Don’t use the ‘L’ word

I’d be interested to know what proportion of the landlord population Mortgages for Business actually polled, and how their questions were put. I find it hard to believe that a “majority” of landlords are that bothered about being called landlords. And any perceived disapproval in the media is attributable to the fact that we make money from the provision of housing not to the term “landlord”, so changing how we're referred to wouldn’t change that. This is a completely nonsense click bait article, which Mortgages for Business have presumably published in a sad attempt to drum up business.

Reply to the comment left by Katy Ann at 05/01/2022 - 09:44
Totally agree. BS poll. More ways to divert and divide. If I'd been surveyed, I know what I would have said...

Also agree. Additionally, I am fed up of a section of society who want to change our language (and in this case legal terminology) to suit the easily offended minority.

In 2003 I bought a 2 bed house with a downstairs area with toilet and space for kitchenette. When I was decorating the downstairs room a planning officer barged his way into the property demanding I get planning permission for a bed sit as this area could potentially be let as such with a separate 2 bed flat upstairs, this was not my immediate intention. Having been bullied into getting the planning permission ,could I automatically be charged double council tax whether the bedsit area was/is let or not? I did not register it as two dwellings with the council despite having planning permission.

I would love to be referred to as a 'Small Housing Provider' but sadly too much indulgence and insufficient exercise makes this an unlikely prospect.

I’m afraid I disagree with all of the above comments except the last one.

I think being called a landlord is really pejorative. I’d much prefer to be called a small housing provider or rental accommodation provider. Much better and far more positive.

Remember, Tree Surgeons called themselves Tree Surgeon is rather than woodworkers and instantly their status ( and prices) went up.

These words do matter I’m afraid.

Good luck, Peter

Reply to the comment left by Paul Essex at 05/01/2022 - 11:50Do you not think this would invite jibes about PRS properties being small? The term Small Housing Provider is ambiguous. Social media regularly talks of private landlords making a fortune out of "rabbit hutch rentals".
In the town where we have purpose built one-bed flats with designated parking and either private or communal outside space, bathroom with bath and shower, separate lounge and kitchen or combination of the two fitted out with washer/dryers, fridge-freezers, and full cooking facilities, the same one-bedroom LHA rate they attract is also applicable to studios. This has led to a proliferation of conversions of large rooms in town-centre Victorian houses with the addition of a partition in one corner to house a tiny shower, WC and washbasin while another corner is fitted with a sink and cupboard with worktop over and a freestanding cooker, calling itself a kitchen. Such provision is of course a direct response to government policy (lack of social housing; financial squeezing of landlords and broad LHA divisions), but gets all landlords a bad reputation as providers of "small housing". The same applies I know to many commercial to residential conversions.

With between 50 to 300 Tenant applicant per available rental property,
I think we should just demand to be called, ‘ Sir ‘ or ‘ Maam ‘ !

Perhaps drop the 'Small' and just use 'Home Provider'..
But honestly does it really matter ? we are still Landlords.

I hate the term “Landlord” it harks back to feudal times and paints a picture of the landed gentry “lording” it over the peasants. Not an image anyone needs to foster in this day and age. I can’t say I have any great alternative suggestions, but almost anything would be better in my opinion. I tend to describe myself as a Property Manager or Letting Manager if I have to fill in a form or something.