New renter rights act is a bloody good thing!

[Pineapplewhip]

Naturally landlords have some justifiable concerns/questions but those that are up in arms about the whole thing are completely bloody immoral. The slum landlords have spoilt it for the good ones and the decent landlords should blame them and not the government for protecting people.

If you arent aware of the actual points of the bill - I've listed them below. I cant see how any reasonable person can disagree that it's just enforcing the most basic human decency and regulation.

• End to no fault evictions: landlords can only evict renters if they want to sell, move in themselves, move their family into the property or there are serious rent arrears. They have to prove they are selling too - they cant just say they are!

• Rent can only rise once a year, any rise above market rate can be disputed fairly and 2 months notice is given.

• Landlords can't refuse you for having children or being on benefits (if you prove that benefits/finances make the property affordable). This isnt about being on full benefits either. Many single parents need benefits to top up income.

• Landlord ombudsman - tennants can raise fair disputes and repair issues for free online and landlords cannot just ignore it/grey rock. Repeat offenders will be visable in the database. Landlords legally must act on the complaints.

• Faster action must be taken on damp and mould. Basic human rights! No more shitty emails from a middle man letting agent just blaming the tennant for not opening a window - when actually (for example) a house needs its brickwork repointing.

The only legitimate thing I have empathy for is the concern that it will be more of a process to evict non paying tennants as it will need to go through a court. However - this is why landlord insurance exists!!

Please ask yourself - if your child was renting - wouldn't you want them protected like this?

They continue to pursue idealist principles as if believing it will somehow trump reality
Nothing about this new law is triggered by concerns for tenants. The government couldn't care less about them. They like landlords much better because landlords pay tax on their employment income AND property income. It's nothing to do with principles. It's all to do with easing social housing and pressure on the courts. All things that COST the government. They are doing nothing but shifting their shit into private landlords.

As for renters who think it's giving them security, I'm sorry to say that you are very naive. Landlords are so because they want tenants and any profit that comes with it. Landlords want to get rid of tenants only if they are experiencing issues with their tenants or they need the property back for personal reasons. The latter isn't affected. They can still give notice to move themselves or a family in. As for being forced to keep tenants they don't want? They will use the little power they still have. Sell or pretend to move back in. No council or other is going to take on large scales investigations to prove the owner hasn't really moved back in. They will pay council tax for 6 months and get new tenants in, charging them 25% more. It will be worth the risk. That's if they don't decide to sell as so many are already doing.

There is only one winner in this: councils!

I rented of my property for 15 years (lived in it before) making together no profit at all! The main reason for that is that as a FT working person, I paid high taxes, so 40% alone went in the government pockets. By the time I paid the interests, maintenance, refurbishment between tenants, insurance, repairs etc...I had nothing left. I did it for just one reason: I paid it off through my hard earned employment pay, and now that I retired and am only working in self employment, I am finally able to get an income from it that is expected to make up for the lost employment income.

For 15 years it was only trouble and stress and no reward. Currently I have amazing tenants, but if they are replaced by difficult ones, I will sell (3 bed house in a sought after area, similar sell in weeks, so no concern there) and am confident I could invest and get at least as much return anyway!

And to add, the real kicker.
He put us through all of this just to turn our home into an Air BnB.

I’ve never been so angry in my life.
There are no words.

I am neither a tenant nor a landlord, but I can see that of course both sides need protection. What does need sorting out is that it takes so long to get bad/non paying tenants out, surely that needs addressing pronto. Also don't agree that as far as I understand, landlords now cannot refuse pets, which seems wrong to me.

Whereas now he'd be safer to find an agency to run it for short term air bnb lets if there is enough demand in the area.

Accidental landlord here ( yes they do exist). Used to live in my flat myself and bought at the top of the market and it's never recovered so not worth selling. I currently have a gteat tenant and while she's there i wont put the rent up and will make sure things gets fixed. When she moves out i'm done though. Had previous tenants that trashed the house and you never get your money back, insurance or not. Plus the stress of it all is a lot. The government needs a balance to encourage good landlords and this isn't it.