Is it time for landlords to take action?

Is it time for landlords to take action?

9:44 AM, 19th August 2024, About 4 months ago 26

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The last so-called Conservative government enacted some terrible policies on the PRS. After our initial shock, many of us flexed and adapted and eventually habituated to greater risks for fewer profits, many of us sold up and left the sector.

All of this pales into insignificance when compared to what our current socialist government has up their sleeves. And to be clear the last time our government was this far left, was in the late 1940’s under Clement Attlee. Even the governments of Wilson in the 60s and Callaghan in the 70s were more centrist.

Starmer was criticised for not saying much during the run-up to the election, and it is now plain to see why. The less he said, the less he can now be accused of going back on. What little was said, has already, as we have seen, been cast aside. Who would have thought they would pull the winter fuel allowance for the elderly given the pressure they placed upon the Conservatives to maintain it.

How many Labour politicians were NIMBYs when the Conservatives wanted to build? Yet now, as a party they have run roughshod over the wishes of their own lower ranks and their constituents. How many times did we hear taxes will not be raised? We are not dealing with rational or reasonable people any longer. We are facing the views of narcissistic ideologists, who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

It’s a bit like fighting against a religious army, you need to be far better prepared and with greater numbers to win against their zeal and conviction.

This is what we are facing. If they are allowed, they will decimate the sector. Do not think that what has been announced so far is the totality of what is planned. To EPC C, Section 21 abolition, increased CGT and ‘the hardship clause’ you can add rent controls, mandatory nationwide licensing, PRS tenants right to buy after a specific tenure and compulsory purchase orders. At the same time you will be vilified and demonised for being a landlord. It is time to fight back in every way we can. Every proposed imposition must be robustly challenged. Every MP in the country needs to be called to speak with local landlords, agents, finance providers, insurers, to discuss and oppose the carnage they are attempting to wreak.

I have written to my MP. My managing agent has written to the same MP. Other local agencies have written to the same MP. I will continue to get others to do the same, each asking to talk with the MP and/or inviting him or her out to their business to discuss said issues.

At the least this will begin to feel very uncomfortable, at best it will ensure that consistent communication is fed back to the Cabinet nationwide. We need to learn from those minority groups, who despite their small stature, have a voice and appearance much bigger than they are (Generation Rent for example).

We are the opposite, we are a big group, with lots of power, albeit fragmented, and we have relied on the NRLA to represent us. They have not and will not. It is time to stand up and be counted – every single one of us.

I implore you to act. Write to your MP outlining your concerns and your thoughts on the negative impact their policies will have. Get others to do the same. Invite said MPs to meet and talk. Above all – do something! If anyone has any other ideas as to how we can challenge what is coming, please share your thoughts in this forum.

Thanks for reading,

Steve


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NewYorkie

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16:59 PM, 19th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 19/08/2024 - 15:14
I hadn't increased rents for 5 years and was way behind. I've since increased by 9% for 2 years. If you are so far behind, you will need to increase by a large percentage before these draconian changes happen, and may well face a challenge. However, my understanding is the Tribunal is likely to accept it if the increase doesn't take the rent above the local rate.

I think we must all normalise our rents to at least give ourselves a chance of countering any claims of 'hardship' if and when we try to regain possession.

JB

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18:25 PM, 19th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 19/08/2024 - 16:59
I'm still not totally clear what 'hardship' means. Is it that the tenant can't find anywhere with the same rent?
Does it mean they can't find anywhere at all and they' ll be in temporary accommodation?
What would be the test for how hard they'd searched?
Or does it mean 'the landlord has a roof over their head but the tenant doesnt so they can stay'?

PH

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18:38 PM, 19th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by JB at 19/08/2024 - 18:25
More likely the last sentence. I want to know what scenarios are included under the heading; Reasons why tenants will not be considered worse off than landlords.
This is a very important part of the bill and it has to be clearly stated and not just some wishy washy announcement. Millions of £ are involved so every clause needs to be crystal clear.

PH

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18:41 PM, 19th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Martin at 19/08/2024 - 16:43
I thought the NRLA were our voice of reason but I don't think they have much clout at all.

PAUL BARTLETT

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21:05 PM, 19th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by PH at 19/08/2024 - 18:41
NRLA has a history of press statements that this community doesn't recognise as in the LL interests, nor having been engaged in any consultation. So there's a lot of scepticism about NRLA as representing anyone but NRLA.

Training courses may be best practice but nothing to do with the impacts that bad government have on LLs.

A fedup landlord

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7:58 AM, 20th August 2024, About 4 months ago

I am wondering if landlords can act together to hire a lawyer and take the government/council to court. new legal precedence needs to be set, I am not sure how legal the government is doing, as it feels the law is very much one sided right now, tenants have every right, landlord has none. maybe all landlords also need to write to all media outlets about their stories on bad tenants, I, for one , will have many stories to tell. Now council wants to have a register for all landlords to rate landlords, No problem, surely, there should be a similar register for tenants. The GDPR seems only protects tenants’rights, not landlords. there are so many misconception against landlords out there. I always remember years ago, when I finally evicted my anti social tenants, my next door neighbor came up to me and said they were so surprised to see that I am just a hardworking ordinary person, not some sort of demons described through media outlets. I bet they were secrectly happy that they finally could live in peace without having police turned up next door every 5 minutes!

Steve O'Dell

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12:54 PM, 24th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 19/08/2024 - 11:40
It would have sent a hell of a message

Steve O'Dell

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12:55 PM, 24th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 19/08/2024 - 16:59
Annual rent increases all round

Steve O'Dell

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13:01 PM, 24th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Martin at 19/08/2024 - 16:43
I know that the NRLA will not lead this - Property 118?

Heather G.

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18:43 PM, 24th August 2024, About 4 months ago

Reply to the comment left by JB at 19/08/2024 - 18:25
This is what I've been wondering too. What if a tenant doesn't even look for alternative accommodation after receiving a S21 and then claims "hardship" as they have nowhere to go?

How do we prove they haven't looked (or how would we know if they had)?

How would the courts judge whether they'd tried hard enough?

Would someone who can easily afford market rent but hasn't found a property be judged under "hardship"?

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