9:58 AM, 23rd October 2024, About 4 weeks ago 19
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A Nottingham landlord warns that each new anti-landlord measure will only lead to higher rents and more homelessness.
Mick Roberts, one of Nottingham’s largest landlords to house benefit tenants, tells Property118 why councils and the government is to blame for the housing crisis.
Mr Roberts says a combination of factors including minimum EPC C targets and selective licensing is causing more landlords to sell.
Mr Roberts tells Property118 that laws by the government have now made it harder for tenants to find a property as landlords become more selective.
He said: “The government don’t want landlords helping tenants on benefits, and they are the ones that introduced Universal Credit, which has zero communication with landlords. Many landlords now don’t rent to tenants on benefits.
“Councils brought in selective licensing which only punishes good landlords with well-maintained houses rather than criminal landlords who can get away with it. We had to raise rents to cover costs, and now we avoid renting to high-risk tenants.”
Mr Roberts adds that extortionate fines have also created additional burdens for landlords.
He tells Property118: “A landlord can be fined £30,000 if a tenant removes the battery from a smoke alarm and the landlord can’t prove it.
“A landlord can also be fined £30,000 if they rent a one-bedroom flat to a single person, and that person moves a partner in without the landlord knowing if the selective licence is only for one occupant.
“The government started fining landlords £5,000 if they didn’t properly check tenants’ passports during Right to Rent checks. As a result, landlords stopped renting to anyone who might even slightly be suspected of being an illegal immigrant, causing innocent UK citizens to suffer.”
Mr Roberts says many pet-owning tenants are facing difficulty in finding a place to live.
He tells Property118: “We all love pets, but we just want to insure against any potential damage they may cause. Just like when you buy an expensive sports car, you’re allowed to be charged higher insurance.
“If tenants were allowed to pay a higher deposit to cover potential pet damage, and if the pet caused no damage, the tenant would simply get their deposit back — job done. That way, only those responsible for damage, around 10%, would pay for their own damage.”
Mr Roberts blames the introduction of caps and restrictions on tenancy deposits, which means landlords in England can no longer request a higher deposit for tenants with pets. Deposits have been capped in England since the Tenant Fees Act was introduced in 2019.
He said: “The way the government has it now, everyone loses. We all know what happened when pet deposits were scrapped — we warned them it would happen.
“Now, all pet owners pay higher rent, whereas before, if there was no damage, there was no extra charge. Now, there’s an unfair charge on every pet owner, and they’ve got Shelter and others to thank for that.”
Mr Roberts also claims Ed Miliband’s rule for all private rented sector properties to meet EPC C targets by 2030 will only cause homelessness.
He said: “What if a tenant was living in a warm, damp-free property, paying 30% less than market rent? The home already had the latest boiler, windows, doors, kitchen and more – it was an EPC D rating, and the tenant was perfectly happy.
“However, with Ed Miliband’s new rule that all private rented properties must meet EPC C, it could cost landlords up to £10,000 to upgrade. As a result, the landlord won’t be able to offer the affordable rent anymore and will have to increase it.
“Alternatively, the landlord might decide to sell the property, leaving the tenant with nowhere to go.”
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Imout Ofhere
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Sign Up16:20 PM, 23rd October 2024, About 4 weeks ago
Just got another one sold, completion today , yippee...another band D gone...
Long term tenant, 14 years , out...nowhere to go as council says they are voluntary homeless....feckin stupid government and councils
Elena Sh
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Sign Up16:45 PM, 23rd October 2024, About 4 weeks ago
The impression is that creatures in this "government " have lost the capability just to use their brains...but it looks they do not have them...God save British people 🙄
JamesB
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Sign Up20:12 PM, 23rd October 2024, About 4 weeks ago
Like the comment above I also completed TODAY on the sale of another house. Beautiful 3 bed that I had owned for 21 years and personally completely lovingly refurbished every last bit of.
I have been a portfolio landlord for 28 years. I am only 51 and always assumed that I would be a landlord for life. So, why have I been selling up only rather than buying over the last few years?
Because being a landlord has turned into a ridiculously risky low reward onerous manual labour type job with 100s of laws all seemingly designed to catch you out with nothing in place to ever support you.
I have said it before, whilst most tenants have to be tenants, most landlords don't have to be landlords. My money is going very nicely into things that don't phone me up moaning about this that and the other at all hours.
Only 6 more houses to sell off!
Northernpleb
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Sign Up9:22 AM, 24th October 2024, About 4 weeks ago
In Reply to Godfrey ,
On one of my EPC , Recommendation was to dig up concreate floor insulate and replace cost £6000 to £8000 pounds. saving estimate £38 per year . Pay back time is about £150 years.
Also Mick is correct in everything he says, Renting a Property involves A Landlord and a Tennant . How can the Tennant have no responsibilities.
TheMaluka
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Sign Up10:12 AM, 24th October 2024, About 4 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Northernpleb at 24/10/2024 - 09:22
Assuming the lower estimate and interest as just 1%, the expenses outweigh the savings.
Desert Rat
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Sign Up20:52 PM, 24th October 2024, About 4 weeks ago
I've not sold off any houses yet, but due to EPC C, it will probably force me to sell a few.
I have always done ever sensible upgrade to my houses when I bought them, way before the EPC C came in.
I refuse to spend thousands of pounds to save a tenant a few pounds a year on bills.
I have some that, due to construction type will never make it to a C.
These I will sell once the government finally set the rules in concrete and good tenants will be kicked out as no landlord will want the houses, so will be snapped up by an owner occupier who won't have to comply with EPC C rules.
.
and I intend to make as much as possible when I sell them. End of the day most of the money will go to the government in tax. So I will lack compassion when I am forced to sell.
The last house I bought is my last investment in the UK.
Any money I make from now will be invested overseas.
DP
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Sign Up14:15 PM, 26th October 2024, About 4 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Desert Rat at 24/10/2024 - 20:52
you make another salient point, if you are a non- tenant ie house owner you can or will presumably be able to live in a house not EPC C but not if you are a tenant, reason ?? Answer, because if you are a tenant, the Government can use it as another reason to whap the Landlord, I feel like I am living in the Middle Ages, draconian or what ?
Lisa008
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Sign Up13:12 PM, 3rd November 2024, About 3 weeks ago
I spent approx £8k on a new heating system... it moved the needle about 2-3 points? I'm still not a C. That tenant is now behind in their rent (same thing every year)... in the run up to Xmas, it's F U landlord, I'm spending the rent money on the kids... thats fine. But this year, its F U tenant, here's a section 21. Off you go. Take the pi$$ elsewhere. I'll do it up and short let it. I can't afford to take the risk.
I have a mate... 100+people applied to his advert. He picked the wrong one... 10 months of no rent later... she left suddenly, and now he has to cancel the court case that was to evict her...(its eaten into his savings)... turns out she's a professional scam artist... the last few places she's stayed at, she's not paid rent, and left with debts to the utility companies of £5k, the last landlord is owed about £20k ... I honestly don't know how people sleep at night.
I don't have a problem with treating renters fairly... but there really should be a rogue tenants list. Name and shame the people who have left you high and dry. I told him to not cancel the case, and see it through, but its costing him money and she's well gone. So shes got no CCJ's and just does over landlords like this... but one day she'll meet the wrong one.
TheMaluka
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Sign Up13:27 PM, 3rd November 2024, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Lisa008 at 03/11/2024 - 13:12
She may have left, but the tenancy still subsists, so your friend should continue with the court action. Scandalous I know but it's the law.