If you all want people to self isolate without penalty.....

[AnIdiotNeedsHelp]

Inspired by the "excuses" thread..

All these posts saying "just use a credit card" "it'll be hard but you'll get through it"

NO!!

It fucking won't.

If you want people to be able to self isolate here is what you do....

*if you are a LL let your tenants have a rent break....otherwise you are a hypocrite

*Lobby the government for these changes...
*force energy companies to allow payment for key meters online/give customers a break from payment
*force LL to allow rent breaks
*force companies to pay full pay for self isolation

Otherwise all your handwringing is fucking pointless.

We, like I suspect millions of people, cannot afford to self isolate, due to circumstances we have no savings, no access to credit, and 2 weeks ssp will make us homeless because our LL literally couldn't give a shit (I know there are Good LL- never met one though!)

We have key meters and can't top up online.

It's all very well and good being all fucking smug and saying we should have been prepared....how???

We are stuck in a cycle of private rent and debt and general shit and barely make it every month....as I think loads of people are but don't want to admit it...

Seriously....start shouting at your MPs.....please think of those who are too terrified to self isolate because the whole family will be out on the street.

I'm a LL , I moved in with my partner. The rent covers the mortgage. I make £30 a month after tax and insurance, so not all LLs make a fortune out of renters thanks.
I have insurance for non payment but not sure if that covers the tenants being sick.
My mortgage company won't care less.

OP My 70 year old DH and myself live in a housing association flat with a key meter. Many HA tenants also have them.

From Twitter

Rose Robert Rose
@buddha8888888
·
6h
Anybody got a thermometer i can borrow? Im shivering aching,coughing but the
@DWP
just threatened to sanction me if i miss my appointment later today if i don't have a doctors note how do I get one? #coronavirus (hope its just a cold)
Rose Robert Rose
@buddha8888888
They seem so slow to react I feel it is just a bad cold/flu and haven't left the house for 3 days but the lady at the
@DWP
Seems to think booking an appointment with my doctor to go and get a sick note before later this afternoon is an option Face with cold sweat #CoronaOutbreak

What a shame a valid point and debating topic has been wasted because the OP is too wrapped up in her own vitriol to challenge it properly and so everyone who's replying is doing so with their backs already up 🤦🏻‍♀️

One thing is for sure the hugely depressing percentage of the public in this country that barely scrape by month to month will not be able to manage 2 weeks isolation.

However. Advice is now only 7 days, so assuming most people work 5/6 and will have accumulated some holidays in reality there doesn't need to be much missed.

Those of us that have children will of course then somehow have to cover the days they're sick too .. again 5 at the most considering how the school week works, and only if you're unfortunate enough for them to get sick during term time because surely you aren't leaving them home alone during holiday times.

There is absolutely no denying that a LOT of people will find this period very, very hard but there are things you could do

1. every time you top up gas/electric meters put on 1/5£ more than you need, starting being frugal with usage too and you'll accumulate a good reserve.
2. do the same thing with rent after agreeing it with your landlord so if you're paying £700 a month pay £725
3. quit smoking/drinking/take outs to fund the above
4. if you have multiple media accounts such as amazon video, Netflix, Spotify, google music .. cancel some to save money for the above ideas.
5. shop at cheaper places if you don't already and have a HIGE freezer clear out - go to Aldi or lidil and get their cheap frozen fish, chicken, mince, chips and tinned goods - get a little each week on top of usual stuff and you'll be amazed on savings.
6. get everyone not having free lunches on packed lunches .. this save crazy amounts of money!
7. be open, honest and forthright with companies such as gas and electricity, sky, bt etc the moment any earner can't work, ring them explain and ask for assistance. They can only say no but it's better than assuming they will and missing payments!

It won't be easy but picking fights with people over it just makes everyone feel like shit .. own your own situation, take charge, prep and plan and be ready and give over making goody demands for help with stuff any sensible, well thinking adult can manage with a little careful consideration. Anything you do actually need help with ask for it in a way that's honest, direct and most of all respectful!

'where would tenants live if LL's didn't rent their houses?' uh maybe if there were fewer people owning multiple houses and renting them out for a fortune, more people could buy their own houses 👍🏻

I think posters should realise that the OP is under enormous stress and is lashing out at landlords because she is worried she won't be able to pay her rent and will be evicted if that's the case. That's enough to terrify anyone.

It would be really great if the government did make some sort of payment in line with what other governments are doing abroad. Boris has said there will be money available. This is the time to prove it.

"I never said they did! I said they will allow you to take a payment holiday. Yes it may mean your interest eventually goes up, but if it only for a month, it's going to be pennies. "

It used to be that payment holidays were recorded as arrears.
Is that still the case? If so, it may have more implications than you think.

I have looked into my mortgage and I will not get a break at current time as on a buy to let not a main home mortgage. So again as a LL who does do a lot for their tenants who is giving me a break? The property I let out still has bills on it which need paying I have a family who need providing for. Just because I earn my money renting property does not make me evil or mega rich. I'm sick of LL been blamed for everything we are just in the majority normal people trying our best to provide as best wr can for our families.

@Tanith unless it’s ordered by the government that holidays are to be authorised it will be flagged as a default which in turn will be making remortgaging difficult .... lending is already tight. I’m trying to borrow 4 times a very decent salary with £100,000 equity and had to go subprime, high Street doesn’t want to know

Hang on, so landlords should be prepared and have a backup plan/savings in case they don't get paid for 2 months, but you don't have one? Why is it someone else's responsibility that you can't pay your rent? They're selling a service, not giving it away for free.

@bejingnikkini because us super rich LL are the only ones who can afford this back up plan apparently and dont need to budget and plan our money or go without when things are tight.

A large proportion of private tenants cannot save due to high rents.

Some LLs have chosen to protect their investments with insurances, savings etc.

As it’s clear that there are LLs without any protection the government need to cover this urgently.

I'm a LL and I agree with you op. If a LL can't afford a few months without rent, then they shouldn't be a LL. Nothing to do with corona virus or being a charity etc, but as with any viable business you should plan for periods without profit. And if you can't afford to do so then it's not a viable business to start with. I've had tenants pay late with good reason, and those that have missed payments and paid them off over long periods. But I bet for every £1 I've ever lost, I've saved at least the same because the advantage of not being greedy or a knob in general is long term reliable tenants that care for the property as they would their own.

I inherited mine, but I'm honest enough to admit that owning more than one home is a large contributory factor to the housing shortage and nobody forced me to keep them. Although tbh if I sold them the chances are it wouldn't be a working family that benefited, more likely some rural economy destroying holiday home twat, or a LL that would hike up the rent.

It must be a fairly usual occurrence for there to be a couple of months vacancy between tenants. If your business can't cope with that, it's not viable.

Thank you ChrissieKeller61

That’s what I thought might happen

If they really want to be helpful instead of capitalising like greedy vultures, they’ll introduce their temporary measures without penalty.

A good start would be to postpone that proposed interest change on overdrafts next month.