Don't demonise renters

mick15

Why is it people who rent appear to be looked down on in the UK. Circumstances such as redundancy, divorce, death of a partner can all force perfectly good people into the rental market. The vast majority look after the properties they rent but sadly can rarely call it their home as they're never sure when they'll recieve a Notice to Quit, No Fault Eviction notice. It's always the poor Landlords, an outdated and derogatory term these days who are the hard done by. Actually they often implement over and above rent increases to cover their mortgage. Why aren't they credit checked like tenants? They don't like doing repairs and tenants don't like reporting them for fear of eviction. If the repairs are reported and carried out then a rent increase will surely follow. Often the property is advertised as 'No children or Pets' with group viewings which is nothing short of a cattle market. Gazumping and 6 months rent up front is quite normal, often driven by Estate Agents. Finding a Residential caravan site assuming they are able to purchase a static caravan is difficult as the majority of sites are 10/11 months only  where are these people supposed to go for those winter months when they HAVE to vacate their caravan home ? The Councils obviously won't grant a Residential licence, WHY NOT ? This needs to change. Live on a canal boat, many would jump at the chance but the rules & regs not to mention the Marina Moorings are excessive, often 3 times more expensive than Coucil Tax, and of course the council still want their slice of the cake if it's a permanent mooring. Ministers, Councils need to look at the alternatives to traditional rental properties if they are serious about addressing the housing problem. 

Emmia

So what do you suggest would make things better?

I think we should end right to buy, to help keep social housing in the hands of councils/housing associations, rather than having it sold off at a loss to the council, but at huge profit to the previous tenant, now owner. 

Councils should be able to sell their council property, to let them get rid of stock that doesn't meet their needs (too small / big) on the open market and be able to reinvest that money into more properties of the right type.

theoretica

On this forum, one reason the less good renters are talked about is to make potential one-off landlords think about whether they are actually equipped to rent out a property in a professional manner or have unrealistic expectations (eg get the property back whenever they want/not need to do much maintenance...)

MikeJXE

It sounds more like the area you live or bad tenants/landlords 

I am in my 4th flat, moved to suit myself, they were all in exceptional condition

Never had a problem with any, the first was £575 now it's £625 it has not increase over the last 18 months.

If I get a minor problem I fix it myself and not bother my landlady.

To date button fell to bits on the toilet. Washing machine drum paddle broke, I got my own and fixed them myself 

I look at life as what goes around comes around 

maman

Emmia said:

So what do you suggest would make things better?

I think we should end right to buy, to help keep social housing in the hands of councils/housing associations, rather than having it sold off at a loss to the council, but at huge profit to the previous tenant, now owner. 

Councils should be able to sell their council property, to let them get rid of stock that doesn't meet their needs (too small / big) on the open market and be able to reinvest that money into more properties of the right type.

Personally I don't think Right to Buy as such is the issue. I think mixed housing can be a good thing. 

The problem is that the houses are/were sold too cheaply. If, when the policy was introduced, councils had been allowed to sell at market rates and reinvest the money into building more council properties then we wouldn't have the problems we have today IMO. 

theartfullodger

Agreed:  Demonise agents and landlords instead.

Best wishes to all.

horsewithnoname

Don’t demonise anyone. There are good and bad examples of everything. 

elsien

I’m not sure I agree that many people would want to live on a canal boat. Some people do. I suspect the majority would struggle with that level of minimalism. And trying to fit children into a canal boat without everyone killing each other. 

Grumpy_chap

mick15 said:

Why is it people who rent appear to be looked down on in the UK. Circumstances such as redundancy, divorce, death of a partner can all force perfectly good people into the rental market. The vast majority look after the properties they rent but sadly can rarely call it their home as they're never sure when they'll recieve a Notice to Quit, No Fault Eviction notice. It's always the poor Landlords, an outdated and derogatory term these days who are the hard done by. Actually they often implement over and above rent increases to cover their mortgage. Why aren't they credit checked like tenants? They don't like doing repairs and tenants don't like reporting them for fear of eviction. If the repairs are reported and carried out then a rent increase will surely follow. Often the property is advertised as 'No children or Pets' with group viewings which is nothing short of a cattle market. Gazumping and 6 months rent up front is quite normal, often driven by Estate Agents. Finding a Residential caravan site assuming they are able to purchase a static caravan is difficult as the majority of sites are 10/11 months only  where are these people supposed to go for those winter months when they HAVE to vacate their caravan home ? The Councils obviously won't grant a Residential licence, WHY NOT ? This needs to change. Live on a canal boat, many would jump at the chance but the rules & regs not to mention the Marina Moorings are excessive, often 3 times more expensive than Coucil Tax, and of course the council still want their slice of the cake if it's a permanent mooring. Ministers, Councils need to look at the alternatives to traditional rental properties if they are serious about addressing the housing problem. 

I guess there are good Tenants and bad.  Also good LLs and bad.

As a LL for 20-odd years:

• I have never issued a notice to quit, no fault eviction notice, or taken any other action to encourage a T to vacate the property.
• I would prefer a T to report an issue as then I can arrange for it to be resolved quickly and professionally.  This keeps the T happy and protects the condition of the property.
• Repairs are not linked to rent increases.  
• I keep rent increases as low as possible because a good T is valuable.  Current T moved in Christmas 2019 and we only increased the rent once in that time, by far less than inflation.
• I only once deducted anything from the deposit when the T vacated the property
• I once required a T to pay for a repair while in the property - this was a smashed window so clearly damage by the T.

I don't know what alternatives you suggest to address the housing problem.  Private Sector Rental is a valid part of the overall housing portfolio.  

Murphybear

theartfullodger said:

Agreed:  Demonise agents and landlords instead.

Best wishes to all.

I’ve been an agent, a landlord and a tenant in my time  If you want to demonise me take your pick 

I will say one thing.  In my time as an agent we must have had thousands of tenants on our books.  The number who didn’t pay the rent or wrecked the property was -  actually I don’t recall any.  We were in semi rural Devon, not a big city.  Maybe that made a difference 

Murphybear

Grumpy_chap said:

mick15 said:

Why is it people who rent appear to be looked down on in the UK. Circumstances such as redundancy, divorce, death of a partner can all force perfectly good people into the rental market. The vast majority look after the properties they rent but sadly can rarely call it their home as they're never sure when they'll recieve a Notice to Quit, No Fault Eviction notice. It's always the poor Landlords, an outdated and derogatory term these days who are the hard done by. Actually they often implement over and above rent increases to cover their mortgage. Why aren't they credit checked like tenants? They don't like doing repairs and tenants don't like reporting them for fear of eviction. If the repairs are reported and carried out then a rent increase will surely follow. Often the property is advertised as 'No children or Pets' with group viewings which is nothing short of a cattle market. Gazumping and 6 months rent up front is quite normal, often driven by Estate Agents. Finding a Residential caravan site assuming they are able to purchase a static caravan is difficult as the majority of sites are 10/11 months only  where are these people supposed to go for those winter months when they HAVE to vacate their caravan home ? The Councils obviously won't grant a Residential licence, WHY NOT ? This needs to change. Live on a canal boat, many would jump at the chance but the rules & regs not to mention the Marina Moorings are excessive, often 3 times more expensive than Coucil Tax, and of course the council still want their slice of the cake if it's a permanent mooring. Ministers, Councils need to look at the alternatives to traditional rental properties if they are serious about addressing the housing problem. 

I guess there are good Tenants and bad.  Also good LLs and bad.

As a LL for 20-odd years:

• I have never issued a notice to quit, no fault eviction notice, or taken any other action to encourage a T to vacate the property.
• I would prefer a T to report an issue as then I can arrange for it to be resolved quickly and professionally.  This keeps the T happy and protects the condition of the property.
• Repairs are not linked to rent increases.  
• I keep rent increases as low as possible because a good T is valuable.  Current T moved in Christmas 2019 and we only increased the rent once in that time, by far less than inflation.
• I only once deducted anything from the deposit when the T vacated the property
• I once required a T to pay for a repair while in the property - this was a smashed window so clearly damage by the T.

I don't know what alternatives you suggest to address the housing problem.  Private Sector Rental is a valid part of the overall housing portfolio.  

You’re not a good landlord.  You’re an excellent landlord