Steve Masters

You don't say how many floors up he roof is.

Perhaps you can find a tradesman who can access the gutters from ground level, either with ladders or cleaning devices on very long poles.... Read More

It's not often I agree with a politician but what she says about property is all true.

It's what she says about politics I'm dubious about.... Read More

To be clear, I propose that PropertMark have understood the implications and it is MPs that have to think this through carefully.... Read More

Be careful what you wish for, because it might come true.

Think this through very carefully and consider the consequences before you decide.... Read More

Exactly, T has been playing me and playing the system for 10 years.

What's to stop them from continuing to mess me around and only pay the rent twice a year when it gets to court.

Mr Beadle, please take note, the system needs to change to be fair to both sides.

Until then, RRB and the withdrawal of Section 21 IS a big deal.... Read More

I've just come back from a S8 court hearing. The tenant paid off 6 months of arrears just as I was getting in the car to attend. Consequently I didn't get the possession order on the mandatory 2 months arrears grounds. The judge refused to grant the possession order on the discretionary grounds of persistent arrears and late payments even though the tenant has only been out of arrears twenty times in the last 10 years that my records go back!

If that doesn't count as persistent I have no idea why this ground exists in the Section 8 legislation.

The legislation that replaces section 21 MUST be updated to give judges clear direction on when to find in favour of landlords when the case disserves.

It is my experience that not only is the law, but also judges that are biased in favour of tenants and against landlords. This is not a fair system.... Read More

I hope that when the details of the bill are published it is balanced enough to protect the rental industry as well as the renters.

Otherwise, never mind a surge in eviction cases going to court, I predict there will be a surge in illegal eviction cases not going to court.

The good landlords will be stuck with bad tenants for much longer but bad landlords will just boot the good tenants out by force. How can this be progress?

God help us all.... Read More

Another advantage of Direct Debit over Standing Order is that tenants are likely to 'self reference'. If a tenant feels they are likely to strugle with the rent they are likely to decline to commit to DD however if they are confdent they can continue to manage the rent now and in the future then they are more likely to accept DD.

I've used DD in the past but found resistence from prospective tenants, even to good ones. I use an agency and find resistence from them too.

How do people insentivise for DD?... Read More

And that's why I use an insurance based deposit protection scheme where I hold the deposit. That way I'm in control.

Possession is nine tenths of the law as they say.... Read More

The benefit of building up and dipping into a large reserve fund is that it spreads the cost o repairs over many years and across past, present and future owners.

Without it, say your block needs a new roof this year, the guy who sold his flat last year pays nothing towards it but his buyer pays the whole amount even though he was not in situ when the old roof was deteriorating.
And the guy who sells up next year pays all his share even though he may only benefit from the new roof for a few months but his buyer pays nothing towards it.

So long as the reserve fund is capped and not allowed to grow and grow.... Read More

“It seems a small group of landlord MPs, led by Anthony Mangnall, are holding the bill to ransom.”

Are they holding the bill to ransom or are they offering valuable insight into the debate because as landlords they know what they are talking about? Their views should neither be taken as fact or dismissed without scrutiny, they need to be heard and considered.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The real answer to the housing shortage is to build more houses.... Read More

Simon Harris says:- “You can be a model tenant, pay every month, look after the property and not upset your neighbours but if a landlord decides for whatever reason they want you out, there’s nothing you can do.”
Firstly, the landlord would be mad to want to evict a model tenant without good reason. The landlord will have a very good reason to evict.
Secondly, the property belongs to the landlord and not the tenant. If the landlord want's his property back and so long as he follows the correct procedures, he should have his property back, whatever the reason.
How about we pass a law that says anyone can fill up their car with fuel but if they don't want to pay for it because it is so expensive, then they can just drive off and the petrol company can't do anything about it. And the driver can fill up again next month for free next month too. After all, everyone should have the right to drive a car, whether they can afford it or not. The petrol companies can pay for it, they've got plenty of money!... Read More

... Read More

Interesting. How does one value the landlords remaining 51% if and when that is to transfered or disposed of in the future?

There could be a huge difference in value depending on how much time, money and effort the tenant puts into maintaining the property. If say for illustration purposes he built an extension out of his own money or if say he neglected maintenance and let the roof fall in.... Read More

Bidding is a process that helps find a price when there is an imbalance between supply and demand. It can shift the price down as well as up, depending on whether there is an excess of supply or an excess of demand. Currently in the rental market we have an excess of demand and a shortage of supply.

The answer is not to fix prices but to encourage greater supply. Government needs to encourage landlords back into the market and I've said it before BUILD MORE HOUSES.... Read More

I agree with Fiona, appoint your own loss assessor who works for you. They will probably want a percentage of the claim payout but that works in your favor as it is in their interest to claim the maximum amount.

You could find the extra amount they can claim over what you would claim in your own actually pays for their services.

The amount of stress they can save you is immeasurable.

I have suffered two fires and on both occasions I appointed my own loss assessor.... Read More

This is just another example of pro tenant / anti landlord (same thing) government policy.

I'm already selling my HMO houses which will seriously effect 30 tenants! How does this help anyone , let alone tenants?... Read More

In my victorian 100+ years old HMO houses I never have mould problems.

In my modern 20-40 year flats I do occasionally have mould problems and it comes and goes with change of tenants.

Why?

a) because the old houses have drafty wooden sash windows that let fresh air in and the flats have nicely sealed double glazing that traps damp air inside. This could be considered a building issue.

b) because my hmo tenants are quite happy to open windows because I pay the heating bill whilst my flat tenants with mould issues keep their windows closed all the time because they pay the heating bill. This is a tenant lifestyle choice.

c) the HMO heating is on thermostat 24/7 so the houses stay at a fairly constant temperature whilst my flat tenants turn their heating off during the day whilst they are out and only turn it on when they come home so the flats fluctuate in temperature and this causes warm air to condense on cold walls. This is a tenant lifestyle choice.

I have had tenants who tape over ventilation bricks, disconnect or cover over extraction fans or close or tape over all the double glazing trickle vents! How can this be the landlords fault, this has to be tenant lifestyle choice.

I've been a landlord for 20 years, I have seen it all, I know what I'm talking about.
Gove is talking BS.... Read More

"Landlords have a responsibility to investigate all claims of damp or mould" - fair enough.

"Damp and mold is never a tenants lifestyle choice" - absolutely not true, it definitely can be.

When a tenant refuses to open windows and blocks up or disables ventilation and when a previous tenant has acted responsibly and not experienced damp or mould problems how can this not be a lifestyle choice????... Read More

Wow! It's not often I agree with Dan Wilson Craw but there are two things he said in this article that I do agree with:-
1.) “Long term the answer is to build many more homes..."
2.) “But the government can help people now by ... making sure housing support through the benefits system actually covers the rent.”

What ever next!... Read More