Tenancy Deposit Scheme/section 21 penalty

Captain_Mainwaring_2

clutton wrote: »

Whenever the subject of Section 21s, notice to quit, homelessness, and housing policy comes up on this board, several posters seem to launch into their usual "anti-tenant" tirade against a poster who is in difficult circumstances in rented accommodation and who has come here for help.

Stop it - please

These attacks on tenants with problems seem to be become more vicious and personal and i can see no reason for it at all.

The current homelessness housing policy IS draconian, because the Right To Buy policy of Margaret Thatcher now means there is a wholly insufficient supply of local authority/housing association properties available. This situation is bound to get worse and worse as the demand for rented accommodation increases with the credit crunch making mortgage more difficult to obtain.

If a family gets into arrears in rented accommodation, they do run the risk of being evicted, as they are breaking the legally binding contract they signed to pay the rent.

Most decent landlords understand that almost the entire population gets into a financial mess at least once in a lifetime - and most decent landlords will be amenable to a bit of give and take.

However - lets try and put ourselves in the OPs position - if your family has to be evicted - can ANY of the snarling posters in this thread assure us that they would just walk out of their rented accommodation before a court order arrives - thus making themselves voluntarily homeless and therefore "unhouseable" ??

Would YOU put your belongings in a shed, gather your kids and carrier bags full of clothes and sit in a bus shelter - knowing that your kids will be taken into care ??

Would you ?

You should not be ranting at tenants - nor ranting at LLS - you should be ranting at local authorities whose policies make "Cathy Come Home" look like a picnic ........

The public is not aware of these draconian interpretations of "voluntarily homeless" - they will only become aware when they get evicted or repossesed - and by that time they are too ground down and weary and ashamed to want to make a fight about it all

We may not like the fact that LLs have to go to court to get a tenant out - but - if you chose to become a LL - you should have done enough research to know that these eviction processes (and the costs involved) were part of the risks of this particular business.

As for those who think that decent LLs like myself should not inform tenants on here about their rights - SHAME ON YOU

If you ran a successful, legal and ethical business - it would not bother you if tenants knew their rights

We live in a democracy and everyone has the right to "know their rights" whether it be Tenant and Landlords legislation, Consumer Law, or Taxation Law -

so i will continue to assist tenants in trouble as best i can.

those of you who read here regularly do know that i am also a LL who will criticise a tenant who tries to take the mickey

i am amazed that our OP is still on here - good on ya gal - dont let the bullies grind you down

You boil your head mate. The more I read about you I wonder just what kind of business you are in.

Yeh, it's tough, people can't afford 5 bed houses with 3 ensuites and a double garage ; it's tough , things happen in life and people get set back, it's tough, people die and leave young kids behind; loads of things are tough - but will you STOP encouraging people to do the dirty on innocent parties just because they can and it gets them what they need.

This OP wants to get Council Accomodation then do so, but not at the expense and misery of someone else.

As for bullies, I bet there are more than a few people who have considered that the OP was reckless in any case - she is living hand to mouth but still potentially increase the size of the family ? If rent arrears didn't happen now, they would have done later.

You want the truth - no , I don't want to live in a shed, but I've budget long and hard to make sure that my family can NEVER be affected in this way.

As is your right to advise on some things that I feel are not morally tasteful even if they are legal, it is my right to state my views, and therefore I won't be stopping to placate you.

Better you think again before daring to suggest that I don't treat me tenants in a fair and morally acceptable manner - no, I don't get them little leaflets from the council and leave a chocolate on their little pillows, but they are treated properly and in a business like manner, so SHAME ON YOU too Clutton. All you are doing is encouraging LL's to boot tenants out at the first day the contract allows when they get into a bit of trouble, instead of coming to an agreement.

prudryden

Clutton - One of the all time great posts.

RecoveringAlcoholic

........................................

clutton_2

CM - it is abundantly clear to me which party in the OP's situation is in the wrong here

the LL gave her 4 weeks notice - instead of 2 months and he hadn't protected her bond - and in spite of her paying off her arrears - he still wants her out

the LL is trying to shaft the tenant here -and yet you defend the LL ????

"boiling my head" is not something i will be doing thanks very much - if you disagree with me - thats fine - why not try using decent argument rather than childish insults ?

my tenants are, in the main, long term tenants - they stay with me because i treat them well, and look after their properties.

i run a sound ethical business. i accept that the law may not be in my favour some of the time - and i dont rant on about it - if i have to take someone to court, i just get on and do it.

you sound like a very angry person CM - life is so much sweeter if you can deal with it and move on.

""I don't want to live in a shed, but I've budget long and hard to make sure that my family can NEVER be affected in this way.""

CM - i do sincerely hope that your life never takes an unexpected turn and lands you in a financial mess - there but for the grace of god go every single one of us - none of us know when illness/bereavement - whatever - will arrive and spoil our best laid plans.

jacnorm

Clutton I would just like to say it`s always good if a LL can look at things from both sides as you obviously can. I live in a rented property and have been fortunate to have a great LL and I have also have never had to miss a month`s rent but, we never know what is round the next corner.