Tenant activist groups and the law of unintended consequences

It’s not often that two separate stories manage to tell the unfolding horror of what is happening to the private rented sector – and both involve so-called tenant activist groups.

This is a story about unintended consequences and the sting in the tail that is coming to tenants everywhere.

First out of the blocks are my old friends at Shelter bleating that 51% of tenants are ‘one pay cheque’ away from homelessness.

Leaving aside that no one in this country gets a ‘pay cheque’ (and I really do hate Americanisms), this appears to be another number plucked out of thin air.

Apparently, a survey took place and that’s what researchers were told. Really?

Who were they asking? The people who contact Shelter (who still don’t actually house anyone) or tenants at large?

I imagine there are lots of people who are living close to the crusher but to say that 39% of tenants don’t have savings to pay the rent leaves me confused.

Landlord will negotiate if a tenant can’t pay rent

For two reasons: one, the landlord will negotiate if a tenant can’t pay rent. We all want to help in times of (genuine) trouble. Just ask your landlord.

But my second issue is that a survey should be done on how landlords are closer to being made homeless if the tenant doesn’t pay rent. What about us? What about our bills that need paying?

Apologies Shelter, I forgot that all landlords are evil and sleep on pillows stuffed with £50 notes (or $50 bills to you).

The fact that tenants think/believe they can live rent free in the landlord’s home is surprisingly prevalent.

However, I do congratulate the charity on highlighting that we need a lot of social housing to be built to accommodate everyone who needs a home.

Tenants looking for a home to rent

This brings me nicely to the clowns at Crisis who are whinging about a quarter of a million tenants looking for a home to rent.

Thousands of people are being pushed into living in temporary accommodation such as B&Bs and hostels. Councils don’t have the housing for a long-term solution.

The boffins at Heriot-Watt University say that rising rents and living costs are factors behind homelessness.

Most councils are expecting numbers to rise again this year.

And landlords don’t have rising bills?

I wouldn’t wish the need to live in temporary accommodation on anyone – certainly not the ones I’ve seen up close.

And with 85% of councils seeing a leap in the number of people presenting themselves as homeless, something needs to be done.

Again, the lack of social housing is highlighted.

Take a step back and ask why?

But why can’t the intelligent people in these organisations – and they are intelligent putting a spin on numbers – take a step back and ask why?

Why are the homelessness numbers increasing?

Why are people struggling to pay rent?

And then ask yourselves why landlords are leaving the PRS.

You won’t like the answer which is why you probably dare not ask the question.

And I’ve seen again the media swallow these stories and dodgy data to flog landlords once again.

We really are the bogeymen and women of the 21st century.

A housing bomb ticking away

There is undoubtedly a housing bomb ticking away and we have to talk about mass immigration into an island without enough homes, selling off council houses and not building enough new homes.

The last point is usually down to the planning laws and Nimbys not wanting new homes near them. They are ‘not right’ and not in the ‘right area’, apparently.

Somewhere else can take the huge numbers required.

This means that the PRS is under huge pressure too, but landlords have to deal with rising mortgage rates and tenants who don’t think they have to look after a property or even pay the rent.

Housing bomb is about to go off

That housing bomb is about to go off – and it won’t benefit tenants.

Landlords are the ones who are leaving in droves and tenant activist organisations are partly to blame.

I know you don’t like ‘no-fault’ evictions but as I’ve mentioned here before, these notices aren’t usually given without a reason for doing so.

Non-payment of rent, a trashed house or anti-social behaviour are the usual reasons why.

It’s also the reason why I think we should give a reason for eviction so that the likes of Shelter and Crisis will then see what landlords have to put up with.

I doubt they will be interested – fewer homes, higher rents and more demand from tenants.

Turning the PRS into a hellscape for decent landlords

Keep going Shelter and Crisis, you are turning the PRS into a hellscape for decent landlords who can’t make the numbers for keeping a rented home work and don’t want to put up with poor quality tenants.

But what you are doing, along with boosting your profile and income, is creating an ideal situation for criminal landlords to step in and supply homes to desperate people.

That’s when tenants AND decent landlords lose out because neither of us want those people in the sector.

But what do you care?

You’ve campaigned in the media to bring in various new laws to clamp down on ‘rogue’ landlords and your efforts will have had the exact opposite effect by creating a landscape to benefit criminal landlords.

Congratulations everyone – you couldn’t have done it better if you had tried. Oh wait, you did.

Until next time,

The Landlord Crusader

Share This Article