Sometimes, some things have just got to be said

Gotta be honest here. Right now everyone is starting to feel a pinch and the tenant in this case comes over as asking a reasonable question in as reasonable way.
There was no need for the kind of response that got sent back to them. This is the kind of attitude that society does not need right now.

I am Landlord myself and have been so for very long time. The response provided by Mick is rather excessive, despicable and unethical not to mention interrogation which he has caused to tenants. Rather than posting such messages not only breach Data Protection rights but give bad image of Landlords in general. As vast majority of Landlords will operate their business with an ethical behaviour and be respectful to their tenants rights, requests and needs. After all, we are able to operate our businesses based on rent received however hard times such as this we have to be receptive and kind to their needs.

Having read above messages, tenant merely asked a question. He did not say under any circumstances that he would carry out above unilaterally. Your response was disproportionate and over-retaliatory and unnecessary with comments such as £1400 boiler repairs (should be boiler replacements for this figure).

Reply to the comment left by Simon Hall at 18/03/2020 - 11:45
I read it that the tenant is on benefits which means his income will be unaffected so why will he need a £100.00 "holiday" Mick is just showing his frustration at what is going on and who can blame him, he houses a lot of people and does his best for his tenants. Not all Landlords can afford to carry the financial cost of Corona virus. Good tenants are generally decent people who will work with their Landlord to get through but no doubt there will be many scumbags trying to rip us off. Its a unique situation, just gotta do the best we can and that means everybody.

I totally understand Mick's point of view: he helped out this tenant enormously, and looking at the tenant's reply, he was trying it on. I think I would be pretty annoyed about that too.

Maybe I wouldn't have used the same terminology, but this tenant - and others no doubt - will be trying it on in the coming days and weeks. We had a request yesterday - minutes after the chancellor mentioned about the mortgage 'holiday' (I hadn't even heard the announcement!) asking if we were going to support him with a rent reduction. This is a tenant in a highly paid corporate job (which will continue to be paid during the isolation period as far as I know).

There is absolutely room for compassion and rent concession in this current climate, but in my view it needs to be selectively applied to those who really need it, such as freelancers and those working for small businesses whose source of income has dried up. I cannot personally afford to take a big hit on rent whilst servicing all property liabilities, and certainly not when tenants will continue to be paid. Their employers will get support from the government (i.e. all of us taxpayers).

It's 7am, I'd just watched Corbyn on the news saying Renters need a break. Which Corbyn must have had brain relapse forgetting this is why he din't get in pushing for moron policies like this.
Then just after 7am this tenant who is normally brilliant, sends me that.
And let's be clear, he HAS LOST ZERO INCOME. Zilch. Nothing.
And I don't want his house. I'm only keeping it for him, missus, 3 kids.
He came to me cause he knows I KEEP people in their houses & don't sell on them unless they are utter bas__ds.

There is no better Landlord (arguably) than me in Nottingham for keeping people in their home forever. My track record speaks for itself.

So how is he feeling a pinch?
And where is my holiday break on the mortgages?
Let's just roll over & say Yes even though the person has lost ZERO income.
In fact come on tenants, u can all have rent free year.
Plumber, need a £1400 boiler next week. Can't pay u cause no income. What do u mean u not doing it? Ooh sorry tenant, u now got no heating or water.
Sorry mortgage company, no money for u. What do u mean u repossessing? Ooh I see, so I won't have any houses soon & the 350 tenants will be homeless if no rent comes in. Oh I get it now.

I din't interrogate him, I know his income & know he hasn't lost any.

Where does it stop?

Reply to the comment left by Freda Blogs at 18/03/2020 - 12:29U say it more politely than me.
I've got a tenant been with me 6 years, another brilliant one. He works at airport, baggage handler, just been reduced hours from 40 to 24. Now with him, is gonna' be some thinking. As he has the perfect reason to ask. Although he hasn't asked yet.
I said to him Monday, sign on Universal Credit straightaway. Start the clock ticking down.
After all, if u not earning enough money, that is what benefits are for 'Yes u below the threshold, u r entitled, let's pay benefits & rent so u ca at least survive.'
And I'm also a cracking most sympathetic HB UC Landlord u could ever meet. I've done peoples HB forms for 23 years, baby sat 'em, chased it up, everything in my power to stop that person being homeless. But some that has still got all their benefits, DLA, PIP, etc. asking for whatever he was asking when he han't even been affected is disgusting & things like that is why Corbyn is making Landlords sell. Making the next tenants even worse off.

Reply to the comment left by The Forever Tenant at 18/03/2020 - 11:26
Why is it reasonable to ask it you can be let off your rent even though you are still being paid rent by the taxpayer. Looks like at attempt at benefit fraud to me.

I can only make assumptions about this, but I'm guessing that the tenant is paying the £100 on top of the housing benefit.

It could be that the tenant is working but lost whatever hours they have got while this crisis goes on so that their income is drastically reduced.

There are going to be tough times ahead and of landlords take a hard stance on tenants whole this is going on, I think there will be some very quick legislation put in place to stop it. The government may go overboard with regulations.

You may feel aggrieved, but we are all feeling the same pinch. Landlords have already been made to be despised by society so if messages like the above are being sent, it's not going to change people's views about you.

Unbelievable Mick.

I've got similar tenants I'm doing the decent thing by and would also hit the roof if I got a message like that.
(I would however have sat back and waited 24 hours before responding calmly!)

At least one thing, you owe them no loyalty or moral responsibility whatsoever going forward.

Reply to the comment left by The Forever Tenant at 18/03/2020 - 12:59
Give it a rest.
It's clearly a chancer trying it on.
Save your sympathy for those who deserve it.