CRUSADER: Why must landlords put up with vile online trolls?

CRUSADER: Why must landlords put up with vile online trolls?

10:19 AM, 8th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago 28

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Landlords in the UK know they aren’t popular with politicians, councils, tenant activist organisations and lots of tenants – but do we really deserve the vile online landlord harassment that takes place? I ask because this week sees another activist urging followers to channel their frustration ‘into hating your landlord more’.

I wasn’t going to give him the benefit of publicity, but he goes on to say: ‘Plant Japanese knotweed in the garden the day before you move out so their property value collapses, pour oil down the sink, steal absolutely everything that isn’t on the inventory even if you don’t want it, get active in your tenants’ union’.

Landlords criticised on social media

That’s nice, isn’t it? I’m sure there are lots of landlords who have been subjected to awful social media posts and campaigns that have been hurtful and undermined their confidence.

On top of everything that’s going on, this is another reason why many will wonder why we even bother offering homes to rent. Really, why do we do it?

I’m sure there are landlords reading this who can reveal what’s been said about them and the above statement will pale in comparison. But it shouldn’t.

Landlord harassment from online trolling is all part of the general malaise and belief that landlords have got it coming. Why? Because we take time to invest and offer safe and comfortable homes to rent.

Landlords have been targeted

Both landlords and tenants are faced with a UK property sector that is a complex and often contentious landscape.

In recent years, landlords have become increasingly targeted by internet trolling loons who engage in abusive and threatening behaviour.

Some of those hurling insults may have been evicted for a reason – not paying rent, trashing the property or being awful to the neighbours, for example.

The big worry is that there are so few landlords willing to speak out about how we are treated. Even publishing in your bio that you work as a landlord is an invitation for sniping comments.

The likes of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have become breeding grounds for online trolls venting against landlords.

On top of that there are tenant review sites of landlords that can sometimes be exploited for malicious purposes. Strangely, there are no ‘rate your tenant’ review sites for landlords – they would undoubtedly be shut down for being exploitative or disrespectful.

Plus, the anonymous forums and discussion boards can be home to toxic communities.

Landlords should be respected

Why are landlords targeted online? Put simply we need to be respected by the same politicians, councils and tenant activist groups that go out of their way to malign us.

Yes, there are bad landlords out there but don’t tar all of us with the same brush.

I’m sure that the tenant harassment of landlords will see many suffering with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

And the negative online reviews and comments – which don’t offer a right of reply – can harm a landlord’s reputation.

Don’t do this!

I’m sure experts will be recommending that we monitor social media platforms to check for negative comments, but I would strongly recommend you don’t do this.

I’ve just done a quick check and can report that there are idiots, critics and trolls saying terrible things – simply because we are landlords.

Should you check yourself, not only do you risk becoming upset at a comment that might have been made by a tenant who you may have helped previously, but the overall negative and libellous commentary is disheartening.

I suppose some would say we should engage calmly and professionally, avoiding personal attacks with the commentators.

But again, I fear you’ll be on a hiding to nothing. Remember, there’s a reason that people say: ‘Don’t feed the trolls’.

And anyway, most of us are too busy to be distracted like this – and will only feel even worse about what we do.

Landlords are not immune

The bottom line is that landlords, like many other professionals, are not immune to online abuse.

The negative impact of landlord trolling can be profound, affecting our mental health, reputation and business operations.

It’s essential to understand the specific challenges landlords face – if only there was a landlord organisation working hard to do so on our behalf!

We don’t have to endure vile abuse but I’m guessing that as the Renters’ Rights Bill makes its way through Parliament the trolling will get worse.

It will worsen as landlords defend offering homes for a payment – and why we do it.

The Bill will see the abolition of Section 21 – but it won’t stop evictions – it won’t. No one, other than landlords, seems to appreciate this.

But we get slammed for saying it, nevertheless.

Rent controls don’t work

Calls for rent controls also spark an online discussion that’s hard to win.

Tenant groups – and I see the Greens are repeating the message this week – are saying rent controls work elsewhere.

They have never worked anywhere! But we can’t get our message out there.

I’m at a loss as to why this happens.

If you want to explain what we do to the pleasant @istreasatuatha on Twitter, then feel free.

He won’t listen. They never do.

Indeed, when the Scottish Landlords Network reposted his comments on Facebook, the original poster was told – and he replied: “ahahahaha”. (I’m really starting to wish I was making all this up).

Perhaps when there is nowhere left to rent then he and his fellow critics might stake a step back and wonder where all those awful landlords went.

Until next time,

The Landlord Crusader


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David

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11:29 AM, 8th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 07/11/2024 - 17:56Like any and all other businesses i know, you put up prices when your costs increase which also includes interest rises and before you ask i doubt i will reduce my rents when interest rents fall because all my contractors are not doing me any favours. For many years though i have not increased rents but i can no longer subsidies tenants.
As for intent trolls, if you receive abuse or threatening behavior, like MPs, surely you report it to the police.Witness the recent case of hate speech resulting in jail.

NewYorkie

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12:10 PM, 8th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 07/11/2024 - 17:56
'The country would be better without the PRS is, I’m afraid, the unpalatable truth.'

Please elaborate.

TheMaluka

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12:58 PM, 8th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 08/11/2024 - 11:19
Take them to court for a little less than they owe and then in five and three-quarter years take them to court for the remainder. That stuffs them for 12 years

Jim K

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17:23 PM, 8th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Kev Kirkby at 08/11/2024 - 10:56
Kev.
OBO those LLs who 'try' - but don't always succeed.
TVM for the measured and considered words. I cannot ask any of our tenants to 'like us' but we strive to provide a home more than, fit to live in, and maintain them as best we can.
I fully agree that a corporate world will be very different. Got a call one NYD whilst driving from Scotland to Blackpool. By the time we arrived the T had the faulty cooker replaced. Ask the Council or corporate to do that. Another example, Christmas Eve -again a cooker. I got the electrician out at 1900 and we managed a temporary fix so Christmas was not spoilt.

Cider Drinker

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11:07 AM, 9th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 08/11/2024 - 12:10
I’m sure most landlords reading this are good, honest, complaint landlords. There are plenty that are not. Just look at the comments on some of the Social Media platforms.

Imagine a landlord faced with a huge bill to repair their property. Interest rates have risen and they have no spare cash. They are making just a few pounds on the rental property and rising interest rates have hit their own residential mortgage too. They don’t have the funds to fix the problem. They can’t afford to evict the tenant. They get stressed, depressed and the tenant suffers.

Or, imagine a landlord who gets dementia. We are all ageing and prone to illnesses. we may suddenly not have the mental capacity to be good, compliant landlords. The tenants suffer.

Now, look at a large company with plenty of staff and the resources to fix problems and remain compliant. As staff age, new staff are brought in to replace them.

I have a problem. I’m old and my tenants are young. They’ll outlive me. My children don’t want to be landlords. Would it be kinder to evict my tenants now or burden my children with the responsibility when I die?

Without the PRS, the properties would still exist. They’d either be privately owned or available as social housing or from large companies.

Maybe there should be a system or company to whom landlords could pass the management of their properties when they die or become incapacitated, in return for a fee.

NewYorkie

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11:18 AM, 9th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 09/11/2024 - 11:07
I have experienced the situation you describe, and my mental health did suffer. I sold that property after eviction to achieve closure on that episode. But it did end my largely enjoyable and profitable 25 year landlord journey.

I'm now 'old' and retired, and concerns about health and dementia are rarely out of mind. It's why I want to be out of BTL next year. Unfortunately, renters will suffer, but they don't care about me and my health...

I will stay involved in the PRS, and I'm currently dipping a toe in BTR because I don't need the hassle of hands-on BTL. Going well... so far.

Martin Roberts

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12:56 PM, 9th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Tenants - if you hate your landlord teach him/her a lesson - move out, that’ll teach them.

Plenty of good tenants want that property.

Cider Drinker

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16:00 PM, 9th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 09/11/2024 - 11:18
Tenants shouldn’t need to care about their landlord’s health. They are paying to rent a property, not to rent a friend.

Without private landlords, tenants wouldn’t need to suffer as often. Your tenant may have suffered the stress of having to quit their home. If they’d rented from a large landlord company, they wouldn’t need to move so often.

Of course, if government made being a landlord more attractive as an investment, tenants wouldn’t be evicted so often. Even landlords needing to sell wouldn’t be a problem as other landlords would be eager to buy with tenants in situ.

NewYorkie

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16:12 PM, 9th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 09/11/2024 - 16:00
Without private landlords, tenants would have nowhere to live.

Mine was a feckless, drunken, drug user who created fear among his neighbours, anti-social behaviour, rent arrears, unpaid bills, damage, and downloaded child pornography. He cost me £20k+ and if he hadn't been evicted, the other tenants would have put him in hospital. He was probably treated very well by other inmates in prison!

Monty Bodkin

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16:14 PM, 9th November 2024, About 2 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 09/11/2024 - 11:07
"Now, look at a large company with plenty of staff and the resources to fix problems and remain compliant. As staff age, new staff are brought in to replace them."

You've just described council housing;

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/17/uk-housing-association-clarion-home-owners-renters

Rats, mould, damp: one woman’s story reveals the ugly truth about the UK’s biggest housing association

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