To think the rental industry puts too little responsibility on landlords?

[MyTicklishHazelShark]

It feels like so much of the burden in renting falls on tenants - chasing repairs, documenting disrepair, proving mould isn’t their “fault,” paying fees, giving notice correctly, keeping records, while landlords can be hands-off, slow to act or outright negligent with very few consequences. Letting agents seem to shield landlords, councils are overstretched and tenants are often told to just “move if they’re unhappy,” as if secure, affordable housing is easy to come by.

AIBU to think that if someone owns rental property, they should carry far more responsibility for standards, maintenance and tenant wellbeing, and that the system currently lets too many landlords off the hook?

Well all of this will come into force with the Renters Rights Act won't it - the areas you talk about in particular are the decent homes standard and Awaab's Law.

I think you'll find that the reason so many landlords have sold up is that there is so much risk. Gas safety annually, electrical inspection every time a tenant changes, removal of section 21, removal of section 24 interest relief...

You may have a bad landlord, but a lot can't even break even now. A home owner doesn't do the same level of checks and inspections on their own home, it's pushing up rent.

Oh and they've announced increased income tax rates for landlords too. The only ones left will be big corporates...

I think there is too much put on to landlords. I have to get a code for any tenant without a UK passport to check if they are in the UK legally or not. Landlords have to print off How to Rent booklets from government website to give to tenants. I do resent having to do those 2 things. I don't mind the gas and electric certificates, carbon monoxide monitors, smoke alarms and I always provide a fire blanket and a first aid kit.

Very soon most renters will be freed from the burden of such issues

There will be very few rental properties left

It’s got to the point now where after 8 years in the same rented property my landlord makes me feel like it’s no longer my home . Our block of flats are just a ball and chain round his ankle . The threat of constant rent increases just makes you worry when the next one is going to mean you can’t afford to live there anymore . He used to be one of the good landlords . The repairs were done same day before , but now he does the bare minimum to keep legal . Fire checks etc . I had an injury recently which made being at home difficult coz I couldn’t climb the stairs , he rang me and told me it’s best if I look for somewhere else to live ,

It’s so unfair that we are expected to pay more money than ever to rent our properties and yet for me , it feels less like home than ever .

Good grief . You know little about the legalities of being a landlord do you OP. Why should a landlord be responsible for tenant wellbeing . As long as they keep the property up to scratch . There’s virtually no profit in being a landlord these days and it’s becoming a tiresome burden with more and more costs and increasing red tape . Here’s a novel idea . If you don’t like landlords do better and buy your own place . You’ll miss them when they leave the market .

So somehow Landlords are supposed to know something needs repairing without actually being allowed access to the property without permission?

Landlords should be responsible for tenants wellbeing? What on earth? You are responsible for your own wellbeing I’m afraid.

I can only assume you know absolutely fuck all about the rental sector.

No, tenants being expected not to cause mould, give notice when they are leaving and report repairs when they need doing is not too much to ask of them. If they are grown ups capable of living away from their parents, then they should be able to fulfil those basic requirements without too much hardship.

Paying rent, or getting the council
to pay it for you, doesn’t mean that someone else needs to become responsible for your wellbeing.

Of course you’re right op. Private renting has been a major impoverishing factor since it was reintroduced 20 years ago. But this has always been a website of landlords and for the rich, and the Overton window has shifted far far away from the working classes. All you get from the idle rich is ‘poor me’and excuses for them to take more.

Im not really sure what to advise other people without family support to buy to do in Britain now - get a trade and get out of the country yes, but the doorways are closing at the moment. Let’s hope others are correct to say it’s just a downturn.

AIBU to think that if someone owns rental property, they should carry far more responsibility for standards, maintenance and tenant wellbeing, and that the system currently lets too many landlords off the hook?

What, specifically, do you suggest?

It sounds like your landlord wanting to do a good job running his business but government legislation has begun to make it too difficult and expensive. The responsibility for landlords leaving the sector in droves and making renting harder for tenants lies purely with the government.

Tenant wellbeing 😂 😂 My mortgage provider doesn’t give a shit about my wellbeing, they’re just concerned whether DH and I pay the mortgage. It’s just how your landlord feels about you paying your rent. Maybe you should be concerned about landlord welfare and what happens when tenants don’t pay rent, meaning the mortgage can’t be paid and the stress that puts on the landlord. Most landlords aren’t Mr Moneybags, they’re just regular people who aren’t making anything, possibly losing money in fact.

We seem to have a big problem in this country with people understanding that they are responsible for themselves. Many seem to believe that the state and everyone else exists to just support them and sort out their needs asap. Whilst there are clearly bad landlords there are many excellent ones who try to provide a good home. The increase in rules and regulations has made it very difficult for many to make a profit and the new rules in 2026 will add to the burden hence many leading the market and by the way house building has flown/stopped due to massive increase in costs and gov red tape. The housing market isn’t going to get better anytime soon.

I think many tenants have never actually owned their own home so don’t know how much responsibility and cost it is. Many people simply don’t do maintenance as they can’t afford it, when they do they often have to wait ages for a tradie as they are in short supply. Yet tenants seem to believe that when they need a plumber they should arrive at a time that suits them and virtually immediately otherwise the landlord is rubbish. So crack in OP, moan about landlords but don’t be surprised when there aren’t any properties left to rent or they are run by big corp who will ensure rules are changed to ensure they can remove tenants quickly.

Private renting has only been an ‘impoverishing factor’
because successive governments have seen fit to ignore the ongoing elephant in the room (lack of social housing) and outsource their housing responsibilities to the private sector.

When people complained, rather than addressing the issue of a lack of affordable and social housing, they started hammering landlords with more tax and more regulation to make it look as though they were taking action. The so called housing charity, Shelter, joined in. (Great to see their disgrace of a CEO has grovelled her way into the Lords.)

So landlords started selling. They were pilloried by the left for doing so; the Guardian are particularly angry that they are daring to sell up. They are continuing to sell and we have spiralling rents and a homelessness problem which councils can’t cope with given the added joy of population growth and no houses for any of those people either.

But yes, the problem is the Overton window.

💯

Tenants with no personal responsibility but happily blaming landlords will be in for a major shock when their wish of no private landlords becomes a reality. Do you really think the big corporations will stand for a tenant who trashes a property or withholds rent. No, the tenant will be out on the street.

Be careful what you wish for.

Yes, that's what happens when you run a business that someone else is paying a significant sum each month to utilize. You have to ensure that your customers are getting the service they pay for.

Just as I wouldn't expect my mum to cook me breakfast if I were staying at her house, but I would expect it to be provided to me if I were staying at a B+B I'd paid to stay in.

If you can't afford to maintain your rental property, or ensure your tenants have hot water when they need it, then you aren't very good at being a landlord.

I own a house, btw, so I'm well aware of the ongoing costs and hassle of maintenance.

The problem is Joe public trying make a ‘business’ out of renting homes to other people. Of course tenants expect good service, because they are paying through the nose for it. Meanwhile, most landlords rent out shitholes that they can’t afford to properly maintain, expect to charge top dollar for it, and think that they are entitled to ‘profit’.

The rental market would work much better if run by proper professional businesses, who have the free cash flow, and management structures in place to deal with issues. Not John from Bolton who wants to top up his pension by renting out some craphole that is falling apart and hasn’t been updated since the 90s.

If that is your preference, rent from large corporations. It is not compulsory to deal with private landlords.

Your landlord is such a jerk.

I suggest doing thorough research to understand your rights, finding people who can help you, and looking for another place to live that will be comfortable for you.

With the new Renters Rights Act coming up, struggling landlords will hopefully bow out, making way for corporate to step in and, hopefully, do better.

This.
I was a proactive kind and reasonable LL.
I’ve just sold up because Govt doesn’t want small landlords like me.
Govt want corporate LL’s they can tax to the hilt.

Im so relieved I’m out of the mire of legislation and tax the govt foisted on us, not to mention disrespectful, rental debt incurring and defensive vandal-tenants (not mine) in some properties. Being a LL is not all it’s cracked up to be.

I started as a landlord 10years ago, I have increased my rents from £650 pcm to £900 pcm AND my profits have reduced (that means may take home pay at the end of the month has continually reduced in the last 10 yrs). Extra costs have reduced profits through increased regulation, higher taxes, and increased maintenance costs. All of this has been inflicted on the landlord and hence tenants.
governments have vilified landlords and hurt tenants. Increasing taxes only benefits the government.

HA try being a private landlord. There's a reason so many of us are selling up.