Landlords are hated but

[Parsley1234]

I am a landlord tenants been in situ for over 10 years very happily in a character Victorian terrace rent raises minimum I leave them alone get repairs done in a timely manner however from 2028 I will have to either sell holiday let or leave vacant the property as the modifications are untenable for me. Double glazing adding internal walls to make small rooms smaller etc. We are in a housing crisis this is going to make it worse and for all of you who want to have a go at landlords maybe look at the government housing policy first

Why was I served a section 21 notice then? No rent arrears, no breach of contract. Purchase delayed but agents unwilling to be flexible so served notice. Plus they were rather intimidating. Implied they had new tenants that would arrive with their removal vans on a certain date.

There is a shortage of housing fall stop due to more households in the UK and in some areas properties being used as short term holidays lets. The situation won't get worse if rental properties go down and buyer owned properties go up.

buyer owned owner occupied

It sounds like a beautiful old house,have you considered moving into it yourself and renting out your own home

You do all seem a little straw man when both sides ignore the reality that I have lived.

There are real people effected here.

in case you can't read it all - the key points are:

1980
home ownership 56%
private rent 9%
social rent 35%

2021
home ownership 65%
private rent 19%
social rent 16%

Wow that's interesting. Wasn't expecting to see those figures, given the way discussions go about homeownership vs rental.

@didianthus101, you are missing the point that many families can't get a mortgage in the first place through either no deposit, don't earn enough for multipliers, ccj's, on benefits. Just stop and consider for a moment, how many people are on benefits that pay their rent but they would not get that money for a mortgage. These are the people that need to continue to rent or would end up in temporary accommodation. The council sold off so many houses there is not enough social housing for all of those that need it, as you must know. Would you have all LL sell up and then all of those families who could not get a mortgage dumped into temporary accommodation? Things are far more complex than you suggest.

They can't afford to buy because people like yourselves have bought all the houses!

@ddianthus101, also there are loads of empty houses to buy on RightMove. It is not as though a LL having a btl stops others from buying. It is the other factors I mentioned that stop them.

'Where practical, cost-effective and affordable' which leaves ALOT of wiggle room.
And they are currently just proposals.
What about listed buildings? Can't put double or secondary glazing in nor after walls.
What about flats? You can't do certain things in isolation.
The current EPC rating system is terrible. I put in the most efficient electric heat in my non gas flat, it failed the EPC as it wasn't the bog standard night storage type that was on the form. His suggestions: Could I double glaze the windows? No it's a listed building. Insulate the walls? No it's a second floor flat. Put in night storage heaters in addition to the heaters I already had? What am I an idiot? The inspector finally said I needed a second electric night storage meter. Strangely my flat did have a (redundant) one which I photographed and he accepted.
The proposals will only work if the rating system is overhauled and they get intelligent people to inspect who can make certain judgements themselves.
I have three tenants. Not one wants to or can afford to buy. They can live in a much nicer property (mine) however.

I am not missing the point because I haven't said that there should be a no rental properties and no landlords so your point that some people can’t buy is pretty irrelevant. There are families that want to buy a property and would be able to buy a house if property prices weren't so high in comparison to salaries nowadays. Houses being bought up as an investment are part of the reason house prices continue to rise and the part of the reason a whole generation cannot buy property at the moment.

Landlords buying to let, increases competition and prices for houses.

@Parsley1234 demolish your house then if everything is so impossible and against your taste.
You have 6 years to get this done
you can do one room at a time
you’re absolutely wrong that “you can be prosecuted for selling below market value” (as long as you’re not selling it so way below market value you’re getting a tenner off it)
badly insulated houses are bad for your tenants (both for their bills and their health, specially if they’re over 60) and for the environment

what is your problem?

It’s not illegal to sell property at below market value nor will the purchaser ever have to pay capital gains. If you sell it below market value to family or give it to them for nothing, the seller pays capital gains tax on market value.

But to clarify @Parsley1234 if you give your house to a charity or random stranger for nothing that’s fine and no tax to pay (in fact tax benefits if you give it to charity)

@Whichwhatnow would you have these wonderful terms for people who weren’t family?
no, right?
you’re not a landlord, you’re a sister letting your brother live cheaply in a place you own because you’re doing a family member a favour.
HUGE DIFFERENCE

Yet there are fifty percent fewer landlord owned properties than pre-covid, the rental market is in crisis. Rents are sky rocketing and house prices…..have not fallen at all. So it’s not buy to let, is it? It’s lack of social housing, which has been effectively asset/stripped by the government. They’re just scape goating private landlords, and people are swallowing it hook, line and sinker.

As @AlecTrevelyan006 pointed out. The change isn’t so much in private landlords, and home ownership has increased. It’s largely decreased social housing. Blame the government responsible.

1980
home ownership 56%
private rent 9%
social rent 35%

2021
home ownership 65%
private rent 19%
social rent 16%

Now, private landlords have probably sunk back close to 1980 levels, but it’s had no impact at all on house prices. None. At all.

And @OnlyFoolsnMothers greed? How is it greed? I'm not doing anything 'noble'. I'm providing a needed commodity and get paid for it. Are farmers greedy? They provide food and get paid for it.
The fact remains: people need housing. The state cannot provide for everyone. So what do you suggest? Well here's a solution. Get people who might, rather than invest in stocks and shares or other commodities (cars, watches, jewellery, boats) invest in housing. They expect a return on this investment. Income is taxed. It is also extra taxed at point of purchase. And it is taxed at point of sale. There are rules and standards. Sure some do not maintain as they should but you can say that about many industries. The vast majority take care of what is most likely their biggest asset.

@Lineala
and you speak for all landlords?

I always paid my rent on time, all bills paid, house looked after well, never caused problems.

I was evicted under section 21 because the house I moved into during summer turned into an absolutely mould ridden horror show once winter came and I complained. Landed me in hospital twice with asthma attacks. My landlords (both doctors, btw!) refused to do anything, telling me to keep the windows open for air. Their handyman came over to fix a leak and told me every year they did the same thing - kicked a tenant out around Feb/March, painted over the mould, rented it out to the next mug, winter came, tenant complained, got kicked out.
I even looked at whether I could report their unethical behaviour to the GMC but alas I could not.

why do you think you can speak for all landlords?

Did you invest your life savings to get your job? Thought not. Put your revolting imagery away away and try to understand other people's current position in life. The market needs rental properties and decent landlords, a dying breed in the current regime. When they are all gone you will no doubt up your whinging. ( No, I am not a landlord).

Also, we generally get a bit better off in life as we move through it, the kids leave home, we've bought all the household appliances etc. That's a perfectly natural phenomenon. The next challenge is providing for old age, and that isn't easy and much less in an age of growing inflation. Learn more and blast less.

That is incorrect. You can of course give property away but it will be subject to tax at market value. So you or the recipient may be subject to capital gains tax, stamp duty land tax or/and inheritance tax.

Charities are mainly exempt but not always.

I agree with eekstek, I personally know 7 btl LL who have sold 9 properties between them since the beginning of the pandemic. 2 of these are waiting until April to sell another each. So many less houses in private rentals yet as eekstek has stated house prices have soared during this time. The fewer rental houses btl LL own for rental the higher the rents go as supply and demand operates. I have 8 and will be selling 1 or 2 in next 2 years. If mortgage rates go up I will have to increase rents too. I already charge quite a bit less than market value in order to be able to have the best pick of good tenants.

All you that are so vitriolic against landlords good luck to you my tenant will lose their home where will they go ? Who knows it’s a total mess I’m not going to sell at below market value I do rent at below as I want long term tenants but If that is not viable I’m out