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Why so much hate for Landlords on MN?

398 replies

coulditbeme2323 · Yesterday 16:00

Who do LL's get so much hate on MN?

It seems so much more hate than there is any real life.

OP posts:
coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:18

StinkyWizzleteets · Today 11:17

Please explain your public service and the good it does to society

It's not a public service, it's a service.

It doesn't meet the definition of it being a public service.

OP posts:
StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:23

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:18

It's not a public service, it's a service.

It doesn't meet the definition of it being a public service.

That is the point.
Rental housing should be a public service - owned and run by the state, and not for profit.
Any old consumer service can be run for profit, and people have the choice whether they want to buy that service or not.

But people have no choice about housing. If they can't afford to buy, they need housing as a public service.

Bubblebathbefore8 · Today 11:24

Buy to let mortgages are mainly interest only.

I don’t know why MN hate landlords so much. I rented for years, all ok, fairly normal people.

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:25

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:23

That is the point.
Rental housing should be a public service - owned and run by the state, and not for profit.
Any old consumer service can be run for profit, and people have the choice whether they want to buy that service or not.

But people have no choice about housing. If they can't afford to buy, they need housing as a public service.

That's a different debate isn't it.

OP posts:
StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:27

I get that some people who can afford to buy, or who have already bought a home, might need to rent somewhere for various reasons like temporary jobs.

There would be nothing wrong with having private rental housing as a consumer service in theory, as long as everyone who needs to rent a permanent home has one from the state.
But as that is not the situation: there are waiting list for state housing. So in reality private letting is bad for society.

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:29

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:25

That's a different debate isn't it.

No that is exactly the debate we are having.
The reason people hate private landlords is because they are profiting from the state's failure to provide a public service that is sorely needed.
They are profiting from poor people's inability to buy.

quartile · Today 11:29

Itchthescratch · Yesterday 20:18

Data shows the majority of Landlords work. 45% of landlords own just one rental property.

Don't let facts ruin your narrative though...

Both are true.. just coming from the otherside

45% of landlords only own one property but they only account for 20% of private rentals.

80% of private rentals belong to a landlord with more than one property and nearly half of properties are let by a landlord with more than 5 properties.

As a renter you are 4 times more likely to rent from a landlord with more than one property than one property

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:30

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:29

No that is exactly the debate we are having.
The reason people hate private landlords is because they are profiting from the state's failure to provide a public service that is sorely needed.
They are profiting from poor people's inability to buy.

They aren't all poor, not by a long way!

OP posts:
LuckyHazelFox · Today 11:33

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · Today 10:34

I'm not even close to envious 🤣

I just couldn't be in a relationship with that type of person who makes their money in that way.

Everyone pays taxes. I pay taxes. Tenants pay taxes. LLs aren't special or victimised because they pay taxes. Especially since it's taxes on money someone else is earning for them.

They are earning money legally. Do you include no Landlords on your dating profile? I don't think you'd need worry about getting responses.

caringcarer · Today 11:34

coulditbeme2323 · Today 10:28

Interest only these days is very very silly indeed.

I don't agree. Properties are bought through limited company. Interest can be deducted. Over time the properties will be sold off and I only want to keep 1. Some I've bought over 20 years ago so hold a lot of equity in. If I wanted to I could pay off the mortgages on the 2 houses I bought over 20 years ago.

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:35

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:30

They aren't all poor, not by a long way!

See my previous post:

I get that some people who can afford to buy, or who have already bought a home, might need to rent somewhere for various reasons like temporary jobs.
There would be nothing wrong with having private rental housing as a consumer service in theory, as long as everyone who needs to rent a permanent home has one from the state.
But as that is not the situation: there are waiting list for state housing. So in reality private letting is bad for society.

Your individual tenant might be rich and might already own other houses which they are not choosing to live in for some reason, but if you look at the big picture overall, private letting is bad for society in a situation where there are waiting lists for state housing and people can't afford to buy.
The solution is threefold: the state needs to build far more social housing to let, house prices need to fall so that more people can buy, and earnings need to rise so that more people can buy.

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:35

caringcarer · Today 11:34

I don't agree. Properties are bought through limited company. Interest can be deducted. Over time the properties will be sold off and I only want to keep 1. Some I've bought over 20 years ago so hold a lot of equity in. If I wanted to I could pay off the mortgages on the 2 houses I bought over 20 years ago.

20 years ago is not "these days"

OP posts:
MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · Today 11:37

LuckyHazelFox · Today 11:33

They are earning money legally. Do you include no Landlords on your dating profile? I don't think you'd need worry about getting responses.

Their income is legal. I didn't say it wasn't. But it's not earned income, it's investment income.
My point was I don't know why we are supposed to feel sorry for landlords or think they are doing some good noble thing for society just because they are (apparently) paying thousands in tax. So what? We all pay tax.
This is especially true when that income they are paying tax on isn't even income they've earned. Why do I give a shit?
They're still leeches however much tax they pay on the money given to them.

Fizbosshoes · Today 11:37

Im intrigued by the poster who thinks the council should take back all the second (or more) homes.
There are many examples of councils and local authorities not maintaining or keeping properties in a reasonable state.
Iirc there were some horrific stories about Croydon Council a few years ago. Also instead of spending money buying up private LL properties, if they had that sort of spare cash (im pretty sure most councils dont) would it not be be better to build new social housing?

Im not a LL so ive no skin in the game. Im not that impressed with DDs student house....but i can see the need for rent properties, and dont believe that all LL are evil. I rented a room in a house when I left home. The landlord was very fair, and never put the rent up while I was there. My sister rented from the same LL for 10 years and I dont think he put her rent up once. When she moved out he helped do some repairs to the flat she bought.

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:39

LuckyHazelFox · Today 11:33

They are earning money legally. Do you include no Landlords on your dating profile? I don't think you'd need worry about getting responses.

In what way are landlords "earning" the rent. That is a serious misuse of the word 'earning'.
They do a bit of paperwork each year, make a few calls to tradespeople to deal with repairs, etc. If you have one or two properties it is hardly a full time job.

Yet the tenants are working full time to pay the rent (or claiming housing benefit from the state, so the money goes from the state to the landlord via the tenant).

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · Today 11:39

ByLemonLeader · Today 10:52

No it's not. It's not earned income, it's investment income.

Don't be mean to the poor landlords. They work hard to earn that money. Mine had to make a phonecall to a plumber the other day from his armchair. He has to do that every single year, the poor love.

Phineyj · Today 11:40

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:11

She should be able to rent from the council, in an ideal world.

That is what is wrong with society: private landlords, private water companies, private electricity and gas, private railways, and on and on.
Profiteers and shareholders getting rich by owning essential services that should be provided by the state.

There is no way she would meet criteria to be housed by the council in any realistic scenario. If she were local or in certain professions (she's not) then shared ownership schemes might be available I suppose.

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:40

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:39

In what way are landlords "earning" the rent. That is a serious misuse of the word 'earning'.
They do a bit of paperwork each year, make a few calls to tradespeople to deal with repairs, etc. If you have one or two properties it is hardly a full time job.

Yet the tenants are working full time to pay the rent (or claiming housing benefit from the state, so the money goes from the state to the landlord via the tenant).

Most LL I know don't want to touch benefit claimants.

OP posts:
coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:40

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · Today 11:39

Don't be mean to the poor landlords. They work hard to earn that money. Mine had to make a phonecall to a plumber the other day from his armchair. He has to do that every single year, the poor love.

If it's so easy, why not become a LL yourself?

OP posts:
MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · Today 11:41

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:40

If it's so easy, why not become a LL yourself?

Because it's morally wrong.

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:41

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · Today 11:41

Because it's morally wrong.

So why not become a home owner so you don't have to give "morally wrong" people your money?

OP posts:
StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:42

Phineyj · Today 11:40

There is no way she would meet criteria to be housed by the council in any realistic scenario. If she were local or in certain professions (she's not) then shared ownership schemes might be available I suppose.

There should be no criteria, in an ideal world. Everyone who wants to should be able to rent state housing.

Phineyj · Today 11:42

Hah, I was going to post the same 😂

It's just like the debates about teaching. "Sooo many holidays". Yet so hard to recruit and retain.

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · Today 11:42

coulditbeme2323 · Today 11:41

So why not become a home owner so you don't have to give "morally wrong" people your money?

You've just run straight slap bang into the point and missed it anyway.

Phineyj · Today 11:43

StandingDeskDisco · Today 11:42

There should be no criteria, in an ideal world. Everyone who wants to should be able to rent state housing.

What is the debt to GDP ratio in this utopia please?!

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