The Fightback – Tories have been woeful

The regulatory attack on the PRS by Central Government, and Bankrupt Local authorities has been relentless. I don’t need to remind Property 118 readers, but Sect 24, Selective Licensing, and now 3 year tenancies have hammered landlords, both portfolio and small landlords.

We have the NLA today saying that they have been mislead by the Government. Any Landlord with a finger on the pulse can see how absolutely useless the organisations have been. Their idea of a victory for beleaguered landlords is an extension of an expiry date on a gas safe cert. After all,this is the landlords unions. We are at the stage where Labour cannot be much worse. I do not advocate voting for Comrade Corbyn, I simply am pointing out that the Tories have been woeful.

Let us now show the Government that they have created massive problems.

Perhaps we abandon AST tenancies and insist on tenants taking Company lets. A company can be set up online for approx. £25.

As regards Benefit tenants, we can start refusing them or insisting on House Owner Guarantors.

What about offering potential tenants a two tier tenancy scheme? Tier one rent is X per month and they get a 3 year tenancy or tier two is for nice students who get a 6 month tenancy at the student reduced rate. They sign a separate statement acknowledging that they are students. Read between the lines, Michael and Co and don’t fret too much. Time to fight back. What about putting a clause in the agreement that in the event of a default on rent, the tenant pays the £335 cost of court proceedings? This sum is collected upfront perhaps instead of a deposit or on top of a deposit. If they leave and no sect 21 or 8 has been issued they get this refunded.

On Selective licensing inspections, obviously some tenants will allow the Council zealots in, but where good relations exist between landlord and tenant, then the tenant can simply give the council their marching orders. We should have an addendum to new tenancies allowing very frequent inspections, but tell the tenant that we will forgo such inspections where they behave and we can let them have quiet enjoyment otherwise we inspect them very regularly and use the council licensing scheme to show them what life is like with constant council involvement. We must use legislation to fight back and use it regularly.

As regards deposits. Who can be bothered. Give tenants the choice of refundable court fee and they sign as no deposit paid or show them the door. What about a database of every judgement obtained against a tenants across the UK. Then we act in consort . Refuse them accommodation . Let the Government and Council house these deadbeats.

Perhaps to some, this sounds like too much aggro. Perhaps it is and they should exit the industry, but to the remainers, its either fight back or drown under the tide of BS regulations. Time to fightback. The best way to deal with a problem is to create more problems for those who seek to impose such draconian measures which impinge on our property rights.

Larry

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