Half of tenants are ‘one pay cheque away’ from homelessness – Shelter claims

Half of tenants are ‘one pay cheque away’ from homelessness – Shelter claims

9:26 AM, 22nd August 2023, About A year ago 67

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A survey of private renters has found that 51% of them are just one missed ‘pay cheque’ away from being made homeless.

The findings from Shelter also found that more than a third said they did not have enough savings to cover their rent if they were to face unemployment.

The charity’s study also reveals that 55% of renters have seen a rent increase in the past year with demand from tenants outstripping landlord supply.

Shelter says its recent findings show a deterioration in the private rented sector since a 2021 survey revealed that 39% of tenants did not have enough in savings to pay rent.

‘Forced to compete for grossly expensive private rentals’

Shelter’s chief executive, Polly Neate, said: “The severe lack of social homes means swathes of people are barely scraping by as they’re forced to compete for grossly expensive private rentals, because there is nothing else.

“With food and household bills continuing to surge, the situation is precarious for thousands of renters who are one pay cheque away from losing their home, and the spectre of homelessness.”

She added: “The time for piecemeal policies is over. To jam the brakes on the housing emergency, we need a genuinely affordable alternative to private renting.

“We know social housing works for most people because it’s secure and the rents are tied to local incomes.

“Instead of empty words, the government and every political party must sign up to building thousands more social homes.”

‘Delivering affordable homes to rent and buy’

A government spokesperson said: “We have a strong track record of delivering affordable homes to rent and buy across the country.

“Since 2010, we have delivered over 659,500 new affordable homes through our £11.5bn affordable homes programme, including 166,300 homes for social rent.

“Our landmark Renters (Reform) Bill will also deliver a better deal for renters, giving tenants greater security in their homes and preventing large rent increases being used as a backdoor method of eviction.”


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Mick Roberts

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5:56 AM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Ossett at 22/08/2023 - 19:43
They wished for it cause being Anti Landlord the last 8 years has got the MP's good votes. However, I think we seeing a shift the last few months with Ben Beadle of NRLA-As much as some disagree with him-getting through to the Govt that it's under-supply that is causing the housing/homeless problem.

Absolutely brilliant your words:
David Cameron should write a book "How to Cause a Housing Crisis" enabled by Charities and the Media.

Happy Landlord

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6:49 AM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

In reply to Mick Roberts; for the first time ever I am this morning working out which buy to lets I am going to be selling - probably 6 properties thats another 6 families looking for homes - most have been with me for years. Its a mixture of this; governments mishandling causing the housing situation to be much worse, the left wing civil service and the trashing of the economy by the bank of England every one of them needs sacking! although the other lot will not be any better.

GlanACC

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7:41 AM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Happy Landlord at 23/08/2023 - 06:49I went through the process of deciding what to sell off a few years ago. Mainly when they become vacant thats the obvious choice. Two of them I couldn't get an EICR certificate for without a complete rewire, I gave the tenant a £10k reduction in the price of the property and the bought it (to this day he hasn't done a rewire), the other I paid the tenants £6k to move out. I S21'd a single mum and her obnoxious 16 year old son. Sold 12 in all which paid off the mortgage for my 6 remaining properties. Paying tenants to move out is not as bad as it seems as its tax deductable from the cost of the sale.

Beaver

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9:49 AM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 22/08/2023 - 18:47
I agree that this government's idea of forcing pension funds to invest in risky assets is crazy. But what wouldn't be crazy is allowing people to transfer part of their pension funds into SIPPS and allow them to invest directly in energy efficient housing. Many of the controls that would be required are already there. You can already invest in commercial property....just not residential. They key would be sorting out the EPC system which they need to do anyway.

Mick Roberts

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9:54 AM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 23/08/2023 - 07:41
Great words Glenn,

Do u have any advice how u legally paid for them to go ie. Any contract drawn up to make sure they go on day of sale or before etc.?
In Nottingham, most of mine couldn't wouldn't go (good tenants) if offered them 5k, as they can't get anything anyway, plus with other rents £900 & me charging them £600, they yes even my UC tenants think ahead & think Screw that, in another year I'm stuffed. But obviously, as I get older, I've got to up the ante & maybe the £ amount too.

GlanACC

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17:20 PM, 23rd August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 23/08/2023 - 09:54
Very easy, I simply wrote them a letter making the offer sand saying they got the money when they left. The tenant signs it and keeps a copy and also signs a letter giving me notice. It all went very smootly with no hitches. Was certainly cheaper than a rewire and redecoration, and I got rid of a property. The one I sold to the tenant I saved on estate agents fees

Mick Roberts

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7:56 AM, 24th August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 23/08/2023 - 17:20
Are your tenants reasonable in that they can get other properties?
Mine could never get a Letting Agents property if they paid 10 years up front.

GlanACC

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8:42 AM, 24th August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 24/08/2023 - 07:56
The one that took the £6k had another property lined up anyway. My remaining 6 tenants, I have told them I wont evict them (mortgages are paid for and I don't really need the rent as I have other income). I have offered them £10k to move out. None of them are interested in that offer as they know they will be worse off, even in the short term. So looks like I will have them until they or I die ! - They are all good tenants and I have allowed them to redecorate the properties and keep pets. The only time I hear from them is when something needs doing (or a workman turns up at my door with a bill as I have given the tenants a list of people they can contact if they have any repairs). One tenant has been with me over 20 years - he was in the house when I bought it.

Beaver

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9:19 AM, 24th August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 24/08/2023 - 08:42
If you've got 6 unmortgaged, let properties that you really don't want but haven't yet incorporated I suspect you could incorporate all 6 into a company and just sell the company.

Mick Roberts

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9:37 AM, 24th August 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 24/08/2023 - 08:42
Wow same as me then.
However I now have Licensing & Legislation interfering on what was otherwise working-Tell me when something wrong job done. That's no longer the case. Licensing & Govt require far more work & time to them & not the tenant.

Yes, I give all my tenants builders numbers, mainly plumber. Ring him direct, I give u permission, don't bother me.

Yes same here, got many been with me over 20 years, one been in house 40 years, I bought it from her Grandma approx 26 years ago.
I've got several who's been in the houses 20 years who may be in a position to buy in years to come & want to buy it for what I paid for it 20 years ago-Yeah right. Their side is well if I paid 19k & it's now worth 140k & they've paid my mortgage, they should have it for what I paid. They could have a point. However, who paid the deposit? Which in today's money is 35k. Who took the risk? I din't have to buy it, they could have done. Why didn't they buy it? Who's paying for the years I've lost on several houses?
Who's paying for all the time & hassle I've had over the years?

Not all is black & white Sadiq Khan when u say Landlords who have no mortgages should do cheap rent.

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