Code of conduct for landlords

macaque_2

TJ27 wrote: »

I think you'll find that many aspects of everybodys conduct has been covered by the criminal law for several centuries. Landlords already have a whole raft of specific legislation which relates to their business. Non compliance with these criminal laws carries fines of up to twenty grand in some cases and many STILL ignore it. What would you call a heavy fine?

With every passing day we read stories (on this website) of decent people being being humiliated and exploited by low grade landlords.

To be fair however, the problem may have more to do with enforcement than legislation. Perhaps we need a BTL Police force.

Gorgeous_George

macaque wrote: »

With every passing day we read stories (on this website) of decent people being being humiliated and exploited by low grade landlords.

If landlords were so ready to moan about low grade tenants, the balance would be restored.

GG

macaque_2

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

If landlords were so ready to moan about low grade tenants, the balance would be restored.

GG

Fair point. However, a bad landlord has a much more devastating impact on a tenants life than a bad tenant has on a landlords life.

Gorgeous_George

macaque wrote: »

Fair point. However, a bad landlord has a much more devastating impact on a tenants life than a bad tenant has on a landlords life.

I wouldn't put money on that.

GG

chappers

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

I wouldn't put money on that.

GG

Absolutely

trudiha

I think that most codes of conduct are a bit of a waste of time. Decent landlords will continue to behave decently and the other type will continue to behave in exactly the same way as they do now. The only difference will be another toothless regulatory body will sit in another set of plush offices.

Landlords and tenants who behave outside the law should be punished with the full weight of the laws we already have. For example it should be possible to report landlords who don't supply their tenants with gas safety certificates to a single, well publicised body who actually do something about it. Tenants who cause criminal damage to landlords property should be charged with criminal damage.

TJ27

macaque wrote: »

With every passing day we read stories (on this website) of decent people being being humiliated and exploited by low grade landlords.

Well of course we hear about the bad ones! How many people do you suppose need to come on here for advice about how to deal with good landlords?

tbs624

trudiha wrote: »

I think that most codes of conduct are a bit of a waste of time. Decent landlords will continue to behave decently and the other type will continue to behave in exactly the same way as they do now.

But being signed up to a LL Association, local or national with a Code of Conduct does help to focus the mind on best practice, which is especially valuable for new LLs, and can be a useful source of info for new tenants. We see many posters on here who are clearly unaware of what is and isn't acceptable behaviour from a LL/LA.

trudiha wrote: »

Landlords and tenants who behave outside the law should be punished with the full weight of the laws we already have. For example it should be possible to report landlords who don't supply their tenants with gas safety certificates to a single, well publicised body who actually do something about it.

That's part of the role of the HSE

Aug 2007 Hounslow landlord Jasjit Dhami has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay over £1,000 in costs after it was discovered the Boiler at his rental property in the Wheatlands area did not have a valid CORGI safety certificate (source: http://www.boilerservicecentre.co.uk/)

trudiha wrote: »

Tenants who cause criminal damage to landlords property should be charged with criminal damage.

Totally agree.

chappers

I agree piling more legislation on only hurts the decent law abiding landlords in the pocket. the Peter Rackmans of this world just don't comply.
There needs to be tougher and more frequent enforcement of the laws we have before they pile more on top.
Not just as far as housing goes either, but don't get me started on that.