replicate the very place they left - the two sites offer different things IMO.

I proposed that Admin should decide the issue of whether LL questions are/aren't appropriate to the consumer-oriented nature of the forum, since it's obvious that members will have a range of different views.

Perhaps this was a stupid suggestion - perhaps decisions evolve organically on this forum or it generally goes to a vote of senior members? - but it's hardly indicative of a takeover threat, and your perception as such is false, nor have LLZ members posting here 'left' LLZ. We temporarily went on strike during a forum meltdown which has long since passed; all of us continue to post there. (Moreover, there are several LLZ members here with several thousand posts to their MSE username).

And yes, of course, the two sites are different, but perhaps less different than you imagine.

Running_Horse

I never read any of the stickies, so it would be lost on me.

franklee

Running_Horse wrote: »

I never read any of the stickies, so it would be lost on me.

Yes I think that must be true of a lot of people judging by the repeated nature of questions that come up despite being addressed in stickies already.

The way some stickies (like the tenant's guide) come about is, IIRC, an existing thread having grown into something worth sticking. There is nothing to stop the OP starting a help for landlords thread and then linking to it when repeat questions come up. Not that I see this type of thing stickied on the landlordzone forum? Don't the LLZ'ers think such a sticky would be worthwhile over there?

geoffky

look at how many posts i have and i have not read any stickies..landlord zone is the correct place for landlords as it would just be war if the two tribes met.

jimjames

taxsaver wrote: »

I too think a sticky would be useful.

I agree, I was just having a look to find out some answers and realised there is currently no sticky so it definitely would be useful.

Werdnal

Thanks for replies to date. Sorry didn't mean this to turn into a mammoth debate!

On the basis of some replies, perhaps the sticky should say something like:

Title: All Newbie/First time Landlords please read this before posting


Post content: As the MSE site is intended as an advice forum for consumers, and Landlords, however new or accidental due to the current economic situation, are seen as not falling within this category, we would politely refer you to the following sites who would be better placed to assist and advise you in all aspects of letting property and landlord obligations:

(Add here all the landlord forums we can think of).

In fact I think G_M's post which he frequently links to, has most of the other forums information already.

Then we can all sit back and ignore the pleas of anyone else who posts as a confused new LL, safe in the knowledge that we have sent them where they belong!