To not agree with how some people make their money, specifically landlords and letting agents?

[RealNavyEagle]

I’m not saying every landlord or agent is evil, before anyone jumps in. But I do think there’s something deeply uncomfortable about profiting from people’s basic need for shelter, especially when that profit often comes with minimal accountability and maximum power over tenants’ lives. Rent increases “because the market allows it,” poor maintenance, opaque fees and agents acting as unchallengeable gatekeepers… it doesn’t always sit right with me as a way to earn a living.

AIBU to feel uneasy about this being a normal, socially accepted income stream?

Pension schemes and asset management funds who invest in social housing - which is not for profit.

the stock has value, both to borrow against and sell.

investors use the surplus to build more homes.

Non-profit landlords do exist, but are few and far between. They're generally charitable trusts.

Peabody is a very large one in London. But the fact that they're non-profit doesn't necessarily make them cheap.

There are 4.4million housing association units in the UK. There are 5.5 million private rented units.

how are they fee and far between?

You do realise though that when all the costs go up e.g EPC requirememts etc, rents will go up regardless of whether there is a profit or not. Or are you suggesting that there are altruistic landlords who run at a loss at scale?

Are you talking to me? I don’t understand your point.

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You don't seem to understand that the massive increase in regulation that the rental sector has undergone will impact on rental costs regardless of whether people are making a profit or not.

How do you think it currently works for not for profit landlords then?

Btw corporate landlords have been preparing for EPc changes for more than 10 years. They also have to power and policy influence to provide the government with robust plans that grant exemptions and extensions where necessary.

the problem with underfunded small landlords is they can’t do any of this. They’re not fit for purpose

How do you think it works? Do you think they rent properties at a loss or do they raise rents in line with rising costs?

So you think large organisations that can lobby government effectively should have examptions that allow them to circumvent regulations in order tpo suppress rents. Ok that seems entirely unproblematic!

@RealNavyEagle Surely you equally dislime homeowners who sell their homes for a higher amount than the purchase price? Or is it okay for some people to profit from homes?

social rent is regulated. It is weekly rent is calculated by a formula and it is illegal to charge more than that.

and that rent is enough to manage and repairs/ maintain the property.

they make a surplus which is invested into major works and new housing.

when you have 50,000 properties you can have a mix of loss making units and surplus making units and mitigate the risk that comes with cost increases

its an established model that has been in place for a century

Again I ask, when costs go up do you believe the rents go up or do you think the housing is simply rented out at a loss? If social housing providers costs exceed the 'regulated rent' what do you think happens?

Again I ask, what do you think happens now?

You don't start off in your forever home.

The traditional property ladder was a one bed flat, followed by a 2-bed terrace, followed by a 3-bed semi, and if fortunate, a 4-bed detached.

The expectations of first time buyers are really out of whack with previous generations - they expect driveways, downstairs bathroom, finished kitchen, utility room.

They also pay our pensions.

Local government pension schemes which aren't profit motivated might invest in social housing because they'll receive virtually guaranteed inflation linked returns similar to government gilts which enables them to meet their obligations to the scheme members.

But private companies do so because they can make steady reliable inflation linked (+1 or 2%) long term returns from the rent or debt backed by the property portfolio similar to a mortgage. Unless it's a charity any private company's objective is to make a profit, otherwise it wouldn't exist.

To be honest it’s not a particularly important point as not for profit providers are generally low leveraged and borrow money from lenders with ease, however, I believe all G15 housing associations (plus many others) currently have at least one bond issued, meaning billions in institutional investment.