Good Old Fergus!

BigAunty

dktreesea wrote: »

Well, they could cut the rent to the new level of hb and write the arrears off. Which might not be such a bad business decision if there were no alternative tenants in the offing or if the property was so poorly maintained that tenants who were not on hb would refuse to take the flat.
.

But their properties are in the south east where housing demand is at their highest and obviously the landlords don't feel any need to peg their rents at HB limits.

Local Housing Allowance is set at the 30th percentile, meaning that it is calculated on the bottom third of local market rents so 1 in 3 local properties is (in theory but probably not in practice) affordable to HB tenants. It used to be the 50th percentile, median price or below so there's been a huge shrinking of properties affordable to HB claimants.

My understanding is that these landlords only buy houses so perhaps this is a reason why the rents might be higher than LHA rates as typically houses cost more than flats.

dktreesea

BigAunty wrote: »

The localism changes in England in November 2011 was supposed to have put an end to the local council stalling on their obligations until the landlord got a court order and they are now supposed to act upon the receipt of the original S21.

There is not now any obligation for a local council to provide social housing in England to those who are homeless and classed in priority need, they can now discharge their obligations with a single offer of suitable settled accommodation, including a private tenancy.

Some councils are telling the tenants to stay there until a possession order is received, because if they move out due to the section 21, but without allowing it to "run its course" they risk being "intentionally homeless" so not in priority need.

Yes, no obligation to provide social housing, just a suitable property, albeit privately owned, but then who picks up the difference between the LHA and the rent if the rent is higher? In an example of bureaucracy gone mad, it appears if there are children involved it's the responsibility of the social services department rather than the housing department of a council, to rehouse the family.

I am not surprised, even if the overall birth rate is falling, that the birth rates for people on benefits are going up, because if you are single and become homeless you are not deemed in priority need of housing, so the council have no obligation to house you anymore.

mayonnaise

As expected, more landlords following suit...

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jan/21/landlords-turn-away-housing-benefit-claimants

Changes to welfare payments and concerns about the new universal credit system
mean that four in five landlords are unwilling to let properties to tenants who
receive housing benefits, a survey has found.

isn't it high time to reverse that disastrous trend of paying HB to the tenant instead of landlord?

"The 2008 move to stop landlords receiving rent payments direct – designed to
give those on benefits greater responsibility for their finances – has had
overwhelmingly negative and lasting repercussions for tenants on housing
benefit."

mayonnaise

It's been quiet around the Wilsons for a while.
Oh hold on....

Fergus Wilson offers reward to find intruder who punched pensioner in Campbell Road, Maidstone

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent_messenger/news/tycoon-offers-1k-reward-to-12156/

Fergus Wilson sells Joe Calzaghe print in aid of axe attack victim

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent_messenger/news/auction-to-raise-money-for-12459/

No fear though, once a renter has to wait a day for a boiler repair, I'm sure it will be splattered all over the national media.

Cheers Fergus. :beer:

princeofpounds

Hero.

He's looking a bit younger and fresher in those photos... maybe doing good does you good.

leveller2911

princeofpounds wrote: »

Hero.

He's looking a bit younger and fresher in those photos... maybe doing good does you good.

Its amazing what a bit of retouching with photoshop can achieve...

chucky

It always amazes me how many people dislike and try to mock people who are more successful and richer than them.

ruggedtoast

chucky wrote: »

It always amazes me how many people dislike and try to mock people who are more successful and richer than them.

I try and even it out by disliking and mocking people who are less successful and poorer than me, every other day.

Thrugelmir

mayonnaise wrote: »

isn't it high time to reverse that disastrous trend of paying HB to the tenant instead of landlord?

Why disastrous? Can't think of any other business owners that get spoon fed.

mystic_trev

Fergus Wilson was found guilty of using a mobile phone while driving and fined £565 and had his licence endorsed with three points. He had pleaded not guilty and claimed that he had been singing into a drinks carton that he was holding to the side of his head

I wonder what he was singing? Money, money, money…...:D