The day the landlords moved in

[Ineedagoodusername]

Is anyone watching this? The second landlord with his disgustingly extravagant lifestyle is making me so angry. The communal areas in his flats are horrific.

Shocking really how little they knew about their tenants.
The dad would have kicked her out if it wasnt for the son.
The divide between rich and poor right there.
Really awful. Princess P, for Piss off everyone else.

Justdanceaddict are you implying it was Linda's fault that the flat was in an awful state?

Worried she can't afford the rent whilst boasting that it was him that got all the areas rents up £100/month. She can't afford the heating because you put the rents up. Bastard.

Absolutely tentacle. I just can't get my head around how people can think like that. It's all me me me.

I am a reserved person, usually. Tonight I shouted at the television. These places rented out like student accommodation, rooms and a kitchen, who do they think is going to clean it ?

I don't think Linda had looked after the flat very well! I thought what her landlords did for her was lovely. They could easily have given her notice, renovated and then charged new tenants a higher rent.

They may well not have done what they did if it was not on tv. I hope Linda will now keep the flat in good condition.

Elephant, surely the tenants who use the communal areas should keep them clean? I do think a 6 monthly deep clean is a good idea though.

I'm about halfway through. It's like they don't have a clue! And I feel speechless about some of the things they say and some of their attitude! The landlord son seems like he gets it now, which is something. They said they don't think Linda will look after it, why?

I rent from private landlord. I would report faulty tap and cooker definitely (they'd get the cheapest cooker they can anyway to replace it). But I can kind of understand why you might not report mould. Cos it's such a big job landlords try fob you off that it's your fault etc and they don't do what's needed to get rid of the mould cos it would be expensive.

And I understand that thought if you complain so much he could just not want you

It's sad

And he's annoying me that he's calling his girlfriend baby all the time!

But don't these houses do inspections? We've had regular inspections at this house and the last one.

Blackgrouse I think we need to remember is that Linda is 'vulnerable' for a few different reasons eg her age, health, being on her own ( I know she's got her kids nearby but she's still on her own), and not feeling like she's able to really say stuff and stick up for herself.

The son seemed really lovely in the end. The house was really nice! I'd love to live in a house done up like that!

Not pleased to hear he'd put up the rent by £100 on a whim which the tax payer is now paying him through housing benefit.

This programme has flagged something I have felt strongly about for ages. Most residential landlords seem to refuse to accept the appropriate level of overheads. They want this to be a business with minimal expenditure but it shouldn't be, not with short term lets. The tenant can't be expected to invest in the building with no more than a few months of certainty that they will stay there.

It has flagged also the ethical dimension of being a landlord. You have the ability to actually make a difference to someone's life. What a wonderful opportunity!

I have bought now, but rented around the country for about 10 years first. My final landlord was just wonderful, things would get sorted straight away, he was so courteous and happy to help. It made such a difference, I loved living there. Somehow how he treated the house, and me, made it feel like my home.

I'm a commercial property lawyer, and over the years have advised various friends and family who have had landlord issues. I have seen countless examples of the unprofessionalism and greedy behaviour. I think the sector needs lots more regulation as clearly very few resi landlords are able to fully grasp the extent of their responsibilities.

people who go into "buy-to-let" and then complain about hassle/costs/difficult tenants etc really need to pull their money out of property and bung it in a bank account or something. I can't think of another industry where people would be shocked to have business overheads and demands on their time.

I didn't notice he'd put the rent up by £100, but Linda was paying less than the usual rent for a 2 bed in her area anyway. Landlords are running a business and obviously want the max profit.

There are bad tenants as much as bad landlords. Tenants often don't look after properties as well as you would look after your own so I can see why the dad didn't see the point in doing the property up. Landlords are always getting slated, the fact that tenants sometimes trash properties and don't pay rent on time or at all is never mentioned.

As a landlord these are a few things tenants have done that pissed me off.

Think that pen scribbled all over walls and a an iron burn mark in a carpet is acceptable as wear and tear.

Not bothering to let me know somethings damaged when it happens so that by the time I do find out it's a much bigger job.

Paying rent late with no apology.

Not doing any gardening (it is part of the tenancy agreement) so I have to either go and do it myself or pay someone.

Not keeping the house clean.

Not heating properly and/or constantly drying clothes inside creating black mould.

Expecting you to rent the property to them for under the market rate.

Wallpapering newly plastered walls (tenancy agreement states not to)

Painting the fireplace.

I have all the correct cover, pay for full boiler cover etc so if anything happens it is fixed that day. I haven't increased the rent in 3 years and actually reduced the rent slightly for the current tenants. I should be getting £60 more a month really. The tenants are lovely but have made changes to the property without my permission which is annoying. At the end of the day though they have said they want to stay there long term and I appreciate it is their home. If they move out it will cost me a few thousand to redo things.

It seems to me that these landlords featured only want ' young professional' types anyway. Not everyone fits into this category.
there has to be give and take with the tenant and the landlord or land lady.The whole system needs shaking up really, but i cant see the current government being interested in doing much.
I agree that not all tenants are good ones either, but the landlords can insure against the bad things. Its so sad its come to this now that there are so few council properties for people to rent with secure tenancies and not costing a small fortune and only going to get worse i suppose.

If I posted on Mumsnet that I was living in a 5 bedroom house with my two kids and could only afford to heat the living room, going without food sometimes to pay the rent, I'm pretty sure the advice would be to downsize to a 3 bed property. Linda is living beyond her means and would surely have a better standard of living if she moved or went into assisted accommodation as they mentioned was available. Why should her landlord help her with her bills, of course they were doing it for show, they couldn't run a business like that. I don't think they chose particularly unscrupulous landlords for the show, they took criticism with good grace and made appropriate changes, toncall them cunts is somewhat out of proportion as you can be guaranteed there are a lot worse, some local authorities being one of them.

Tenants are not always perfect. Because posters on here keep their rented properties clean doesn't mean all tenants do. Some totally trash a property. I deep clean and redecorate before each tenant. Then you go back four months later to inspect and it's been trashed. You wouldn't believe what and how people get up to in rental property. Some only stay six months and then you start all over again. Who redecorates every six months. It can be disheartening to see how little disregard tenants have for their homes. Not all, but a large majority.

Firstly, some investors think they are Landlords, and this is perhaps where the problems begin. There are then people who walk in the tenant's shoes and treat people as they wish to be treated themselves.

I could spend hours on my soap box, but I will try to be succinct as possible.

We have a small but manageable portfolio. We don't use agents to manage them; we do it ourselves so that we have a direct relationship with tenants.

Every property we have is knocked back to bare bricks and modernised to meet the needs of people of today. We insulate the building (All Walls, Floors and Ceilings) and we do this so that the tenant's energy bills are low as possible. You don't actually need to put the heating on to be warm, the house always feels warm, and there is no damp or mould as a consequence.

All of the windows are up-rated UPVC double glazing with a special reflective glass to keep the heat in the building and filled with an inert gas known as Argon - much more expensive than regular double glazing, but we do this to save the tenant £££

We install energy efficient lighting such as LED and we also fit interlinked battery backed mains powered smoke, heat and carbon monoxide sensors.

We don't only get the basics right, but we ensure quality is injected into the property to give a high-end finish.

So you may be forgiven to think this is some top end swanky location - well, no. We do this in the most deprived areas as we feel location should not dictate your attitude towards providing quality living standards.

When we began developing the properties, we had to fire some subcontractors because they too had the wrong attitude towards the job. They had an attitude of "it's good enough for the area" - err, no - goodbye your fired.

The rents we charge start from £85 per week for a 2-bed property that is as high quality in features, eco measures, low running costs and high-quality finish with bathrooms, kitchens and soft furnishings as property costing much more elsewhere.

The downside of this is we cannot afford to expand our property portfolio as we spend vast amounts on getting what we have 100% right. But in the very long term, it will financially make sense, but for the tenant, it makes perfect sense from the beginning.

A good example, we advertised one property on Openrent, which in turn was listed on rightmove. We received a lovely email from a gentleman in Canada, and I quote.

"I really like what you've done to this place. Here in Canada, we take such things as interlinked detectors and fire doors for granted. To go to all that trouble and cost without the legal need to do so speaks to a real sense of pride and decency. I haven't settled on XXXXX as a base for my trip, but if I did, even though it's a bit over my budget, this will be at the top of my list.

Thank you for being a decent human being.

Peter"

If you would like to see what I'm talking about, I believe the link still works

www.openrent.co.uk/property-to-rent/burnley/room-in-a-shared-house-brunshaw-road-bb10/243636

There are decent people out there - it's just finding them.

Hats off to you @decenthumanbeing

I had one fantastic landlord and it made such a difference to my life for those years. I sent him an email at the end thanking him.

Unfortunately as you say, many people become landlords with a very different approach- begrudging every penny they spend on the property, any time taken up managing it.

You are right. It does make a difference. Its not a house, its a home.
Thank you.

Exactly. It must be a privilege to be able to make a difference to people's lives by treating them well.

Private renting especially with kids is really really shit. Its never like a home, its not a childhood you would want for a kids. Moving, never being able to decorate your kids room, not being able to plant flowers in the garden as you might have to go in two weeks. Worrying about them spilling something on the floor. Let alone pets!
Its really shit.

I got very very vocal at this program, it was very well done. Dad landlord, "she wouldn't look after it anyway"
horrid. I am pleased the son got it. Living with 2 months notice is awful and it also means you don't do the bits you could do as theres no point if your gone in 2 months. When your landlord comes to inspect its a horrible feeling, i get it needs to be done. But your inviting people in to "judge" you and how you are living.

Landlords hold your life in their hands and they don't realise, a house is so much more than bricks and mortar when you live there. Its everything.