Reluctant Landlord

one single word. No.... Read More

I have some props in areas where the tenant 'working' pool is limited, and up to now I have had no real choice than to go down the benefit recipient route route. It's going to be VERY interesting to see how the councils are going to be effected by this and see what they are going to do as a result of the RRB if they are going to have ANY chance of getting those on their existing housing lists into the PRS never mind those in the more expensive temp and emergency accommodation...
I see council budgets being blown out of the water, and as a result CT bills increasing, as there is going to be bugger all extra money coming from central government. That's going to really put the cat among the pigeons in all these now new Labour constituencies. Those that pay full CT are going to be up in arms. Not content with paying 100% CT, over benefit tenants who are already being given state subsidies for this, they are now going to be paying more towards costs of housing the exact same people.
Lambeth are already evicting social rent paying tenants in their own properties to shift in those on their temp accommodation list just to save money! Where are the existing tenants going exactly? I bet a number will be back at the councils door claiming homelessness....only to be given back the same property????? Madness.... Read More

agreed.

Moreover this will shoot councils directly in the foot. How are they now going to secure properties from the PRS for vulnerable tenants?

Bad enough for the LL to hope and pray that the T personally themself pays the RIA after they sign the contract - but a LL handing over the keys to a benefit tenant (who has already no skin in the game) and only then trying to secure the RIA etc from the benefits department/third party?????

This just makes it more risky than it was before so..... I'm OUT!... Read More

Look at it this way.
All that is required is a S21 - it is the legal and formal method of requesting to vacate. It is not a demand. It gives them notice of your intention. There is nothing stopping you giving your reasons in a covering letter if you wish if you feel the need. I would stick to the 2 months notice as the norm.

You could explain that you will be more than happy to give him a positive reference in advance of him leaving to help with his future applications.

Its always a risk, but if you are selling then you need to bite the bullet and not delay.... Read More

the way its going I can't see any genuine tenant that has managed to secure a property before the RRB comes in, actually being in a position to move again voluntarily because there is very little going to be out there TO be available to let to them.

Any LL being approached by a T that has been in a property less than 6 months after the RRB comes in is going to ask why they are applying to them for alternative accommodation.

The question over the regular short term use/ higher than average rental move in/move out frequency of any tenants applying for a new place, is going to potentially be another LL red flag consideration for the LL they have approached surely? It would make me suspicious without further investigation for sure... Read More

Corporate partners
Corporate partnerships are vital to helping us end the devastating impact the housing emergency is having
on people and communities. Together, we use our voices to create lasting change through fundraising,
awareness raising and campaigning.
Art Marketing FatFace Lloyds Banking Group Network Rail
B&Q/Kingfisher First Direct M&S SCS
Birmingham Midshires Freshfields Bruckhaus
Deringer Mitchells & Butlers plc Société Générale UK
British Land HSBC UK Nationwide Building
Society Wayfair
Dreams IKEA... Read More

Income
Income totalled £81.33m in 2023/24. This
is £7.67m (10%) higher than the prior
year, due to a significant increase in
donations, mainly those from corporate
partners, partly offset by a reduction in
income from grants and contracts
provided by public bodies.... Read More

Tesco sells apples. You want to buy an apple - Tesco offers you one at £X price. Buyers can afford to purchase and decides yes - their choice.. Level playing field.

LL lets properties. You want to HIRE it (because you can't afford to buy a property yourself or you prefer not to). LL can supply it for £X price. Renter can afford the hire charge and decides yes - their choice. Level playing field.... Read More

anyone hear more about the revised costs that the ombudsman scheme/LL database etc is going to cost per property?

I saw the initial costings (I mean finger in the air guess) that was mentioned at the end of Nov last year, but has there been any update on this after this latest palava/last reading/amendments?

Looking at rent increases now and wanting to make sure this gets factored in too as well as SL, inflation, rising costs, increased building insurance, maintenance, call outs........ Read More

throw Tenant C into the mix...

Working couple with 2 kids, both on working 3 year visas aligned to social work contracts coming from Africa/India. Paid up front for their own costs to get here and pay for the 6 months in airbnb until they can rent somewhere longer term. Permanent contracts, as much overtime they like, no recourse to public funds.
Self paying the RIA and deposit but UK resident home owning guarantor not possible. Basically they don't work they don't eat and if they have no job then the working visa becomes null and void, no right to rent etc....

A, B or C?... Read More

....but by default the first months rent is not due until after the contract is signed so you wont see that money going into your account until AFTER it is signed and you have handed the keys over....that's my point.

You can only secure a weeks equivalent of rent for a holding deposit until after the contract is signed and only then demand and (hope to) receive the first months rent (or the rest of that months rent minus the holding week)... Read More

from what I can gather as of right now...

A months rent in advance cant be asked for BEFORE the tenancy is entered (I presume this means the tenant has to sign the contract first.)r.

Taken literally does that mean JUST the T needs to sign (not necessarily the LL?), and that I should take a timed photo after T signs contract before I am able to formally ask/demand the first months rent?

If that is the case, then surely can I ask for proof required that this payment has actually been made (and cleared) BEFORE I sign the contract the actual property keys are released?... Read More

“It will ensure we can drive up the quality of private rented housing so that renters have access to good quality and safe homes as a matter of course.”

Fine, but those renters will be paying top dollar and have to pass strict referencing to even be considered.

So that's more relegated to look to the council/government for housing help...on top of the already burgeoning existing list...and the never ending acceptance of migrants entering every day looking for handouts...... Read More

sorry...but hahahahahah!

A labour government AND council making the situation WORSE. Who would have thunk it??... Read More

....but even if they did cover the full rent and not just the LHA portion, with the current situation where the tenant can ask the DWP without the LL's knowledge to pay them directly....what's the point?

The 2 things that could change the situation over night is

1. that the DWP agreed to pay the LL the rent contribution directly that they have determined the claimant is eligible for.

2. There is a PRS Landlord portal set up allowing the LL to communicate with the DWP on the same level playing field as social landlords.... Read More

All this is going to make for some very interesting property marketing!

We welcome all applications including benefit recipients....but ....
The offer of a tenancy can only be made when full affordability is determined and positive credit history, renting history and all financial compliance checks have been completed and confirmed for all prospective tenants.
Please note - The use of a guarantor may also be required, as a condition of rent guarantee insurance. If a guarantor is necessary then it must be a UK based national with personal property ownership (again in the UK) in their personal name.....

The list goes on.... so yes benefit tenants will all inevitably be excluded on the basis of affordability and on not being able to meet the referencing criteria.... Read More

'professionalising' the sector is one thing - but if it means results in reducing the ability for applicants to even secure a tenancy....this is only going to backfire BIG TIME disproportionately on tenants.

Maybe this should be renamed as the Renters Ability to Rent Limitation Bill?... Read More

... Read More

just had a good read through the latest amendments..
NC11 relates to use of a guarantor. Plan is to REMOVE the ability of a LL to require a tenant to provide a guarantor if ....

(3) The circumstances are –
(a) that the person has paid a tenancy deposit or has been assisted under
a deposit scheme;
(b) that the person is required to pay rent in advance equivalent to one
month’s rent or more;
(c) that on a reasonable assessment of their means the person’s income
(including state benefits received and any other lawful source of income)
is sufficient to enable them to pay the full rent due under the tenancy;
(d) that arrangements will be made for housing benefit or the housing
element of universal credit to be paid directly in respect of rent to the
relevant person;
(e) that the relevant person has entered into a contract of insurance under
which they are insured against non-payment of rent; or
(f) such other circumstances as may be prescribed in regulations made by
the Secretary of State.
(4) In any other case where a relevant person lawfully requires a person, as a
condition of the grant of a relevant tenancy, to provide a guarantor, the sum
for which the guarantor may become liable under the relevant guarantee shall
not exceed a sum equal to six months’ rent.

WTAF???? So if the T pays the deposit and the first months rent, we are banned from asking for a guarantor.

If they are on benefits it is apparently totally acceptable that as long as that 'arrangements' are made for the LL to be paid directly then we also cant ask for a guarantor! ANd if the next day the T calls UC to demand payment of the rent to themself????... Read More

You read all our minds on this topic! Well said
"There’s still no hope that Labour will even deliver a fraction of the promised 1.5 million homes – and they still won’t say that most of them will go to newcomers."
Even if the promise/pledge/target/wish/milestone/plan/idea EVER comes to fruition (it wont) there has NEVER been any target/numbers/% given for the number of SOCIAL/AFFORDABLE units this will include.
The 1.5M is always talked about with direct linkage as this ending the issue of families/kids in temp accommodation/kids in emergency housing especially and this being the panacea - but the reality is it wont happen because there wont be the number of units built, available at a rent they can afford. So no change there...only a growing number being added to the need list, day by day...
Even if just 1% of the 1.5M were built tomorrow for those in this situation now, there is still not enough to go round no matter where they are built.
As every lies, lies lies and deceptive soundbites only.... Read More