How on earth are landlords expected to carry on with no safeguards?

How on earth are landlords expected to carry on with no safeguards?

0:01 AM, 14th January 2025, About 22 hours ago 15

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I have been a landlord for over 20 years now. I have only used Section 21 twice in all that time.

Once was for a tenant who failed to pay rent on time, and then things got worse. He and his wife had separated with the wife going into emergency accommodation with 3 small children. I agreed to remove the wife from the tenancy agreement and she was later housed in a very good council house. The husband wanted to stay on so that he could have the children to stay with him some of the time.

However, he still struggled with the rent so I agreed that he could move his brother into the house to help with the cost of rent. He then he asked for another person to come into the house (which would have made it an HMO). I did not want to turn the house into an HMO so I then had to give him a section 21 as things did not improve regarding paying the rent and he was now in arrears. I was very lucky that the arrears were covered by the deposit.

The second time I issued a Section 21 was when I let the house to two Eastern European ladies who seemed very nice at first.

They were employed here as careers. However, they were using my house as a Transit camp for others coming into the area and so again I was in danger of having a HMO which I did not want.

I got my letting agent to accompany me and she confirmed that with so many beds and pumped-up air beds, they were subletting.

I used Section 21 to give them notice and put the house up for sale and sold the house.

How on earth are landlords expected to carry on with no safeguards?

I have seen it mentioned on this portal that we are expected to house ex-prisoners!!!! We need to keep the right to evict unwanted tenants.

Christine


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GlanACC

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10:25 AM, 14th January 2025, About 12 hours ago

Oh dear, you can NOT deduct tenants arrears from the deposit which MUST be returned in full to the tenant less any deductions for unpaid bills (not your rent) etc.

You are right though S21 going will cause pain.S8 IS a decent replacement but it is entirely up to the court (should the S8 ever be processed by the court) to approve it. It can take many months for the S8 to be processed - hence that's one of the reasons why I have sold most of my portfolio

Stuart Rothwell

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11:00 AM, 14th January 2025, About 11 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 14/01/2025 - 10:25
Hi, I have taken the following from Shelter's website:

Reasons your landlord could keep your deposit
Unpaid rent and bills
Cleaning, gardening or decorating
Damage and missing items
Leaving early or breaking your tenancy agreement

Paul Essex

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11:43 AM, 14th January 2025, About 10 hours ago

They seem to want to remove the security of guarantors as well.

GlanACC

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11:49 AM, 14th January 2025, About 10 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by Stuart Rothwell at 14/01/2025 - 11:00
Correct Stuart. The deposit must be returned in full less any of the deductions you listed , you cannot offset it for any unpaid rent (although I know many landlords do). In fact if you are in a deposit scheme (which you must be) they will return the deposit direct to the tenant.

Colette McDermott

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12:20 PM, 14th January 2025, About 10 hours ago

100% agree with you here. Landlords need support too.

Martin

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12:22 PM, 14th January 2025, About 10 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 14/01/2025 - 10:25
Unless of course the tenant specifically agrees.
Always get that in writing though.
It is an easy trap to get caught in though.
Always remember rent is rent and deposit is deposit, the two things are completely separate.

Jason

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12:54 PM, 14th January 2025, About 9 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by Martin at 14/01/2025 - 12:22
In other words the tenant can rob Peter to rob Paul.

Raz

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13:52 PM, 14th January 2025, About 8 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 14/01/2025 - 11:49
According to the Housing Act 2004, the definition of a tenancy deposit is:

'tenancy deposit', in relation to a shorthold tenancy, means any money intended to be held (by the landlord or otherwise) as security for
(a) the performance of any obligations of the tenant,
or
(b) the discharge of any liability of his, arising under or in connection with the tenancy.

David Roberts

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14:56 PM, 14th January 2025, About 7 hours ago

At the end of June 2024, I finally got my house back from a 2 year battle filled with lies and deceit from a proffesional couple.
I am never going to be a landlord again.
Now my house is for sale then the money is going in the bank.
Time to enjoy life with no hassle.
Dave

JUD KIRK

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17:42 PM, 14th January 2025, About 4 hours ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 14/01/2025 - 11:49even Shelter highlight that you are wrong!
Rent arrears may be deducted from a deposit!

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