To think the UK rental system is crap for families

[HowardWolowitzsPHD]

Sorry if this has already been done to death but there are two threads that I have seen today about tenants getting crap treatment from landlords.

I know there are some tenants from hell who get all the publicity but there are plenty of people who pay their rent and should not be left with boilers that don't work or evicted to suit the landlords personal whim.

I rented in UK for years and suffered both of the above scenarios. I now live in the Netherlands where if you get an unfurnished rental and you pay the rent on time and stick to the terms of your rental agreement it is almost impossible for you to be evicted.

I know there are owners of buy to let properties who will say IABU but imagine if your home could be taken from you at a month's notice. It's not right is it?

The UK rental system is crap full stop.

It's getting worse to. I live in HA place, I'm going to have to move as I can't afford it now that they've put the rent up. I work full time too!

The thing that gets me is that its 2 months notice and they don't have to give a reason and expect you to leave in that 2 month window. Some LL think you'll automatically get social housing we don't qualify so it private renting or buy and the latter is out for us.

The councils remit is as long as you have an indoor toilet and hot and cold water its enough and it bloody isn't not by a long chalk. I was in one flea ridden dump many moons ago and it was riddled with damp did he fix did he feck. I was sick of reporting the bastard and nothing came of it till the council changed the rules and everyone private renting had to registered with their local council. He then decided in his wisdom to throw us out with no notice at all and changed the locks on us. Now that was messy I can tell you. LL the now is ok but I know we're on our own if things happen but major things I think he'll fix. Most tenants in the private sector shit themselves and usually don't make waves in case they do get evicted sadly hence how its not being resolved.

That's another difference here in The Netherlands. Once you sign the rental agreement the rent is linked to a government determined index and cannot be raised by more than that amount. Normally it's about 1-2% per year but pretty affordable.

Yes, security of tenancy is a big issue in the private rental market.

I think there should be a 2 tier system with a different tenancy agreement option offering more security of tenure. This would logically cost more than a 2 month notice tenancy though.

Ideally we need to provide more HA and LA accommodation though.

it is crap you are right

in my area the council are thinking of bringing in a hotline for slum properties to report (bit like benefit fraud line i think) can leave details etc without your name etc,i think its a good idea on paper,as could be a relative or friend,or health worker reporting so not so much hassle for the tenant (hopefully)

as in many towns/cities there seems some truly rubbish low standard housing

YANBU

YANBU.
There is no protection for tenants at all.
And don't get me started on the bastard bastard estate agents who charge £160 "admin" fee every time you move.
There is no Fair Rent legislation anymore, and personally I have always been screwed out of at least £100 off my deposit everytime I moved, even though the house always looks better after we move out.
Last time I redecorated at my own expense, since the LL hadn't re painted for 6 years, and bought new blinds, new toilet seat, planted the garden, had the carpets proffesionally cleaned.
My rented house is my home, and I have always treated it as such.

I agree - we have been renting in Belgium for 6 years. The leases are long, registered centrally and people can't just throw you out willynilly. And everyone's responsibilities are clear from the start.

As a landlord I have always treated people fairly. My tenant has just given notice and I will have to pay the mortgage until I find another. I would love to give someone a long lease, I have to pay a large fee to renew agreements every year.

Oh god yes. I'm currently in a nightmare of trying to even rent a place in the first place. This is as stressful as buying a house I swear! And yes the "admin" fees for printing out a standard contract and having two people sign it are simply unbelievable. I'm supposed to be moving house with my entire family in three weeks time and we still cannot be sure we have anywhere to go.

YANBU.

We got evicted twice by private landlords because they decided that they wanted to sell the homes instead of continuing to rent them out.
The second lot even expected us to show the prospective buyers around for them

Believe me, it is tricky, unstable and financially difficult being a LL too.

gaelicsheep what an awful situation, I hope you get somewhere sorted soon.

Notforlong - why don't you just go on to a rolling period tenacy with you tenants? No fees involved but of course less security both sides.

I let myself be evicted to escape the private rental trap.
Admittedly, I didn't pay the rent but it came about through sudden illness/disablility.

I could have probably kept my house, but chose not to, because it wasn't secure.

I'm now in temporary accommodation, but with the council, who will house me and not sell/take the house back with a moment's notice.

As it happens, my ex landlord, took his house back, the one I'd had for ten years, because his marriage broke down.