Why do people resent buy-to-letters so much?

HENRY78

BTL Landlords are immoral and are wrongly making a living out of profiteering from a basic human right. (Having a roof over your head) They add no value and create no wealth and no employment. Also they have the cheek to call themselves "Entrepreneurs" Disgusting industry. If they didn't exist who would miss them?

mwpt

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Some flats are OK. I remember going round to someones flat some time back and their flat had 3 levels in it, so seemed very much like a house.

I bought a house in a less desirable area, rather than a flat in a more desirable area. My reasons were similar to others. Mostly it was being at the mercy of the people above or below you to act in a civil manner that put me off. Apart from that, my reckoning was that most new property being built in zones 1-6 (London) will be flats/apartments. Not that many new houses being built, so the value would be more likely to be maintained. Not sure if that is flawed or not. Oh, and I wanted my own garden to grow herbs, tomatoes, bbq, etc.

Malthusian

mwpt wrote:

Mostly it was being at the mercy of the people above or below you to act in a civil manner that put me off.

I live in a modern flat (renting) and the soundproofing is so good that I haven't heard a peep in two years from the flats beside, above and below me. I know some people who live in terraced or semi-detached houses who can hear everything that goes on either side. So it's not in itself a flat v house problem.

I am embarking on the process of buying my own house and ironically the only thing that keeps me awake at night is the possibility of getting a neighbour from hell and wishing I'd never left my soundproofed cocoon ;-). You can never fully control these things.

I didn't even consider buying a flat for the usual reason, the leasehold. In my case, I want a cat or two, without whoever owns the leasehold saying I'm not allowed. That's just my personal issue with a more general one, the property isn't fully yours.

HENRY78 wrote:

BTL Landlords are immoral and are wrongly making a living out of profiteering from a basic human right.

Like farmers, butchers, bakers, water engineers, housebuilders, quarry owners, security guards... profiteering scum the lot of them, nationalise their assets and send them to the gulag.

HENRY78

farmers, butchers, bakers, water engineers, housebuilders, quarry owners, and security companies, all employ people and offer a service that is needed.

chucknorris

HENRY78 wrote: »

farmers, butchers, bakers, water engineers, housebuilders, quarry owners, and security companies, all employ people and offer a service that is needed.

Where would the tenants who can't afford to buy live then? If there was no landlords providing that service?

HENRY78

If it wasn't for BTL house prices would be significant lower (Especially the many blocks of flats that have been built in town's up and down the country in recent years) They would and should be an affordable stepping stone on to the housing ladder for young average earners.


The relatively small amount of needed rented accommodation should be managed by professional regulated companies who would create employment. Rent controls and health and safety measures monitored carefully by a governing body.

Hasbeen

HENRY78 wrote: »

farmers, butchers, bakers, water engineers, housebuilders, quarry owners, and security companies, all employ people and offer a service that is needed.

I know a couple who buy really run down properties that have been empty for year or so, no one else will buy them as much work is needed and council tax is 200% of normal after 1year.
They spend a lot of money, time and effort to bring them up to a really good standard paying the tax and the costs involved.

So they can rent them out to people who want rentals! not to sell on.

A lot of people young, old, and in short term relationships etc only want to rent! not to buy.

So people like this are providing a service that is needed!!!

Or we could look at national house builders buying green field sites throwing up houses for vast profits they are also providing a service but making millions!!

HENRY78

These properties you talk of should of been sold to a young couple where one of them are in the trade and be a long term project for a HOME to live in for their family.


I bet my bottom dollar that they were put on the market or sold at auction and said couple were out bid by a greedy BTL landlord with a portfolio who then refurbished the property and rented it out.


I have seen this time and time again in the area I live in.

BananaRepublic

Hasbeen wrote: »

I know a couple who buy really run down properties that have been empty for year or so, no one else will buy them as much work is needed and council tax is 200% of normal after 1year.
They spend a lot of money, time and effort to bring them up to a really good standard paying the tax and the costs involved.

So they can rent them out to people who want rentals! not to sell on.

A lot of people young, old, and in short term relationships etc only want to rent! not to buy.

So people like this are providing a service that is needed!!!

Or we could look at national house builders buying green field sites throwing up houses for vast profits they are also providing a service but making millions!!

The difference is that a housebuilder, would you believe it, builds a house.

Whereas I know BTL landlords who do no more than buy a new house, and rent it out. Yes there is work involved at the start, but once the paperwork is sorted, gas checked etc, there is relatively little work to do. Certainly when I rented I almost never spoke to the landlord. The number of landlords who buy a derelict or run down house and do it up is most likely negligible. Especially since it needs to be mortgageable for most.

chucknorris

HENRY78 wrote: »

If it wasn't for BTL house prices would be significant lower (Especially the many blocks of flats that have been built in town's up and down the country in recent years) They would and should be an affordable stepping stone on to the housing ladder for young average earners.


The relatively small amount of needed rented accommodation should be managed by professional regulated companies who would create employment. Rent controls and health and safety measures monitored carefully by a governing body.

It isn't relatively small in London, it is massive! Lots of people arrive after graduation and other workers for short contracts that need to rent. Also even those that intend to buy, usually need to rent for quite a few months first (I rented for 6 months when I first moved to London).

How are these companies more professional than me? I'm a chartered surveyor and have been a landlord for almost 25 years.