Fergus Wilson’s response to “Hero or Villain”

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 06/08/2018 - 08:53
U han't seen the new Lamborghini.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 06/08/2018 - 08:55
Oh yeah...they have a crossover out, don't they. Hmm...if I wasn't so obvious to the council gestapo in a bright neon green spaceship-on-wheels, I might have considered it!

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 05/08/2018 - 12:14
But where is the evidence for these made-up rules?

Taken from Nottingham councils landlord licensing application;

Are there any people aged less than 5 years living within the property at present?

So if councils don't have special rules for young children, why are they asking?
What are these special rules and why aren't they openly available? (I suspect they are hidden in the 'HHSR guide for jobsworths')
If landlords must have a gas safe engineer permanently on emergency standby when letting to tenants with young children, what extra premium on the rent should they charge?
If they can't comply, should they be doing a Fergus and not taking on such tenants in the first place?

FERGUS WILSON
When the Kent Online carried the news that within one hour I had increased rents across the board in a broadbrush sweep it was mist correctly reported it was very correctly reported.
However, Plagiarism, as so often, takes place and the end product is somewhat distorted.
The facts are on the Monday it was widely predicted that BOE Base rate would increase by 0.25% on the Thursday. I therefore put contingency plans into place that day (Monday) so that if the Bank of England Monitory Committee raised Base Rate I would be in a position to act immediately and pass on the rise.
Within minutes I penned a few lines to the Kentish Express which covers Ashford where I have most houses. I have no flats in Ashford.
It was reported on Kent Online shortly afterwards and was picked by right across the world in New Zealand and Australia.
I was, of course, not consulted by Mark Carney the Governor of the BOE. Had he done so then I would have advised him to leave the Base Rate static at 0.5%.
The increase does the average man in the street no good at all.
Most Home Owners have a mortgage and like renters they are hit in the same way.
All landlords will pass on the interest rise in the same way mortgage companies will.

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 06/08/2018 - 09:48
Any Nottingham Landlord applying for Licensing should ASK the Council for the Reason and implication of that question.
The legality of what L.A's are doing with Licensing needs very close monitoring.

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 06/08/2018 - 08:57
Ha ha yes, same here. And then some of me thinks Screw 'em, worked for it, went without for years, but they don't see it like that.

Aah Monty good point, I thought they'd just be looking out a bit more for young kids & disabled etc., but yeah well spotted, this could be their next move.

I can't comply with my new boilers who are tied to waiting for the manufacturer to come out. Boilers out of warranty, I've normally got someone there within a few hours.
Aah well time will tell, & as Housing Aid Nottingham Homeless will tell u, the benefit cap stopped Landlords taking on women with 3 kids.
And this boiler one day fine policy may stop us taking on women with kids under 5. Not nice statement, but not nice fine rules.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 07/08/2018 - 07:52Business ( HAS ) to respond to the environment within which it operates. If government change that environment without any cognisance of the impacts, then they, MHCLG, can only hold themselves to blame ( much as they try and pass that off onto Landlords )
With all the problems of Housing allowance rates being frozen, and then U.C. - it seems ( understandably ) that only a fifth of landlords are prepared to offer tenancies to those in receipt of such. I don't recall any of the same fuss associated with Licensing conditions, which if we're honest - upon legal challenge, would be 'Hyndburn conditions' - where in the legislation does it say that boiler repairs must be carried within x time if you ; haven't got a partner ( cos lets be honest, the single mum thing is sexist ) have sprogs of a certain age or any other spurious conditions !
One of the landlords subject to these concocted licensing schemes should make a formal complaint to the Council, then followed up with a complaint to Local Govt Ombudsman. [ and publicised by Press@property118 ]
( Mick, would you like me to write if for you ? if so, email me )

Chris, I've started my Ombudsman complaint.
I think I've forwarded u the other stuff.
U have to get referral from the council first to say they've had enough of u and can't help u any more, go see Ombudsman.
As we know, ombudsman limited budgets nowadays and seem less inclined to take cases on, that 10 years ago they'd have dived at the chance.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 07/08/2018 - 14:06
I'm thinking of doing a course in boiler repair. They always break down over Christmas or Easter and no-one will come out even if you you have paid for a 24 hour emergency policy so I have concluded they are useless. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Ha ha no they all the same. They take your £1000+ for boiler & 5 year warranty & when u ring 'em, they say up to 7 days. Diabolical.
I have found Baxi has the worst delays.
Vaillant the quickest.
However, if you choose Baxi preferred I think it's called or if the plumber is on Baxi list, u get to go on your boiler file, if ring Baxi before 3pm, they will come out next day.