Agent responsible for PMQs UC eviction letter meeting PM’s Policy Board Chairman and Shadow Housing Minister

Agent responsible for PMQs UC eviction letter meeting PM’s Policy Board Chairman and Shadow Housing Minister

11:40 AM, 20th November 2017, About 7 years ago 41

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I am the agent responsible for the letter warning my tenants of the impending Universal Credit that was coupled with their s.21 notice and a reminder that if rent is not paid on time then I will have no option but to evict, that was read out by Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs last Wednesday.

I, along with a handful of other industry figures, already had a private lunch with George Freeman, MP (Chair of the PM’s Policy Board) arranged for this week, but now he has requested a separate one-on-one discussion either before or afterwards to discuss UC further. I probably only have a 10-minute window to get across any points and was hoping for some suggestions.

I will also be meeting with Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister – Melanie Onn, MP- (the individual that passed the letter to JC) the following day. That meeting will likely be slightly longer, although I expect will be the more difficult one because she appears to be firmly of the opinion that I am ‘circumventing the law’ by issuing s.21 and even if I am not technically, I shouldn’t be able to issue notice ‘ahead of time’.

Essentially, people matter more than any business and it should be as difficult as possible for LLs to evict, because it’s not nice to be evicted when UC delays are not the claimants’ fault and because of humanity.

I have literally no idea how to tackle this logic. If it is suggested that s.21 be removed as an option, then I will be informing her of my inability to vote Labour as well as my exiting from the industry.

I don’t believe she understands the concept of free-market capitalism, nor the concept of free-choice. I am not in this industry and do not work 60hrs a week, on-call 24/7 providing 350+ homes as the second largest provider of PRS property to benefit claimants purely to be a helpful humanitarian.

I don’t believe her opinion is helped by the fact that at the age of seventeen Onn was supported by Doorstep, a Grimsby-based charity which provides housing support to young people. I’m unsure what lead to the circumstances of her requiring that support, but imagine it had something to do with a LL that is now clouding her view.

Suggestions welcome.


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Dr Rosalind Beck

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13:24 PM, 22nd November 2017, About 7 years ago

Hey, Luke. It looks like you influenced the Budget! Hammond has made a few improvements to UC and was quite probably influenced by you and the fact that it was brought up at PMQs. Quite an achievement. Well done.

Luke P

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10:07 AM, 24th November 2017, About 7 years ago

So the result of this morning's meeting with the Shadow Housing Minister...
I'm not sure why I am surprised, but it was a complete waste of time.
We started with her question of, 'What can I do for you?' as though she was holding an ordinary surgery meeting with an unknown member of the general public who wants to have a moan about a topic she doesn't yet know.
Anyway, as an individual she is very hard work to talk to. She does not engage in debate (merely sitting silent and smiling back and literally shrugging her shoulders when putting across an opposing view to her own) and insists on finishing her (long-winded) points by overriding any comeback/interjection/correction of factual information.
Logic just does not feature. At all.

Landlords are rich. Therefore we can all stomach losses and endless delays.

The basics of economics are useless here too. Pop your blinkers on and look at everything in isolation...we are landlords and we, right here and now, have properties (no consideration to how/why we are where we are, or the effort put in, nor the risks taken...everyone focus please and do not adjust your blinkers). Now, there are tenants -those in need of housing- many of them poor. Do not ask questions about their lifestyle or why they are either a tenant, poor or anything else about the life choices and current circumstance. You have a house. Tenant needs a house. Let tenant have house. Stop being mean and carrying out references/asking too many questions about their background/ensuring you minimise your business risk. If he doesn't pay, then with all your wealth from your greed you'll be alright and it probably, definitely wasn't the tenants fault anyway.

Strangely, for a left-leaning Labour politician, she was quite emotionless -even when trying from an angle that we want to help our tenants. Not bothered.

Bearing in mind she is the Shadow Housing Minister, she has no grasp of the industry even it's most basic form, assumed -as far as UC is concerned- 'there'll be information on a website somewhere' (for tenants, in a semi-suggestion that I did not necessarily need to send my letter) and the bases for her moral convictions regarding housing/landlords stem from that time when she was 17 and needed the help of a housing charity. That, and her husband has/had a rented property where someone had accrued substantial arrears. Notice was served and the tenant just left, so 'it's not really that hard to get rid of a tenant.' Nevermind that legal possession of that property may not have been gained. I educated her on how long it actually takes in reality to evict a tenant through the Courts, she was nonplussed.

She is now aware that serving a S.21 is nether illegal nor does it require a reason, but essentially landlords should be forced to suffer and not 'gain the upper hand' by serving notices proactively (in response to UC delays or otherwise). Because we're all rich and can manage whereas the little man can't and I suspect would love to see an end to S.21, because how dare we 'play God' -a Judge will decide who, when and how a tenant shall be evicted...not you, you greedy, rich, power-wielding landlord.

I'm trying to involve and engage the local authority (on UC and a range of housing-related matters) and hoped she could help/have connections. No. She 'doesn't really deal with the council.' Great. What a politician. What an MP.

Frightening if she were ever allowed anywhere near power. I mean terrifying...not just as a landlord, but as a clueless, logic-devoid individual with not enough intellect to understand how one practice affects another.

In case you're interested and missed the result of y/d's meeting with the Prime Minister's Policy board Chairman:

In a (very) brief summary of today’s meeting, I found George Freeman to be exceptionally receptive and one with solid conservative values. It would appear arrangements are to be made for myself and four other large portfolio landlords to meet with Sajid Javid (and possibly either David Gauke or Alok Sharma) which is an excellent result -as good as could be hoped for.

Dr Rosalind Beck

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10:20 AM, 24th November 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 24/11/2017 - 10:07
Well, Luke it sounds like the main thing - liaising with the party in power - is going very well. I agree you may as well forget the Labour Party. I have had a go a lot at them over the last 2 years. In case you missed them, I'll put some links to my efforts here - just for entertainment value. And well done for your work on this. You are doing it for the benefit of all landlords and I, for one, appreciate it.

https://www.property118.com/why-does-labour-want-to-force-out-tenants-on-benefits-to-make-room-for-tory-owner-occupiers/82058/

https://www.property118.com/free-housing-for-rogue-tenants-its-okay-landlords-will-pay/82670/

https://www.property118.com/rob-marris-mp-and-sir-roger-gale-same-party/82156/

NW Landlord

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9:04 AM, 25th November 2017, About 7 years ago

Another massive issue for us battered portfolio landlords is this PRS. I didn’t think it would be that bad an issue but I’m wrong. In short anyone with over 10 will have no access to mainstream lenders at all, the days of PRS in individual names is dead the government has basically shut it it down and PRS is the final nail in the coffin. My broker said it is so challenging out there and individual portfolio landlords have little or no access to finance. We are buying in a limited company using these specialist lenders but they are basically all over the place we paid for 3 valuations 10 days ago and haven’t heard a thing. We have clients who buy property getting knocked back left right and centre aswell. My broker did give some positive news that product switch with mortgage works will be available so anyone with these keephold they are gold dust.

My prediction is a short period of turmoil while the market adapts as these mainstream lenders need to lend so I see a shift towards limited company in a grand scale.

Anyone with 10 year mortgages with Mx may also have an issue I am exploring options with my broker as we speak and will report back but these in short will have to be put in a limited company to massive expense or sold.

I don’t know what the motivation is but this government have got it in fur individual landlords big time scary stuff.

H B

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10:33 AM, 25th November 2017, About 7 years ago

Reply to the comment left by NW Landlord at 25/11/2017 - 09:04
Why is 10 properties in particular such a cliff edge for lenders?

NW Landlord

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10:34 AM, 25th November 2017, About 7 years ago

In my understanding that that is part of the PRS regulation ?

Grumpy Doug

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11:17 AM, 25th November 2017, About 7 years ago

Hi. I think you may mean PRA Regulations ... and it relates to 4 or more encumbered properties

Chris Novice Shark Bait

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12:11 PM, 25th November 2017, About 7 years ago

Having some difficulty myself remortgaging. Also we have 2 mortgages with MX so concerned about news from NW landlord.
Perhaps drifting off topic here. Keen to hear/discuss more.
Would https://www.property118.com/important-pra-changes-btl-lending-30th-september/ be a batter place. NW . could you post on there?

NW Landlord

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12:12 PM, 25th November 2017, About 7 years ago

Ok will do

Big Blue

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11:10 AM, 26th November 2017, About 7 years ago

Luke P,

Well done and thank you for your efforts. Some comments:

1. When I first saw your letter in the media I thought it must be you, and also thought the letter was perfectly fair, reasonable and well-explained. Shame the labour idiots couldn't understand it.

2. I knew George Freeman personally for some years and worked with him in politics. Lovely man. I believe he is aware of S24.

3. Please please please, as a member of the ATT organising team (and thank you for your excellent support, btw) and a public speaker on the subject, please let me be at any Javid/Gauke/Sharma meeting! I'd LOVE a face to face with any of them, but Gauke particularly!

Great work Luke. Keep it up. More power to you.

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