x
By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.

TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Unions demand that all rent payments are suspended immediately

Some of the UK’s largest tenants unions have joined forces to heap pressure on the government to suspend all rent immediately, cancel all rent debt, and to put in place stronger protections against tenant evictions.

ACORN, Living Rent and London Renters have penned an open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick. 

In the letter, backed by academics, civil society and union leaders, the groups make three staggering demands that would leave most BTL landlords facing financial ruin. 

Advertisement

On 18 March 2020, the British and Scottish governments announced a suspension of evictions for three months in the UK and six months in Scotland, but it is not yet clear if these will be extended. 

Unless there is a strong government intervention to protect tenants from eviction and to support them to face their housing costs, Tom Renhard, Chair of ACORN, fears that this will set up many problems for the future. 

He said: “We are deeply concerned by the situation that millions of people find themselves in through no fault of their own. Urgent action must be taken to immediately and permanently end section 21 evictions in England and Wales and cancel rent debt accrued during the COVID-19 crisis. Without taking these decisive steps, millions of people will potentially face being homeless and mounting debts. 

“We must be clear that housing is health. We need to support people to ensure they can focus on other priorities without the risk of losing their home looming over their heads. With the UK heading for the worst recession in 300 years, it is vital that renters are sufficiently protected.”

Amina Gichinga of the London Renters Union said: “Many renters feel they have no choice but to break social distancing guidelines and go out to work, just so their landlords can continue to profit. This downturn will continue for a long time and many renters are already in arrears. So without greater protections for renters, we’re heading for a rent debt and evictions crisis. 

“Rents must be suspended during this crisis, rent debt should be cancelled, and the evictions ban has to be permanent so that no one else is made homeless because of the pandemic.”

Carol McLafferty, Living Rent member, commented: “We’re supporting members to negotiate rent reductions with their landlords on a daily basis. 

“The number of individuals struggling every month shows that the government’s call for landlords to be ‘compassionate’ has not worked. It does not go far enough. Individuals and families are being forced to choose between rent and food. Rent is not essential.”

“The government’s eviction ban is nothing more than a plaster; simply postponing a tidal wave of evictions that will engulf tenants when the lockdown is lifted. We need to ensure that everyone is protected and that housing remains the government’s priority in defence against the pandemic. Our society is only as healthy as its most vulnerable members. 

“The government must recognise the needs of renters — working people and families across the country. They must act to protect us now.”

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

  • icon
    • 13 May 2020 02:01 AM

    It is not the fault of LL that tenants haven't prepared for sudden income loss.

    Normally if you can't afford to continue to pay for a service that service usually stops...................except of course for residential rental property where the law forces LL to provide accommodation services for free before tenants are eventually evicted!

    It seems these idiot renters unions believe LL have bottomless pits of money to support feckless tenants and provision free accommodation services.
    Meanwhile back in the real world missing two BTL mortgage payments could result in the property being repossessed by the lender.

    So how does that assist a rent defaulting tenant!?

    The mortgaged LL houses about 4 million tenants.
    If lenders repossess where will all those tenants live!?

    icon

    Well said. 👍🏻 Couldn't have put it better
    myself.

     
  • icon

    Oh the horror ?.. now cue the pathetic moaning whining landlords who haven't yet realised that their evictions are going to take 18 - 24 months to complete, or that they poorly judged their investment opportunities.

    Does the truth hurt ?

    icon
    • 13 May 2020 02:12 AM

    Indeed it does.
    Which is why many LL will be selling up leaving many tenants homeless.
    Fail to see how that assists tenants.
    LL generally DON'T need to be LL.
    But tenants desperately need private LL.
    Unfortunately the nirvana of limitless affordable social housing has yet to occur.
    Until that happy day private LL will be needed.
    Losing private LL will just cause homelessness.
    Look at what is happening in Ireland.
    Just a taster of what would happen in the UK if tenants refuse to pay rent.

    No lender will wait 18 months for a BTL mortgaging LL to get rid of a tenant.
    A lender can repossess far quicker than that.
    Few LL will bother sustaining for free a tenant for 18 months before eviction.
    Most will just allow the property to be repossessed.
    That is what I have done.
    Resulted in two lots of homeless tenants.

    It is only the dysfunctional eviction process that makes all letting property a risky venture.
    Fortunately for tenants there are LL thst have been prepared to risk investing in letting property.
    I suggest that far fewer LL will be prepared to do this in future.
    That will be very bad news for tenants!!
    I will eventually be making 16 occupants homelesd as I progressively sell up.
    Not my problem I will be making my occupants homeless.
    Circumstances will have forced the situation requiring me to reluctantly to stop being an AST LL.

    I won't particularly mind but I know my occupants WILL!!
    C'est la vie

     
    icon

    Sebastian.
    Why are you on this platform, if you hate landlords so much?
    Or are you just a very bitter Labour voting troll, who hates the fact that somebody has done better than you in life and can afford to buy properties that you can't?
    As has been said many times on this platform, most of the contributors on here have worked hard all their lives and have invested their money in property because the savings rates have collapsed.
    I am 64 now and have worked since I was 16, so my conscience is very very clear.

     
    icon

    The truth is that this Forbes guy is a complete Pratt a clueless idiot, now repeat after Forbes “ I am a total twit, an absolute idiot but I am going to stop being a stupid idiot and look for some common sense and if I can’t find any I will stop bothering anybody with my stupid comments”

     
    icon

    You could have just left it with a simple "yes", same as PB ?

     
    icon
    • N P
    • 13 May 2020 09:38 AM

    Ironically that’s exactly what I thought of those unions when I read that article. When they demand that all rent is stopped irrespective of affordability and knowing full well UC is available for housing for struggling tenants it just loses all credibility. Makes them and their supporters look mentally challenged, self entitled and wanting free handouts. Clearly you like to abuse the system and exploit those who provide accommodation too based on your comments. Thankfully I don’t think that about most tenants because most tenants especially mine are intelligent and respectful and understand they are paying to stay in SOMEONE ELSE’s property to use as their home. Just like those who pay mortgages have to, to keep a roof over their head. It’s the way the world works I’m afraid. You have to pay for services.

     
    icon

    The truth is that this Forbes guy is a complete Pratt a clueless idiot, now repeat after me Forbes “ I am a total twit, an absolute idiot but I am going to stop being a stupid idiot and look for some common sense and if I can’t find any I will stop bothering anybody with my stupid comments”

     
    icon

    I think that you mean the pathetic whining tenants who think that they can live rent free at a landlord's expense. About 45% of private landlords own only one property and the rent is just sufficient to cover their expenses, let alone supplement their income or in my case, their measly basic state pension.

     
    icon

    @Marilyn Randall, you only have to look in the comment section of this article to see who the pathetic whining people are ?

     
    Dawn Wellam

    Excuse me we are not all greedy landlords I've let me property out through an agency because I'm renting myself and working in Italy.I haven't got the right side over here that tenants have back in the U.K.

     
  • Amanda Elliott

    Why would rents have to be stopped anyone losing jobs or in difficulty will receive a housing element from UC which by law is the landlords to provide a roof over their heads , problem is some people don’t want to claim this or hand it to landlords
    im Confessed !!

  • icon

    @John Hughes, well said mate I've been thinking just that, bitter and twisted Seb.

  • Bill Wood

    Amina Gichinga says:
    'the evictions ban has to be permanent so that no one else is made homeless because of the pandemic.”

    A permanent eviction ban? I hope she doesn't actually mean this. And I doubt if she really understands what she is saying

    icon

    Oh that's alright the unions will be paying the rent, after all they are wealthy enough to do so, staff being paid £100k+ a year.

     
    icon

    So will the eviction ban be extended to mortgage companies? As Paul B said earlier let the lender take over and shift them out PDQ. The borrower will get their cash back as lenders are not entitled to keep any of it.
    Do some calculations and if it works out cheaper after the costs are factored in then let the lender repossess rather than not be collecting rent for the better part of 18 months to 2 years, not having to pay for a court case up front, paying a lower amount of CGT give them the ammunition and let them fire the gun.
    Looks like this could be a very sweet victory against feckless tenants. I would be happy to stand on the path outside and clap them out while holding a banner saying something like good riddance.

     
  • icon

    If Corbyn was PM this could have happened! Boris might not be perfect but think of the alternatives..........

  • icon

    Maybe I am fortunate, but none of my tenants have failed to pay their rent; a couple have asked to defer it but most have honoured their commitments. Perhaps this reflects the fact that, whenever something goes wrong at a property it is fixed quickly and I charge a below market rent to well vetted tenants. The vast majority of landlords have built good relationships with their tenants (I have one from 1994 still with me) and there is mutual respect and friendship. Whilst some banks are offering a payment holiday, it’s just delaying the payment - not writing it off. I have had a couple of Airbnbs empty so I know what it is like to have empty properties during this pandemic. No one is offering me 80% of lost income sadly! It is easy to demonise sections of the community “profiteering landlords”, “rogue tenants” etc, but we work best as humans when we communicate as individuals and work together towards a functional and fair society.

  •  G romit

    "Rent is not essential" but a roof over your head is.

    Try going into any supermarket to get some essential food and walk out without paying for it (or even asking to defer paying for it).

    icon

    "or even asking to defer paying for it" - have you heard of credit cards ?

     
    icon

    Seb you are a complete rat with a silent p!

     
     G romit

    Sebastion
    You the credit cards that these 'entitled' people have maxed out on capaccinos, avocado on toast, Sky, iPhone11's, etc................

    Landlords are not banks and are not setup or licenced to be a 'lender'.

     
    icon

    Good edit G romit - I think I still understand what you are trying to say.

    A great philosopher once said, " it is not for the tenant to decide what a landlord spends his income on". By the same token, it is not for the landlord to decide what the tenant maxes out his credit card on.

    Both the landlord and the tenant shall have their well-deserved day in court.

     
    icon

    @Retired Agent, "a complete rat with a silent p!" is still a rat isn't it ???

    Pick yourself up out of the gutter man...

     
  • icon

    Apart from one comment saying landlords would face financial ruin, this article only gives a voice to this group of extremists. In future, can you make sure you ask the NRLA or any other landlord spokespeople to give a detailed rebuttal of these anti-landlord views? Clearly the idea that all rent and/or arrears could be written off by a third party (the Government) is outrageous. It would overturn our civilisation if this happened. Landlord today must make sure there is at least balance in the articles or if there is to be bias, let's have it in landlords' favour please.

    icon

    You were doing so well - we must have balance, absent of bias... but if we are going to have bias, I want the bias to be in my favour - you must love the BBC, Guardian and Independent, so you know what you should be thinking today.

     
  • icon

    I've two tenants that haven't payed a damn thing since the lockdown and 3 tenants in arrears . The problem is society has changed people seem to not have the moral obligation or perception that they need to have some sort of contingency plan when they get into financial problems . These sort of groups only serve to promote that it's never their problem or fault. I accept you will always have this kind of risk but what I can't accept is the fact in the present situation they will be living rent free for 18-24 months before you can evict them.

    icon

    This is more like it... you have Andrew up above who threatens to do things the old way, but the reality is everyone is crying / reducing their plea bargaining to moral obligations - while at the same time, refusing to accept that this is business ?

    Where's your contingency plan for your 5 tenants that haven't paid anything ?

     
    icon

    Seb You know eviction is a criminal offence that has huge implications for people not just financially. As I mentioned above I accept the risks and my only quarrel is the time to evict.
    I will take the hit but in the long term they will face the consequences .

     
    icon

    Hang on to that thought Jacob - take it to bed with you every night, keep it under your pillow, and take it out every morning to polish it so that when you eventually realise your well-earned justice (in some far off distant time), you will know why it was all worth it.

    In the meantime, I wish you happiness and good health.

     
  • icon

    Mr Forbes be quite and go look for your brain and whilst looking keep repeating
    “ I must stop being a total stupid Pratt of a twit, but if I can’t ,,I must seek help on how I find some common sense. Also I must apologise to everyone for being a complete idiot”

    icon

    The sooner you feckless landlords realise that you are not the ones in control, the sooner we can have a civilised discussion ?

     
  • icon

    sqatting is residential is a criminal offence

    icon

    I don't think you understand exactly how little anyone actually cares about your comment - ask me again in 2 years time ?

     
  • icon

    I've loved reading these comments, really needed a laugh. Actually the whole article is a complete joke. This is the comment that has annoyed me the most:
    Amina Gichinga of the London Renters Union said: “Many renters feel they have no choice but to break social distancing guidelines and go out to work, just so their landlords can continue to profit".

    Same old, same old delusional nonsense about landlords making vast profits. They just can't grasp that most of us are ordinary people with a couple of properties bought as pensions to supplement the minuscule govt pension. I would guess that most of us have mortgages to pay and most probably find that maintenance costs including gas checks, etc and govt policies such as no longer allowing mortgage interest to be applied as a cost mean that if we make any profit at all it is tiny.

    As has been said, who's going to pay our mortgages if we are obliged to let tenants live rent free?

    Fortunately I have good tenants who will do their best to pay, even if a little bit late, they understand that I have mortgages to pay and am not a rich person. I don't have any savings to fall back on - and if any landlord hater thinks I must be spending it all on a champagne lifestyle I can assure you that's far from the truth.

  • icon

    Sabastian, another one on the side lines with no in put but wants everything for nothing. It goes without saying people in all walks of life are struggling at this very difficult time. The idea of running a business on zero income is a non starter, the Government provides Social security for people in need but it is funded from the taxes. So are you proposing no Rental income and would that apply to Local Authorities as well, are you going to starve them of cash to. I pay a huge amount of tax but with no income from lettings , also means Revenue goes short. Personally it don't make much difference to me. I have always worked and was always capable of earning my living, in fact since I was 15 years old, now working for 58 years and still working to put a roof over other peoples heads, so I am not bothered if I get no rent I will survive anywhere and never had any help from anyone and always had to pay for my accommodation. Currently 2 Houses empty & another one coming vacant, so perhaps it better to have them empty with no income rather than having them full with occupants causing me problems, damaging my property while requiring the use of my Property for free. I know I still have to shoulder the outrageous full Council Tax cost on them all even though no services are being provided. I don't know any other organisation that can charge for a non service. Actually I had a hard day and can do without the nonsense when I get home.

    icon

    I've stopped reading comments from Seb, complete idiot.

     
    icon

    Everyone enjoys making an assumption or two ?.. but now that you mention it, the only benefit I ever got for free was Child Allowance.

    Anyway, congrats on your work ethic - it will always prove positive for you in end.

     
  • icon

    There is plenty of help for businesses and individuals. Some businesses re getting grants that don’t need them. (Butchers) not closed - every week is a Xmas-not payin rates no rent but get 10k. But us investing LL get nothing. I have commercial tenants can’t pay I have renters can’t pay- want a rent free. I have no intension of evicting them- lot of hassle to say the least- you have to work with ur tenants. So have reduced the rent for past 3 months and it might have to go on- plus I will Not be asking either for the reduction to be paid back later on.

  • icon

    Obviously a wind-up merchant, who enjoy taking the mick.

  • icon

    One of my tenants are unable to pay their rent due to covid19. Sadly her husband lost his job in March. When she telephoned me at the end of March she was in tears on the phone. I told her not to worry about the rent and to stay safe. We have spoken since and she is genuinely concerned about the rears that are accruing. I have told her that I will completely right of the arrears. All I ask is that they start paying the rent when her husband is back in employment. I feel so sorry for them as a family. I do find some of the comments that are posted on this platform a bit upsetting. Our tenants are people, and as LL we should all show a bit of compassion and charity in these difficult times.

  • icon

    Professional LLs operate as such. We only evict as a last resort, if we have mortgages on our portfolio we require rents to cover the mortgage and Service Charges, GRs, Insurance and regular maintenance, gas Certs electrical reports, all are part of our business and if a tenant can’t pay due to loss of employment or now due to coronavirus issues we have to take a few, but at some point we will require Our Due Rent, always and the same way as mortgage company maintenance man insurance company freeholder require their dues. We are not a charity or we risk going out of business.
    These are not stupid or heartless comments these are facts of how we operate our business successfully or not.

  • icon

    Professional LLs operate as such. We only evict as a last resort, if we have mortgages on our portfolio we require rents to cover the mortgage and Service Charges, GRs, Insurance and regular maintenance, gas Certs electrical reports, all are part of our business and if a tenant can’t pay due to loss of employment or now due to coronavirus issues we have to take a few, but at some point we will require Our Due Rent, always and the same way as mortgage company maintenance man insurance company freeholder require their dues. We are not a charity or we risk going out of business.
    These are not stupid or heartless comments these are facts of how we operate our business successfully or not.

  • English Landlord

    @Well said Steve Sykes! This is not some window of opportunity for a quick freebie at the LL expense Sebastian Forbes!

    icon

    @Well said, whoever he is...

    Firstly, everything in life actually is "some window of opportunity", otherwise you wouldn't be where you are today ?

    Secondly, please stop whinging and, stop making assumptions - you can ignore reality for a few minutes and just look into the real world ?

     
  • icon

    Seb Forbes please give yourself a rest, permanently. Whilst what you write,us sensible ones, the ones with common sense have had a good laugh we are now getting tired of your diatribe. I thought you’ve learnt your lesson and stopped being a total twit and a proper nob head.

    icon

    Did you have a point to make relevant to the article ?.. or a come back relevant to my comment ?

    Otherwise, you're just wasting oxygen ?

     
  • icon

    Steady on! It is good to let idiots run on spouting rubbish about a free life. It shows everyone what prats they are.

    One point these people always avoid. They don't have the whit to plan some savings into their lives for disasters. Easy said I know but it has to be done even if it pushes you towards living in poverty. That doesn't mean living in filth either.

icon

Please login to comment

MovePal MovePal MovePal
sign up