Annie Landlord

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is spending £1.2 million to upgrade that block. Many other tenants had made complaints. It is disingenuous (at best) to blame the tenant on this occasion.... Read More

Paul Routledge set up landlordreferencing.co.uk. I recall he had been horrifically attacked by a tenant with a hammer. If a database of landlords can get through GDPR I don't see why a tenants one would be a problem. Rather, however, than using woolly language like 'rogue' landlords and tenants, perhaps the databases should only include landlords and tenants who have been found guilty through the court process... Read More

" take them straight back to France, that's where they should be claiming asylum legally if I am correct."
You are not correct. The UK is signed up to international law and the Refugee Convention. Anyone can apply for asylum in any country, and contrary to the misinformation peddled by MSM, there is absolutely no obligation for anyone to stay in the first, or any safe country they pass through. The Dublin Agreement did enable the UK to pass asylum seekers back to mainland Europe, but we lost that facility when we left the EU... Read More

Serco has a long standing dreadful reputation for any service they run - from the old crb checks through to prisons, rail services and an array of public services. They are hand in glove with key government ministers and are continually offered contracts involving services to vulnerable people that they manage very, very badly. Wouldn't touch them with the proverbial bargepole.... Read More

Nearly 80% of all asylum claims are granted, including 53% of claims from Albanians. (Fleeing war is only one of the accepted reasons for claiming asylum) The UK doesn't allow people to apply for asylum until they physically step onto british soil.
If they would bring back safe routes - either allow claims made from abroad or take up France's offer (made a year ago) to have a claims processing centre in Calais, the Channel crossings would stop. Successive governments, Tory and Labour have failed to address the housing crisis in the UK. There are 250,000 empty homes, including many owned by local authorities and the MoD.Why isn't the government enabling councils to refurbish these? Please let's not fall into the trap of blaming asylum seekers for our own failings... Read More

I haven't said I would hold out for a high offer. I said my concern was that NO offers would come in. Interestingly I had an offer after just 5 days on the market at very near the asking price. However, I'm also acutely aware that sales are falling through as Lenders pull mortgages even if a DIP was in place. Some mortgage rates have fallen in the past couple of days so the picture is readjusting on a daily basis. All of us wanting sell just need to keep fingers crossed:)... Read More

Yes, but I need to find one:) Where are they? The house has had a full refurb, new kitchen, flooring, boiler etc etc. Its a solid family home on a private (ie not LA) estate, so its an ideal prospect for anyone staying in the btl business.... Read More

Yes, I've read about your horrendous situation on here. Glad you have at least got that one property off your hands. The property I have up for sale is empty, so at least I don't have to worry about the possible demise of S21. I just don't need the stress anymore. I've been retired for some years. I just want to pack a bag and go travelling:) I'm quite prepared to drop £20K off the advertised price, but even then I wonder if there are enough buyers around... Read More

Thanks for the replies and advice. The agent has put the house on at a fixed price which I think is much too high. I have only one viewer lined up (today) but its only been advertised for a week. CGT will be minimal because values have never really recovered since the last crash. If I thought it would sell in six/seven months I would stick with the traditional sale. But we are entering a recession and interest rates are continuing to rise. Its also of course costing hundreds a month while it remains empty. Hence my thoughts of sounding out an auction or 'a we buy any house' company. Has anyone used such a company?... Read More

Hi, you can tick the final box (21) on the N5B form (Claim for Possession) to confirm you want the defendant (the tenant) to pay the costs of the claim. You have to send a cheque for £355 with your claim form and three copies of every document you submit. I did a S21 then the court claim recently, for the first time. Fortunately my tenant (who had been advised by Shelter to stay put) realised they were going to lose and could have to pay costs, so they moved out.... Read More

Exactly this! I have been selling one a year. Some sold well, others less so. The one I'm hanging on to is a super property, but the entire area has seen very little capital appreciation in the last 10 years.... Read More

Thanks. Yes there is a requirement for inspections every 30 days. that isn't a problem... Read More

Which council was this Judith?... Read More

Presumably the Lender is anticipating that England and Wales will follow Scotland in stopping S21 and also making all S8 grounds discretionary. Hence, repossession by the Lender is not a mandatory ground for eviction and the Lender would be forced to become a landlord... Read More

S21 doesn’t exist in Scotland. Currently (until the end of September) all grounds for S8 are discretionary, meaning the Tribunal decides whether the landlord’s request for possession is ‘reasonable’. It doesn’t matter if the tenant has trashed the property, is a year in arrears or has a cannabis farm in the attic, there is no mandatory eviction. All the signs are that ScotGov intends to continue with this (what was emergency Coronavirus) legislation) so they really do have landlords over a barrel. The logical conclusion is that ScotGov intends to ensure that landlords cannot sell, or indeed move back into, their property... Read More

It would be helpful for 118 admin to invite a landlord from SAL (Scottish Association of Landlords) to outline the fall out from all the changes, as they are coming down the line to England. I live in Edinburgh, (but my rental properties are in England) A recent report suggests that the Scottish changes are leading to a reduction of supply, particularly for students and lower income families https://rentbetter.indigohousegroup.com/findings/
Student landlords can't issue fixed term tenancies, which of course means they are unable to plan. Those that left the market either sold up or moved to airbnb. However, Edinburgh is trying to curb airbnb by requiring all landlords who want to let out an entire flat on airbnb to apply for planning permission from the council (and probably pay an enormous fee) Every day this month the local facebook pages have been full of students (and some professionals) desperately searching for accommodation. Edinburgh is giving planning permission for new PBSH very regularly, so this is obviously how they hope to fill the gap left by student landlords pulling out of the secto... Read More

It seems very likely that England will follow Scotland, so no S21 and no fixed term tenancies. All Scottish tenancies, including for students (but not purpose built student accommodation) are Private Residential Tenancies and are 'indefinite'. The period of notice the landlord has to give rises with the length of the tenancy but tenants only give 28 days. Edinburgh in particular (having a number of universities) is a complete dog's breakfast, with a huge shortage of accommodation. Student landlords used to house students until July then let their properties out for the Edinburgh Festival during August. Now they can't do that and many Festival Organisers have said the Festival is in jeopardy because performers and tourists can't find or afford accommodation.... Read More

Scotland banned S21 and bought in indeterminate tenancies a five years ago. As already mentioned, a recent report - Rent Better (April 2022) - concludes that the changes have improved renters' rights but reduced rental supply, particularly for low income people. Scotland continues to have a tragic shortage of family housing but every spare parcel of land in Edinburgh is being given to developers of PBSH. PBSH providers are allowed to use academic year tenancies, which enables the owners to make a killing, renting out the rooms to tourists, specifically for the international festival in August.... Read More

Hi Nigel, what is the '5 year rule'?
Thanks... Read More

Thanks Rod. I am aware that councils shouldn't be advising tenants to wait for the bailiffs. To be fair, I only know what the tenant has told me. They may have been advised by the council to clear the arrears and keep the rent up to date because a private landlord won't touch them otherwise. The tenant is banking on being first in line for a new social rent house that hasn't been built yet. That's risky... Read More