New BBC1 Programme about Landlords

Reply to the comment left by "Jan Martin" at "13/05/2017 - 17:42":

They don't care because they know that in most cases the defendant will not pay us the money they owe us. They effectively collude with rogue tenants' behaviour against decent landlords; and they think they are a force for good...

Reply to the comment left by "Mick Roberts" at "11/05/2017 - 12:32":

One of my first thoughts on this, was that I'd probably be better off living as one of my tenants for a week! I was a single parent on benefits years ago and didn't have a bad lifestyle. Over the years I invested in property and now have three modest houses that I rent to young families. This tops up my income from employment which means I can work part time and hopefully retire during my late 50's. I am not able to live a life of luxury on my income though and drive a 15 year old car and shop at budget supermarkets along with a lot of other people living in this area.

I am now about to move into a house on the same street as one I rent out to a single parent. The difference is that mine is tatty, dated, needs a new kitchen and bathroom, has dodgy central heating and no fire alarms, updated electrics etc. Whereas hers is newly decorated, has a new kitchen, boiler and bathroom and has had all the safety checks and everything updated. When I need repairs doing, I either do them myself or have to pay somebody else to do it for me. When the tenant needs repairs, she texts me and I get it sorted out. I'll be worrying about things going wrong and the cost of maintaining the house. The tenant will have no such worries! Yes, swapping for a week doesn't sound too bad.

Reply to the comment left by "Dr Rosalind Beck" at "13/05/2017 - 17:45":

Just how do we educate them Ros .

Reply to the comment left by "Jan Martin" at "13/05/2017 - 19:26":

Hi Jan. We just keep hitting them with everything we've got - exposing the illogicalities and injustice of their positions. I believe that often this 'shuts them down.' I exposed the inanity of some arguments by a few Labour politicians early on in this fight and didn't really see them again. You can't usually get them to come onside but you can shame them into shutting up. That's a start. I've been banned from the Shelter Facebook page for constantly exposing them so it would be really helpful if others could take over over there, for instance. Then there are the ones who aren't thick - we have to keep persuading them to speak up against this madness. I know this is getting somewhere behind the scenes. We just have to keep at it.

Dear Condescending BBC

We the PRS would like to invite you to star in our TV documentary which focuses on letting properties today in the UK.

After a weeks induction!
Your chosen couple will live in a landlords house for 3 months and carry out all of the functions necessary in running their portfolios and during this time you will be the beneficiaries of all the profits made during that time and also all the costs and expenses. Yes, if it makes an outstanding profit then you get to keep this, and yes if it makes a substantial loss you get to front the difference and yes (section 24 is now in operation)

Your tasks will include everything a landlord has to do to just function in todays legislation laden world which means if you send out a deposit late to the `DPS you will loose 3 x the deposit and if you rent to an illegal tenant (there are about 2 million) then you will go to jail.

There are many consequences but for the sake of getting this on the road lets not get too bogged down in detail, instead lets get you into the unscrupulous world of being a low life bottom feeding landlord and experience first hand all it ensues. Be prepared to go to court frequently, it's part of the role, and be prepared to stump up for lost rents, damages and numerous social problems as its your fault they occur.

The tenants are there and waiting and it will make fucking brilliant viewing.

BTW

Whilst you are doing this, I will be fulfilling your role swanning about the BBC without a fucking care in the world as I will be paid every Thursday come what may and I won't get into any trouble no matter who I liable or offend as the channel will publish a whole lot of lies in my and their defence and it will go nowhere.
Meanwhile
I will be looking for some patsies to make a voyeuristic TV program about, just to fill our popular liberal viewing diet we feed morons every week.
And boy do landlords fit the bill

Love and kisses Gracie

Jamie

Reply to the comment left by "J Moodie" at "13/05/2017 - 22:00":

Meanwhile - when I am a tenant at my own property I will make sure to call my " LLs" with every small matter - to be sorted out next day (as I do as LL). Broken toilet seat - tick, lost key at midnight - tick, gas knob not tightly closed, emergency services called at 1 am - tick, dryer filter full - tick, tap leaking - tick, hook on the wall loose- tick, etc...
Life is going to be good for my tenants, isn't it?
Imagine how grateful they will be after 3 months - coming back to their rented, "fully serviced" property...

You all having a little go at Grace, she gonna' go away from here with maybe not a very good view of Landlords which we won't have helped.
Is it her fault Section/Clause 24? She didn't expect this backlash did she ha ha.
She may be totally innocently trying to make good viewing programme (similar to Rich House Poor House to those that's seen it), & chucking people like me & Mark in the 'not so good houses' would make great viewing. I wun't last 10 minutes. Mark maybe 9.

I do agree on some points though, what I have found with the BBC is that they don't tell the full story. My tenant was on Panorama Benefit cap a few weeks ago. The BBC didn't tell it as it could have been told. I had a few phone interviews/statements, & my quotes didn't get used. And my quotes would have explained the implications of the Benefit cap on tenant & Landlord much better I feel, which would have maybe created more understanding from the public.
Like where did they find that very VERY unusual case woman from that was already getting 50k carers something for the kid, that was then capped. This just fuelled fire to the anti-Benefit cap brigade.

From memory, where was the explaining that tenants han't lost any money, but it was the Landlord that was suffering the losses?
As they still gave the tenant ALL THEIR money, just stopped the Housing benefit 'rent' part to the Landlord. So where has the tenant learn't from that? About having less money, so go out get a job-She hasn't received less money.

Reply to the comment left by "Mick Roberts" at "14/05/2017 - 06:27":

To be fair to Grace, she is probably just as "brainwashed" by the government and media anti-landlord campaign as the rest of society, after all there has been years and years of anti-landlord propaganda in all forms of media. In view of the brainwashing, it is understandable that she would have a particular opinion/stance that is far from reality. While it may be fair to blame the government and media corporations for distorting the truth and portraying a very negative image, I agree with Mick in as much as I don't think it is right to have a go at Grace personally, she is just trying to do her job, but unfortunately she is coming at it from a perspective that has been drummed into her by the propaganda (and she is not yet at the stage of being able to see through that propaganda).

Reply to the comment left by "Robert Mellors" at "14/05/2017 - 09:40":

Not sure that anyone has had a go at Grace personally Robert but I agree with you that she is probably coming from the perspective of having been brainwashed by never ending anti landlord propaganda and that her opinion on the subject if based on that is probably far from the reality.

What would be really good would be if Grace could use the unique insight she has had of the perspective of landlords to make a program that informs the public what is happening in the industry and what the impact is going to be, going forward not just on landlords but on tenants as well.

My guess is that help would be a lot more forthcoming for a program like that, that shows the problem from all angles.

Reply to the comment left by "J Moodie" at "13/05/2017 - 22:00":

This is NOT helpful, Jamie. I fully sympathise with your viewpoint but anyone who is not aware of the challenges small landlords face will not, because your post only serves to alienate such people. Simply putting a different viewpoint in writing in itself can be alienating, so also resorting to overt aggression and attacking Grace's work (which most on here, myself included, know nothing about) is going way too far.