Fergus Wilson Panorama documentary – now available on iPlayer

Reply to the comment left by Munro at 19/03/2019 - 12:25
Oh dear, suppose I better watch out then. I think scumbag tenants deserve all they get, they don't care about the damage they do, financially or mentally. Fergus is retiring and selling his properties which he is fully entitled to do, he is a business not a charity, he's housed a lot more persons than Shelter. I imagine all Landlords sell their portfolios at some point, I will do the same soon, partly because of the government but also because I want to retire. My friend is certainly not a sociopath just a realist with a big heart.

Reply to the comment left by Rob Thomas at 19/03/2019 - 11:52
You also know nothing about me, so please don't tell how to run my life. I was taken to court a couple of years ago by a very arrogant know it all "intellectual". My solicitor told me it would be more cost effective in time and money to pay him off and move on. No way, I prepared my own case went to court and it was over in minutes. Won't bore you with the details. The Judge mentioned his arrogant attitude and commended me on my defense awarded me all costs plus some compensation I didn't even ask for. I later found out that I was not the only one he had tried. Another case of his for£1200, oddly enough, cost him £67,000 and that is absolutely true, the Judge in that case also criticised his arrogance. Why should they get away with it.

I am surprised that so many LLs are commenting on what Fergus Wilson said or didn't say on the 'Box' (whose sole purpose is to dumb down and mind control the populace) while hardly any on a much more important topic which will derail every HMO Ll using separate ASTs, namely the thread "Appealing valuation from single to five dwellings?"

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Leverett at 19/03/2019 - 14:35
Just to be clear, I wouldn't dream of telling you how to run your life, I said:
"But if you defend placing ex-tenants in a position where they face huge legal bills I think you should reconsider your outlook on life. Sometimes as a landlord you have to move on!"
You defended FW spending nearly £30,000 in legal fees to pursue a young couple who apparently had been awarded £1,200 against him, which seemingly he paid to them and yet now claims should be repaid. We don't really know any more about this, although it all sounds odd to me. But unless these were the tenants from hell and he wants to teach them a lesson, it seems like a sledgehammer to crack a nut so not necessarily similar to the case you mention.

When I heard Fergus was going to be on Panorama I expected it to be a hatchet job and it was.

Shelters agenda was played out in full with Fergus cast in the role of the bogeyman. Jeremy Corbyn tweeting he is going to come to the rescue to save poor tenants.

In his newspaper article following the programme it would appear that Fergus thought his view of the problems facing landlords would be shown but they were cut out.

At the end of the day he can’t win if he keeps his properties he is criticised and if he sells he gets criticised.

Shame on the BBC for dancing to Shelters tune and fanning the flames of the current anti landlord rhetoric.

I certain would have thought that Fergus being a pretty smart, switched on fella, who should have certainly spotted the potential for this programme to be harmful, if not toxic. Hes obviously got a fair few quid.....hence good connections, Solicitors, Financial Advisors Accountants.
So why did he not draft a contract prior to the shows making, whereby he gets to see and approve the contents before it is aired. What he does not like is removed or the shows pulled. Easy. THE LANDLORD IS IN CONTROL!

This is like deja vu. Richard Bilton did a very similar programme last year, calling for an end to s21s. I critiqued it here: https://www.property118.com/landlords-union-slams-bbc-panorama-report/

We can all complain to the BBC about their biased programming, Panorama's biased editing, and the crusader's sloppy, sensationalist journalism and lack of "proper" investigation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complain-online/
The BBC was once upon a time (possibly before colour TV arrived) hugely respected worldwide. Panorama once had a reputation as being a tough but fair investigative platform.

I have no idea if the presenter has ever considered a career as an investigative journalist (he would need to open both eyes first).

BEEBrexit time?

Replyto post by Dr. Ros Beck. This the programme I had in mind when, earlier in this thread, I described Richard Bilton as having history in this respect. I note your critique describes the term "no fault eviction" as a made-up term with no legal validity, however this may no longer be the case as at a recent landlords' association meeting presentation the latest version of the form was shown with the words "no fault" now printed on the first page as part of the heading. Landlords are without doubt up against some very powerful left-wing influencers whose tentacles reach throughout the media, politics and 'charities' and whose agenda appears to be to grant tenants all the advantages of home owners without any of the costs or responsibilities. Some make no secret of the fact that their ultimate aim is destruction of the private rented sector, but appear either not to recognise or not to care what happens in the long run to the tenants whose cause they claim to espouse.

Reply to the comment left by Old Mrs Landlord at 20/03/2019 - 10:33
Hmm...
"Please write clearly in black ink. Please tick boxes where appropriate.
This form should be used where a no fault possession of accommodation let under an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) is sought under section 21(1) or (4) of the Housing Act 1988."

Should we perhaps be kicking up a stink about this? This is a move from the sub-conscious into reality, further cementing this phrase or 'definition' as legitimate!!