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

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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