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

@Onandupw its quite concerning I see problems ahead. When did this decision come about ?

That really is typically isn't it. Government helping the already loaded.

Although I trust John Lewis to be better than the rest, given their business model.

But still, it's really annoying.

@Lunar270 one things certain they will be buying up housing stock not normal people

There is so much venom on this site against landlords. I’m an accidental landlord of a 1 bed flat. Price has now increased so I should get back what I paid for it now, but certainly won’t have made ££.

Yes I can sell it. But that won’t help my current tenant, a single mum with a baby. They’re not going to be getting a mortgage right now. Nor will it help my previous tenant who worked but needed benefit top ups therefore counting them out of renting a lot of places.

I don’t make any money overall compared to selling and putting the money in a bank. None. Repairs/management fees/constant gas/electricity/fire safety checks take the money. Yes I agree with housing stock being checked and safe but for small single property owners it becomes a large % of rent.
You know what though? I’m actually OK with not making money - I see it that I can afford to have some capital sitting in a building that gives someone a home. It’d probably rent well as a little holiday let - equivalents in the area make a lot of money from doing that. But that would remove a flat that’s giving someone somewhere to live.
But I’m sick of more bloody loopholes to jump through so I probably will end up selling - financially it’s the better thing to do. And it’ll probably get snapped up as a holiday let. Hardly helping any housing crisis!

@Dammitthisisshit its so so true what a mess this housing situation is

So now you are arguing that it won't lead to an increase in owner occupied houses as the properties will be bought up by other rental properties. If that is the case there will be no decrease in rental properties and your original argument that legislation to improve energy efficiency of rental properties will make the housing crisis worse doesn't stand.

I'm in very similar situation to you, accidental landlord, lovely tenants with young baby. You'll get told on here that there is not such thing as an accidental landlord, asked "why don't you just sell it then", even though you've explained the outcome of that.

On the note of the holiday let, well done for standing by your principles, also I think, from chatting to friends who do it, it can be quite stressful, so many quick turn arounds, unreasonable reviews in an attempt to extort money back and the risk that one tourist staying for a matter of days could cause a load of damage. I became a very reluctant LL of a residential property, I think being the LL of a holiday let would give me a nervous breakdown!!

Someone mentioned farmers upthread, making a profit from growing food. As a matter of fact, most would make a loss if they didn't receive subsidy. So it's more similar than you might think economically and the large farming businesses do best or least worst.

I make a loss on my buy to let, for similar reasons to @Dammitthisisshit. When I bought it in 2020, the owner, who needed the money to retire somewhere cheaper, had had several sales fall through. I was competing only with another BTL landlord, a professional one with multiple properties.

There need to be controls/legislation on holiday lets too.

You would have more support if you hadn't made this thread 'Poor me, the poor landlord!' rather than ask for constructive advice and tips on how you can get your house up to code that's affordable to you.

I am surprised (although not exactly shocked) that there is no form to tick off for the local authority each year to confirm you've done the gas check, electric check, put the CO2 monitor by the boiler (new requirement this year) etc. Why isn't there?!

I mean "you" in general re landlords, not the OP, in case that wasn't obvious.

If i was a landlord i'd install solar panels and good insulation. Cannot afford to have more than 1 house though!

@Butteryflakycrust83 i am not asking for a pity party where did I even intonate that ?
@Phineyj it’s all unregulated bullshit

I'm not quite sure what your argument is now. For most of this thread you have been complaining that landlords will leave the property market due regulation on energy efficiency and this will lead to fewer rental properties and exacerbate the housing crisis. Now you are saying, not only is there a lack of regulation but that rental properties will be bought by larger rental companies rather than private owners which will not lead to a reduction rental properties.

Is there really still nothing like this in place in England? That's crazy.

We have "Rent Smart Wales", not sure of all the criteria as my property is fully managed by an agent, but it certainely includes a number of the checks you suggest. Landlords have to go on a course (online i think), or go fully managed by an agent who has to attend a longer more comprehensive course.

No there is nothing. I joined the National Residential Landlords' Association and read their resources to check I was doing it all right. Although tenants can resist eviction more easily if landlords haven't done the paperwork correctly, so there's that.

And of course stipulations of insurance/mortgage conditions.

@dianthus101 lets see what happens I don’t think it’s going to be a good thing large property companies taking over the market do you really ? Maybe you do

Wow, that's crazy!

I'm not a fan of Drakeford (Cardiff centric and lockdown zeolot) but Welsh Labour has actually bought in some decent policies. Not just the controversial ones (Second homes/ holiday lets) that are all over the media but the ones that no one can really argue against that therefore get little attention and fanfare.

The Rent Smart Wales stuff should just be a given thing of being a decent landlord. Most agents in the area where my BTL is were pretty on it anyway as there was a Multiple Murder arson attack where the landlord was subsequently jailed for fire safety issues (ironically he was a fireman) as well as the murderer serving life. No smart landlord wouldn't do these checks, but their are plenty out there willing to cut corners and hope for the best.

@Phineyj councils are increasingly putting in licensing regimes which covers this

So investing your money in a pension is ok but investing money in a house and renting it out is not ok? We decided to invest in a buy to let instead of a pension. Why is this not ok? Both are investments. And we provide a house for the many people who do not want/can't afford to buy but want to rent. I just don't understand why landlords are vilified on Mumsnet. My current tenant was so grateful to rent our house - the market is hard for tenants at the moment as not enough rentals available. Are you saying no one should buy houses to rent out? Only councils should rent out houses? I somehow don't think that would work!

You wouldn't think it's a good thing but that is from your point of view as a landlord not as a tenant. It will obviously affect your business and your opportunity to make money out of property.

I don't know whether or not larger rental companies will be better as landlords than those with a smaller number of properties. They won't cause a decrease in the number of properties available and exacerbate the housing crisis though, particularly if they build new properties which counters your original argument.

I am a landlord of one property. I worked x3 jobs for a deposit from a very young age.

this will provide a deposit for my children to get their own home

i do not consider myself to be greedy but I am sensible.

@dianthus101 as I can see housing associations and councils are some of the more negligent poorly performing landlords abd I can’t see these companies being any better plus they will be taking the best tenants not ones that find rentals hard to come by and don’t think the rents will be reasonable they won’t. They are a business and business exist to make money just less legislation than being an independent landlord