AIBU to think Landlords should be forced to have some sort of formal training.

[Peanutbutteryum]

After reading numerous threads on here from people claiming to be landlords but clearly lack any basic understanding of housing laws and their legal requirements to their tenants.

Too many landlords see letting as an investment where they don’t have to do anything rather than a business with rules and laws you have to abide by. In no other industry could you simply rock up with no training what’s so ever, even stacking shelves requires a two day training period.

Being a landlord will most likely be one of the most expensive things you will do, wouldn’t you want to know everything so you can protect yourself.

There are a lot of amazing landlord who know exactly what they are doing and do everything right. Sadly for every great one there will be one who thinks they can attend the property without any notice, that they can kick people out when they like and not keep the property in a liveable condition.

Even a one day training session would make a big difference. They could run through basic housing laws and what is expected of you. When you take on the role of a landlord you are taking on a huge responsibility, I can’t believe you can do it without any information.

I put this idea to a few of my friends who have had a mixed reaction. AIBU to this would help a lot of problems that come up for people renting.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Oh, but that's piss poor, surely? Tax responsibilities and gas safety?!

I know ignorance isn't a defence. But we don't extend that view to all sorts of other areas of life. We do expect to have to expose people to training in many areas, even if we know not everyone will absorb it.

I've rented both in places where post LL use agencies (as in your area) and in places where that's rare, and I don't think it makes enough of a difference - after all, agencies can get away with pretty basic areas of ignorance in their staff, too.

[53rdAndBird]

But so many LL are 'bad' because they're ignorant or assume they're already informed

yes yes yes. I have had landlords kick up absolute hell over this stuff. "Of course I can let myself in whenever I want, it's my house!" No. No you really can't.

[ReallyTired]

Most landlords can read and the contract us blardly clear that they cannot let themselves in without permission. A standard AST outlines many of the legal obligations if the tenant and the landlord. If both parties follow the AST then usually there are no problems.

Being a landlord is profitable. There is zero excuse for not meeting responsibilities.

I would make it an offence to let a property without a proper contract that outlines everyone's responsiblities. No need for a leaflet or mandatory training. A signed contract is proof that someone knows the rules.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

really - of course it isn't an excuse.

But a lot of LL genuinely seem to think they already know these things. And so do tenants.

I have seen people, who have a tenancy agreement, wondering if they couldn't just stay another month, or if they couldn't just ignore that daft stuff about not painting the walls, or whatever.

We have got into a situation where people don't seem to take tenancy agreements seriously - perhaps because of the amount of bullshit that can be written into them, which can't be enforced.

There needs to be some sense that the law does apply here.

[ReallyTired]

Most landlords use standard agreements and they are enforceable. They are long documents as a lot has to be included. Typically five pages of A4. If either the landlord or tenant signs something without reading it then they are stupid. The CRB can help a tenant understand a contract before they sign it.

Unfortunately there will always be landlords on power trips and tenants who try stuff on. A contract written in clear English is essential for all parties. Most people who break the law/ contract do so diliberately.

[Fireflysingstheblues]

I have been both a tenant and a landlord , I agree that landlords should know the law . I also believe that lettings agents should undergo compulsory training before they are allowed to trade . We used a letting agent , because as accidental landlords we wanted to do the best by our tenants . We wanted them to have access to 24 hour repairs , and the knowledge that their concerns would be dealt with quickly. Unfortunately we had a tenant who felt he could do as he pleased with the property, causing thousands of pounds of damage . I had to advise the letting agents of tenancy laws . I believe that tenants should have access to a good standard of living at an affordable price ( we are in the northeast where rental prices are still reasonable ).I hope my property provides that .I am certainly not on a power trip . Everyone deserves quality housing , I hope that I provide that in exchange for the tenant looking after the property and paying their rent on time.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Gosh, I've never had a contract written in clear English, nor many where all the clauses were enforceable. Nor have I ever seen one. All the ones I've seen have been written in legalistic English, and most included clauses that LL and LA thought could be enforced, but which were illegal.

[SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires]

Surely it only work if all tenants understand the basic of behaving like a decent human being too?

Start teaching them in the 1st year (life skills lessons?) of high school.

[ReallyTired]

Most tenants are decent human beings. A standard AST is enforceable. It stops being enforceable when the landlord / agency adds silly bits. Most things that landlords do that mumsnetters complain about are clearly wrong.

[MizzEmma]

It might lead to less landlords.

We are letting our house while we're abroad. We don't need to financially, we just prefer to have it lived in.

I suspect if there'd been mandatory training we'd have left it empty.

We do use an agency though and are excellent landlords.

Interestingly our local council has a forum for landlords which offers talks, information evenings and training sessions.

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

Thing is you get bad landlords & bad tenants so are tenants going to get training on how to behave too?

No, because landlords are providing a commercial service, tenants aren't so the argument is utterly redundant. Pub landlords need to undertake a training course, submit to checks and apply for a licence, drinkers in said establishment aren't required to demonstrate they won't tread kp nuts into the carpet or piss on the toilet seat.

[ReallyTired]

The laws for dealing with bad tenants are fine the way they are.

Really bad landlords don't follow the law. Training scheme or licences would just up everyone's costs.