Warning For All LL's Re Illegal Eviction and Not Protecting Deposit

[Deleted User]

I wish this could be made a sticky - should be mandatory watching for all LL's as a warning against the mess that can happen when they don't protect a tenant's deposit and think a tenant has left and change the locks without going through a legal eviction process and a bailiff being involved.

The LL isn't a nasty one, just isn't aware of their legal limits (although it does look like maintenance isn't their thing either).

https://www.my5.tv/nightmare-tenants-slum-landlords/season-2/ep-10-nightmare-tenants-slum-landlords-2

G_M

There's nothing here that a half-decent landlord wouldn't/shouldn't know.

You run a business, you learn what the legal obligations are.

Miss_Samantha

I don't think that it is very worthwhile to watch sensationalist TV shows.

[Deleted User]

Problem is it isn't sensationationalist at all.

Miss_Samantha

Of course it is... It's for a TV show.

Shelldean

I watched one of these and was shocked at how the landlord behaved. Going round and demanding to know when the tenant was going to leave and where was her rent etc?
She did this several times. I felt sure it should be harassment. But nothing was said, it was the tenant who was portrayed in a poor light due to non paying And the state they left the house in. Oh and they took her cooker!!!!

Lioness_Twinkletoes

Miss_Samantha wrote: »

I don't think that it is very worthwhile to watch sensationalist TV shows.

You don't think it's worthwhile watching a sensationalist TV show? Do enlighten us to what is worthwhile in the world of TV and I'll make sure I'll start watching immediately. For the love of God. What a pious, pointless (ohhh, alliteration!) sentence.

OP, I watched this yesterday. I did feel for that woman, but damn! She made some errors. It baffles me that people don't learn what being a landlord entails. I mean, you wouldn't try and rewire a house without the required training, so why assume you can be a landlord?

There are so many 'incidental' landlords on this show that state they're in dire straits due to non payment of rent it's clear that they've not factored in void periods, maintenance etc.

anselld

deannatrois wrote: »

Problem is it isn't sensationationalist at all.

What is sensationalist is your thread title, "Warning for all LLs". The vast majority of LLs are perfectly aware of their responsibilities and do not need such a warning.

As in any walk of like there are unfortunately a few rogues who make such TV shows possible, but that does not mean they are relevant or interesting to "all LLs".

FBaby

G_M wrote: »

There's nothing here that a half-decent landlord wouldn't/shouldn't know.

You run a business, you learn what the legal obligations are.

This is not correct. It might be from a legal perspective (although even then, I am not sure renting one property automatically qualifies you as owner of a business), but many LL have become so by default, some because they’ve inherited the property, others because they’ve moved in with a partner and sometimes, selling the property is not a reasonable option.

I do agree fully that all LL should familiarise themselves with the law, but frankly, it is so tedious and sometimes complex that doing so might equal to studying for a qualification and take some time. Sometimes you learn by mistakes. Obviously some are more dangerous to make, the main one being not bothering to do the annual gas safety check if a fire was to occur leading to injury or worse to the tenant.

LLs do take quite a beating on here because they are all seen as heartless people in it to make money off the back of vulnerable people. They are some who are clearly in it for the money and nothing else, but many are not and do care and have all intentions to be good landlords. Unfortunately, you have good tenants left in the hands of bad LLs and good LLs who are left battered by dreadful tenants. Pity natural selection can make the right associations!

benjus

FBaby wrote: »

This is not correct. It might be from a legal perspective (although even then, I am not sure renting one property automatically qualifies you as owner of a business), but many LL have become so by default, some because they’ve inherited the property, others because they’ve moved in with a partner and sometimes, selling the property is not a reasonable option.

No, you are not correct. You don't become a landlord by default. You might choose it as the least worst option in a difficult situation, but it's still a choice. If you are receiving money and providing a service, it is in some sense a business. There is simply no excuse for not bothering to find out your responsibilities. It is a fundamental legal principle that ignorance of the law is not a defence.

Guest101

FBaby wrote: »

This is not correct. It might be from a legal perspective (although even then, I am not sure renting one property automatically qualifies you as owner of a business) - of course it is. Not a 'ltd' business, but a business all the same. , but many LL have become so by default, some because they’ve inherited the property, others because they’ve moved in with a partner and sometimes, selling the property is not a reasonable option. - Ok selling is not reasonable ( let's say I agree with you, though I don't), its certainly reasonable to then learn what you need to do

I do agree fully that all LL should familiarise themselves with the law, but frankly, it is so tedious and sometimes complex that doing so might equal to studying for a qualification and take some time. - not really. Read some threads on here, join a LL association. Or find a decent and reputable agent. Sometimes you learn by mistakes. - And you face the consequences of those mistakes. Obviously some are more dangerous to make, the main one being not bothering to do the annual gas safety check if a fire was to occur leading to injury or worse to the tenant. - what about protecting the tenants money. What about not kicking them out onto the street. What about ensuring the property is free from dangers of damp & infestation?

LLs do take quite a beating on here because they are all seen as heartless people in it to make money off the back of vulnerable people. - what rubbish. People who rent aren't vulnerable. and plenty of landlords, like G_M, Artful etc get widespread praise for sharing their knowledge. They are some who are clearly in it for the money and nothing else, but many are not and do care and have all intentions to be good landlords. - The two are far from mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, you have good tenants left in the hands of bad LLs and good LLs who are left battered by dreadful tenants. Pity natural selection can make the right associations!

I think you're portraying something which is far from reality.