to think the whole world is suddenly talking about renting/tenants/landlords and wonder why?!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Is this some kind of massive subliminal messaging campaign to make me paranoia about my tenancy, or just loads of people starting similar threads?

I've noticed it too.

The builder's just been round to look at the wall, and I've convinced myself it's because the landlord's looking to sell.

Then I cried into my coffee, because if we do have to move, the fact that I'm working PT means that most of the local estate agents won't consider us.

Apparently we'd both need to be earning 2.5 x the rent. So I'll need to go out and grab myself one of those 25K a year jobs that the market is awash with.

Is it because more people are renting at the min?

Like the situation in Ireland with negative equity, wanting to move but can't so have to rent?

I rented for nearly 15 years and it can be stressful knowing someone has the power to move you out of your home without you having done anything.

Yep - paranoia setting in here too..

Maybe it's because it's not just a case of finding a place to rent anymore?

With housing benefit caps and reforms it's getting so difficult to find decent places available to HB claimants.

The rental market is just crazy now. And it's been a big target for moaning and griping at greedy landlords etc. which has led to the landlords defending themselves. There has also been stuff about social housing in the news a lot recently which is maybe why you are noticing it more.

It's goin to get worse too. The homelessness rate is rising daily. The housing situation will become a big crisis as a product of the reccesion.

The numbers of accidental landlords and accidental tenants will have screwed up market mechanisms, made the supply-demand balance unstable and "flooded" to a certain extent the players who know and understand their obligations on both sides (ll and tenant). Add social pressures, political pressures (resentments undermine rule of law), time of year and factors such as the Olympics (someone recently linked to v interesting article in Landlords Today, saying LLs had been unable to take advantage of Olympics short lets, but had in shockingly many casrs evicted long term tenants for this: when that property comes back onstream there will be a glut).

Good idea for a thread, btw: it's slways healthy to question selection!

Me too!

I think it is because there's a lot of accidental landlords, which means things are a bit less uncertain on both sides.

(Though I'm on my 2nd accidental landlord and they've both been fab compared to the professional one, who never fixed anything if he could possibly help it)

I am desperate to get out of rented. I hate the uncertainty now I have DC getting to school age.

I am moving this weekend - busy packing today.

Have just found out that the house is full of furniture. I knew there would be some but the agent said she'd try to persuade the landlord to get rid of some of the crappier bits.

I wonder if LLs are getting a raw deal because it seems natural to side with the 'underdog' (no offence to renters)?

I'm sure LLs have a lot to lose if the tenancy doesn't go to plan, but for the people who rent, this can mean loads more stress and potential homelessness if they get a less than good LL.

They just seem at a disadvantage, and if most people have rented some time in their lives, it's easer to slag off criticise LLs and see it from the renters POV.

Also, this time of year it's a very illiquid market, so loads of potential for conflict if you're a LL looking at a void or a tenant trying to find something new (whether because of notice given or rent increased).

I'm encouraged that it's being discussed, actually. I'd love to see a Mumsnet campaign supporting secure, long-term tenancies. We have an excellent landlord, but the bill from his agent for extending the tenancy every six months is frankly bonkers and I resent it.

I agree with struggling re Mumsnet campaign for longer/more secure tenancies. A few weeks ago we were given minimum notice to vacate with 3 month old baby and had only been living there 6 months .

When looking for a new place 90%+ of properties were 6 month term max. We are lucky that we have now found a nice ll who gave us a 12 month contract.

if anyone is interested I've started a thread on Mumsnet Campaigns. Please pop over and make your views known!