11:11 AM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago 53
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I cannot stay silent any longer because the continued attack on landlords will end in tears for us, tenants and the government.
I was taken aback when the Scottish government announced that it was introducing legislation for a rent freeze without any negotiation or discussion with the private rental sector in the country.
I was stunned when they also announced a moratorium on evictions. Both the rent freeze and moratorium will run until March next year.
However, the reason I cannot stay silent any longer comes after Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, took aim at the private rental sector with some unkind words.
There is a great story on Property 118.com that reveals what Starmer said about landlords. It was this bit:
“If you keep inflating demand without increasing supply house prices will only rise.”
He is right of course – it’s that old issue of supply and demand. The population is growing – but we aren’t building enough homes.
Let me help you, Sir Keir, with a reality that you and your colleagues don’t appreciate. Here’s my rewrite:
“Because if you keep inflating demand without increasing supply, RENT prices will only rise.”
There you go. How hard was that? Oh, wait, there was more nonsense. He said:
“And homes become less affordable for working people.”
I think I can leave that one right there! Rent rises hurt everyone.
To be fair to Starmer, I had already been irked by the smiling loon Lisa Nandy who had already told the party conference that Labour would bring in a decent homes’ standard – all landlords want to provide quality homes for tenants. We don’t all need beating with the same big stick.
However, since she and just about every other politician believes that all landlords are in it for the money and provide poor quality accommodation, she went on to say that Labour would tilt the power towards tenants with a new renters’ charter.
I can’t even begin to explain how angry this notion makes me.
Are we really expected to have tenants not paying rent or trashing our homes or cause problems for neighbours without having any route to repossess our property?
The big issue for me is that what Starmer said is likely to be in the next Labour manifesto.
And there will be a huge problem for landlords unless we have an organisation that stands up more vociferously for us and our rights or, I will explain more later, we organise ourselves with a real threat to the government that they will not be able to deal with unless they offer a realistic compromise.
Remember this date: Christmas 2024. That’s because it’s a month before the next General Election will be held – it will be before the end of January 2025 – according to the law.
I believe that we should organise a ‘Section 21 Day’ and hand EVERY tenant their notice so that the Government and local authorities, politicians and critics (Yes, I’m looking at you Shelter) can see what we do for our tenants.
While this is an unpleasant Christmas surprise for renters, politicians must stop the rhetoric and work with us. You can’t rehouse 4.4million households.
I can’t claim credit for this idea – there was a comment on Property118.com that suggested the same thing. I think it’s a great proposal. We can threaten it once we see the party manifestos and deliver it to give the campaigning politicians something to think about.
If we stay silent and do nothing, we should prepare for the worst. Because the worst will come.
So, I’m the Landlord Crusader and I will be highlighting the issues I have with the PRS and its potential future – it currently does not have a great one – and I look forward to the Conservative Party conference next week.
Yes, while I’m not expecting a lot from the new housing minister who is a former landlord, I am expecting fireworks from the Prime Minister Lizz Blundertruss and the Chancellor ‘Kami’ Kwasi Kwarteng.
Until next time,
The Landlord Crusader
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TheMaluka
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Sign Up13:21 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by land law at 30/09/2022 - 13:08One of the failed government policies is to attack the very people who could form part of the solution, You manage an agressive reply but have not managed to produce a strategy which would in any way alleviate the problem of landlords leaving the sector. Please give the community some constructive suggestions.
PH
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Sign Up13:25 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
There's not a sole on earth who will dictate what I do with my property that I own outright therefore if these proposals get carried through then I will simply sell up and continue living my lovely life abroad away from 'Great' Britain..the term used very lightly !
land law
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Sign Up13:33 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
My reply is not aggressive. Honesty about your assertion about the cause of homeless is not aggressive. Please do not mistake the two.
It’s my role to provide solutions. Landlords must make their own choices. They are not “driven” to leave the sector: it’s their choice. That the investment/ regulation environment is getting “worse” is the downside of the upside enjoyed for many years.
My initial point was, and still is, that few will be fooled into thinking this is anger - in the OP - is for concern for tenants.
If landlords now need to withdraw from the market, so be it. I’m sure there will be willing buyers of the property - that is the free market in operation.
TheMaluka
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Sign Up13:40 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by land law at 30/09/2022 - 13:33
Still no constructive suggestions despite your assertion that "It’s my role to provide solutions."
We must agree to differ.
AT
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Sign Up13:44 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by land law at 30/09/2022 - 13:33The drivers to leave the sector have been put into place. For a single property accidental landlord, the system works against the owner(s). Section 24 and rising costs and that one chance of a problematic tenant.
Section 24 - gov
Rising rates - tough? but these days house prices are high and a low interest rates are required, not just for the landlords.
EPC ratings - gov. Selectively applied!
Problematic tenant - pure chance and not wished on anyone.
The low interest rates allowed landlords to improve the properties. Some don't have £100k plus external incomes. I don't, but used to.
Larger portfolios take the hit with absorbing losses from one or two properties.
Driver for getting out is personal for large portfolios and Driven for one or two property portfolio.
Just an observation, the landlords with large portfolios will be in 50s or 60s, they may get out, there will be issues for tenants.
Edit : edit is inserting \
Seething Landlord
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Sign Up13:44 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
How long do you think it will take to get 4.4 million possession orders? Probably about as long as the time since the last crusade.
You already have a taste of the mixed reactions from a few landlords, best of luck with persuading, motivating and mobilising the remaining 2.4 million landlords to support your campaign,.
land law
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Sign Up13:45 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
Apols a typo - should be “not”
I’m happy to differ. I would add only that for many landlords (and I do not attribute this attitude to you), being “part of the solution” means being allowed to do whatever they want, in whatever manner they want. See many posts on this site.
The law/regulation in this area has never worked like that, and many other landlords are comfortable with it. For those that are not, I’d be delighted to see them leave the industry.
Neilt
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Sign Up14:55 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by PH at 30/09/2022 - 13:25
Security of tenure? Rent Control? You'll still be able to sell your house, but not what you thought you'd get for it.
I recently sold my property in Australia and I'm about to buy a holiday home in France. But I'd never leave leafy Kent.
Old Mrs Landlord
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Sign Up16:58 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 30/09/2022 - 12:48
Have you learnt nothing from the government's response to Covid? Just as they stopped all evictions and compelled landlords to continue to house non-payers, they will again respond by bringing in emergency measures and may simply compulsorily purchase our properties at less than market value. They make the laws, we suffer the consequences. Tenants outnumber landlords and public opinion is not on our side. As David Smith the Landlord and Tenant Law specialist at JMW Solicitors said recently, we now have lawmaking driven by social media by MPs who do not understand the ramifications of the legislation they introduce, believing and acting on nonsense press releases from Shelter based on figures extrapolated from tiny unrepresentative samples of the few disaffected tenants who consult their organisation.
Saul Smart
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Sign Up17:23 PM, 30th September 2022, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by land law at 30/09/2022 - 13:33
"That the investment/ regulation environment is getting “worse” is the downside of the upside enjoyed for many years."
I've been in the game since 1992- could you tell me when 'the upside enjoyed for many years' was please?
I've never known such a period. I've always known it to be a hard work activity that although it had it's downsides I have taken on the chin and chosen to live with for the benefits it provides.
I found out very early on for example that the court system was never been fit for purpose- the tenants can run up arrears, can then trash your property with impunity when you take action to remove them via the court- whilst amassing further arrears of course for a further 6 months or so. Also leys face it- the county court is a total toothless tiger for pursuing accrued debts most of the time.
I've been in the business 30 years but seem to have missed these 'hedonistic' times you speak of. I had always hoped of levelling the playing field against bad tenants and bad landlords alike- excuse my naivety.