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Original poster

Britain's worst landlord?

46 replies

postiepostie · 27/03/2019 00:00

Just watched panorama about Fergus Wilson and apart from him persuing money from a family that clearly can't afford it (and clearly won't benefit him) I don't see why he is wrong to want to sell his properties and retire.

It's sad for the families that have to move but isn't that one of the risks that comes with renting?

AIBU to think that he should be allowed to just sell up using the correct legal processes as and when he likes?

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 27/03/2019 00:04

One of the risks that come with renting... what choice do they have?

Whatsnewpussyhat · 27/03/2019 00:08

I actually thought the same. Nothing wrong with wanting to sell up and cash in their pension pot.
They did come across as rather spiteful though. Kicking people out because something needed fixing etc.

Original poster
postiepostie · 27/03/2019 00:44

Yeah I agree that they came off as a bit spiteful. Absolutely no need to go after 1200 quid from a family that couldn't afford it. But still don't see why they shouldn't be able to sell up.

OP posts:
Original poster
postiepostie · 27/03/2019 00:46

Don't know what choice they have Ivy but if the landlord has followed all the proper legal processes then why shouldn't they be able to sell up?

OP posts:
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 27/03/2019 01:03

I don't criticise them for wanting to sell up, as long as they follow due legal process.

I DO have a massive issue with his attitudes (I don't know if she agrees or is even allowed a say) towards categories of tenants whom he arbitrarily considers undesirable, such as Asians, single mums, families with children, plumbers etc. There's something very Dickensian about him to me.

Personally, I don't think that any individual or company (other than a properly regulated not-for-profit housing trust) should be allowed to have such a stranglehold on a whole town's rental housing stock. I'm not saying I'd ban them from buying them, but if it could be done, I'd instigate a very unattractive tax regime i.e. owning one or a handful of rental properties = as it is now; owning 10 or more = an extra percentage; owning 50 or more = a much bigger percentage; owning 100 or more = a massive tax liability. Even if not on the regular income from the properties, why is stamp duty not increased exponentially the more properties you buy once you long pass the point of a very handsome individual investment portfolio?

A PP commented on the risks of 'choosing' to rent, but what other choice do people have if they can't get a deposit and/or a mortgage and don't want their family to live in the doorway of Debenham's? Is it like people who 'choose' to use food banks rather than just living on fresh air and raindrops?

ivykaty44 · 27/03/2019 07:31

Postiepostie, I don’t agree that they they should have to leave their home. Sell the house with sitting tenants

Barrenfieldoffucks · 27/03/2019 07:33

He's a fucking hideous person. Do some googling and read some other stories about him.

TheOxymoron · 27/03/2019 07:36

ivykaty44 That would be great in an ideal world but that would limit his buyers market immensely. If a number of landlords did that then people would moan that there isn’t enough houses for sale for them to live in. It’s a bit of a no win situation.

That Landlord was a spiteful man. To evict people when they ask for a repair is classed as a revenge eviction and he can get in trouble for that.

Ragnarthe · 27/03/2019 07:41

He is not a nice man

Cornettoninja · 27/03/2019 07:46

Is that the guy who wants to sell a glut of rental properties at the same time (was it some daft number like 70?)?

That’s a significant amount of people needing to find new residences. I know if that happened in my town that the majority would have to relocate a sizeable distance simply because there isn’t the rental stock.

Of course he should be able to sell his properties but I don’t think he should have been allowed to own that many rentals in the first place. Once you start renting out those numbers you’ve gone beyond only being responsible for your own interests because the societal repurcussions are much higher stakes. There should be limits to ensure your impact is controlled. Much like how smaller businesses don’t have the same regulations to adhere to as medium sized business when it comes to tax,

It’s comparable to a local employer shutting up shop. 70+ people suddenly in unemployment would impact a local area

Dragongirl10 · 27/03/2019 07:55

This debate about Fergus Wilson again highlights the main issue with housing in this country.

So many people want private LL who run a business, to be social LL and support/consider/make allowances for individuals circumstances. The two are incompatible.

There needs to be a ring fenced social housing stock that cannot be sold off for those on low incomes run by local councils and increased year on year.

Then private LL should be left to run their businesses like any other, abiding by the rules and regulations but without the vitriol so often directed at them.

malificent7 · 27/03/2019 07:59

Ime there are many horrid landlords out there.

bigbluebus · 27/03/2019 08:01

I heard that he owned 1000 properties at one point and he's down to 300 now (All in Kent I think). I understand why he wants to sell but agree he shouldn't have been allowed to buy so many - in some cases he owned whole streets. He said " there are only 2 types of tenant - those who agree with me and ex-tenants." Sounds like a vile man although I'm sure some would say he's just a shrewd business man.

gamerchick · 27/03/2019 08:06

There needs to be a ring fenced social housing stock that cannot be sold off for those on low incomes run by local councils and increased year on year
Then private LL should be left to run their businesses like any other, abiding by the rules and regulations but without the vitriol so often directed at them

No no, this isn't social housings fault. Let's just move that spotlight back onto private landlords which is what this thread is about. Just for a change.

I'm still liking the idea of new taxes on private landlords. Starting with those rents they charge.

RebootYourEngine · 27/03/2019 08:16

I watched the panorama programme and have read a few articles about him. He sounds like a nasty man.

Doesn't like tenants who disagree with him or report repairs on their houses.

Original poster
postiepostie · 27/03/2019 09:05

Nasty man or not he should be able to sell his houses. Whether he should've been able to control the market like that in the first place is debatable.

OP posts:
LGY1 · 27/03/2019 09:48

They are his assets and he should be able to sell them when he likes.

He is running his business as a business, his views are outdated but it’s obviously been a good way to run his business!

He has paid a lot of money for a house, why should he let have to let anyone live there?
Job opportunities aren’t given on a first come, first served basis, you pick the best candidate - why is this so wrong for his business?

MrsJayy · 27/03/2019 09:53

I don't understand how he could be allowed to own a street without regulations and some of his views were eyewateringly offensive but he has every right to sell his houses.

Inliverpool1 · 27/03/2019 09:58

He is an idiot tbh. I own one house st the moment, plan to buy 3 more but in a perfect world they will never be sold and the girl that moved into this first one knows she has a home for life or as long as she wants it. We had to go in to fix something earlier in the week the place is a shit tip already but quite honestly as long as she pays her rent I don’t care.

Beebumble2 · 27/03/2019 10:02

Now watch the Dispatches CH 4 programme on Sanctuary Housing Association. It’s not much better in the not for profit sector.
Social housing/ renting needs a huge shake up, so that people have decent secure places to live.

whitehalleve · 27/03/2019 10:07

He's the worst landlord for other reasons not really focussed on in the programme. Google him,

Brilliantidiot · 27/03/2019 10:15

It's sad for the families that have to move but isn't that one of the risks that comes with renting?

Yes, unfortunately it is. And it's utterly crap being in that situation not once but repeatedly.
However if you're an LL that rents a property out, part of that risk is knowing that it could take months and a lot of money to evict someone. Especially if you rent to the lower end of the market because their choices are really limited. Mostly because of low income and nothing left to save for the eventuality you might get kicked out. You don't get one deposit back until you've left (and that's ignoring the times bad LLs put every obstacle they can up to getting your deposit back) so you can't use that for your next place, because obviously you need to pay the deposit on signing the lease.
Turning to the council in those cases means being told to stay put until the bailiffs turn up or they won't help at all.
It's utterly crap for both the LL and the tenant, and no, not fair, but it's the way it is and if tenants must accept the risk of being moved on every 6 months, then LLs must accept the risk of renting, and unfortunately, that's one of them. Obviously multiplied if you own lots of properties and want to sell them at the same time.
On balance the tenant comes off worse, they have more at stake.
With this individual LL I don't have any sympathy at all, tenants you've treated badly are not going to go out of their way to help, in the same way an LL who has been treated badly by tenants isn't going to.
This particular person really is reaping what he sewed.

Cornettoninja · 27/03/2019 10:43

So many people want private LL who run a business, to be social LL

Thing is there is an overlap. Same way HMRC don’t treat a self employed cake baker the same way they treat Greggs. When your assets reach a certain size you do have an impact on the society/community around you and there needs to be accountability for that.

This particular gentleman isn’t ‘just’ a landlord with a small portfolio he owns a significant proportion of a resource that’s in short supply in this country, therefore he has more responsibility than most to society. He just does. It’s not like he wouldn’t financially gain from his position if he had to follow regulations.

gamerchick · 27/03/2019 13:16

He has paid a lot of money for a house, why should he let have to let anyone live there?

Didn't he pay like 16 grand at auction or something? Hardly a fortune.

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