Tenant evictions: It’s time for an uncomfortable conversation

"thankless"

Quite. But surprisingly, you still see people asking how to become one on FB/forums etc 🙂

Statistically, the number of available units has only decreased by a little so far. So, we shall see.

Hello, The Landlord Crusader.
Tenant here. You say you want an uncomfortable conversation so, ok. Here goes.
I flatter myself, but I think I am a good tenant. I pay my rent on time each month, and my family and I take good care of our home.
I think I have a good Landlord. In so much as I hear from her as little as possible, and the one time the cooker broke down and I was forced to contact the landlord, it was repaired within 48 hours.
I agree with you in many respects. I think it should be easier for you landlords to remove bad tenants. Who don't pay rent on time or who damage the property. But no one is talking about taking away your rights to do those things. I do think the state should create some system where it is more automatic in that if you can prove you have not been paid, you can automatically regain control of your property.
However however however. This is not what Section 21 says or what it is for. Section 21 creates the climate of fear that I, a good tenant could be evicted for no reason at any moment. You go at great pains to explain that no rational landlord would kick out a good tenant. My counterpoint would be that humans are fallible and occasionally do things which are irrational or driven by things other then sound economic thinking. Prejudice, for example.
I want to live in a world where my relationship with my landlord is the same as my relationship with my braudband company. If I don't pay, I get cut off. If I use the product for something I am not supposed to be using it for, I get cut off. But If I pay my monthly fee on time each month and abide by the rules I know I am safe from arbitrary disconnection.
Isn't that fair?
Part of the issue is that even though Landlords provide a service vital to life, unlike the various utilities they are not large companies which are driven only by sound economics, rather they are a mish mash of private individuals who are driven by all kinds of different factors depending on their outlook and circumstances. Can you understand that it is scary to be living at the whim of another person, even if you know that the rational thing for them to do is not to evict you? Things can happen in the life of a person that don't happen to big companies. Your landlord might die and there decedents might not be interested in landlording. They might have sudden expenses and need to liquidate some assets, including your home! They might just decide they don't like you, for all kinds of other unknowable reasons.
Ultimately, our conversation means nothing. You are an annonimous landlord, and I am a random tennant. But just like you, I want to get my feelings out of my head and onto the page. Because I'm sick of feeling like I could be evicted at any time, for no reason.
And guess what, another point in your favor. A lot of this is Shelters fault. Who is it who goes around telling people like me "Hey, you know, you could be evicted at a moments notice. Yes, you the nice middle class professional with a family who pays their rent on time each month". I agree, perhaps ignorance was bliss.
But I can't put that genie back in the bottle. I can't regain the piece of mind that I had when I didn't understand the law, only reform will do that. So reform is what I will vote for.

Reply to the comment left by AccidentalLandlord2024 at 19/04/2024 - 10:55
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/buytolet/article-12743015/More-landlords-selling-properties-buying-mortgage-arrears-DOUBLE.html

By the end of this year, private landlords will have sold almost 300,000 more homes than they have bought since 2016

Reply to the comment left by Phil Johnson at 19/04/2024 - 11:04
"But no one is talking about taking away your rights to do those things."

They are doing.
Section 21 is the only effective way to evict ASB tenants. The proposed improvements are worthless.

Some Good points, but quite a lot of rattling the sabre.
The solution is more affordable social housing, however this costs and given the current state of affairs its a bill no one wants to pay so I guess we have to deal with it.
Landlords are mainly decent people, but they are in it for some profit, be it retirement income or otherwise.
Tenants avoid maintenance factoring etc and avoid the flexibility of long term investments in illiquid housing stock.
For some renting is a choice of convenience for some choice is an illusion, those are the ones failed not by the Landlords but by elected officials.

`It’s now a buzzword for the media – who really should know better.`

ha ha! the media don`t care whether what they write or report on is factually correct, it does`nt matter. The mis-reporting never gets challenged or sanctioned..the media has a free hand to do as they please..& they do. You won`t stop them. Several media lineups..talk show stations are busily parachuting in left wing, socialist-leaning presenters to strategically place themselves in the `winning` corner post election. Good but cynical business sense.

Reply to the comment left by Phil Johnson at 19/04/2024 - 11:04
I can see your point but, how many good tenants do you personally know that have been evicted for no reason using Section 21? That is, just for fun and not that the landlord needs to move back home after working away, needs to sell because of an unfair tax regime and over-regulation, is being repossessed by their mortgage provider.

Before becoming a landlord, people should consider if the business is really for them. Too many do it ‘just for fun’ without understanding the financial risks and the impact on our fellow human beings when they decide not to play any longer.

Like wise, politicians, the media and so-called charities should take a moment to consider the impact of their actions. Don’t be fooled, none of these people care about you. Shelter would provide erm, shelter, if only they cared about the homeless. Politicians would introduce a tax regime that encourages long term lets if they cared about tenants. The media only want to sell newspapers.

This article is spot on and your points from a tenant’s viewpoint are well made.

Reply to the comment left by Steve at 19/04/2024 - 11:47
The solution is fewer people.

How many houses would be available at lower rents if net migration was zero?

Reply to the comment left by Monty Bodkin at 19/04/2024 - 11:19
I would argue that in fact the new rules on ASB are worse than useless because of the abolition of fixed term tenancies. Under the RRB the tenants can stay for ever or until the landlord sells up but who's going to buy a place with a tenant who terrorises the neighbourhood?

Reply to the comment left by Phil Johnson at 19/04/2024 - 11:04
Unfortunately reform won't give you that piece of mind that ignorance of the law gave you. Your landlord may have so many problems with other tenants he just decides to give up and sell everything. So it's still off you go.

A landlord that doesn't repair his property can suffer the sanction of his tenant withholding rent. This may be news to you, but most landlords are ok with this. Because we want rid of bad landlords to. Feel free to be a turkey and vote for Christmas. We are already closed to new tenants and have always had no eviction without cause policies in place. Even threatening me with a knife didn't mean automatic eviction, it meant said person needs some extra help. But take away that not too difficult exit, it becomes I will report it to the police and evict