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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

BTL landlords are ‘doing all they can to keep people in their homes’

Speculation that there will be a sharp increase in evictions once the existing evictions ban is lifted next month has been rejected by the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA). 

New research published today by Shelter on rent arrears due to the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that the coronavirus crisis will eventually lead to a rise in tenant evictions, as many people face financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. 

But the NRLA says that Shelter’s claim is wide of the mark and fails to acknowledge the fact that the vast majority of landlords are doing all they can to sustain existing tenancies. 

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An NRLA survey of more than 2,000 tenants across England and Wales found that most tenants had paid their rent as usual since the coronavirus crisis began. 

Most, 84%, had not needed to ask their landlord for any support. Of those that did ask, three quarters received a positive response. 

Chris Norris, policy director for the NRLA, commented: “Throughout the lockdown, our surveys show that the vast majority of landlords have been doing all they can to keep people in their homes.”

 

A number of organisations from across the housing sector have teamed up to support landlords and tenants facing rent arrears as a consequence of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The organisations are launching guidance offering practical ways in which landlords and tenants can work to address arrears that might be building as a result of the pandemic.

The guidance suggests that both parties need to raise concerns that might be arising early on, along with advice about measures that can be taken such as agreeing rent deferrals, reductions and suspensions.

Norris continued: “Our recently published guidance supports tenants and landlords to hold discussions about how to address rent arrears and sustain tenancies.” 

He added: “It is important though to distinguish between tenants affected by Covid-19 and those who were building rent arrears before lockdown, sometimes for several months and sometimes wilfully. 

“When the courts re-start hearing possession cases the latter should be the priority along with instances where tenants are committing anti-social behaviour or domestic abuse.”

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Poll: Do you think a careful re-opening of evictions needs to take place that prioritises pre-Covid 19 debt, anti-social behaviour and domestic violence?

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    I wonder why the headline claim refers to the NRLA's survey results but not to Shelter's survey results which paint a very different picture. Where is the truth in all this? When were these surveys done, how were they done, and why are the results so startlingly different? No mention of any of these in the article. The public deserves more than a headline claim from just one of the two very different surveys.

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    Don't expect any truth from Shelter! Pity they don't advise tenants on how to avoid eventual eviction - don't p*ss off your landlord! Shelter can delay but not avoid evictions for rent arrears and all they end up doing in harming decent landlords and tenants.

     
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    Just read a bit about the Shelter survey. They polled just over 1000 and from this had the audacity to GUESSTIMATE over 226000 private renters "were in fear of eviction".

    Which planet do these wasters live on as it certainly does not appear to be this one. There is no other publicity that I have seen that there are thousands waiting to be evicted. There will no doubt be some who justly deserve to be kicked out and rightly so. Can't pay they take it away is absolutely the right solution to waster tenants.

    Just goes to show what a bunch of dishonest analysts can do by maneuvering numbers to suit the poll takers means.

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    • 06 July 2020 11:05 AM

    Rent defaulting tenants may well be up for eviction.

    But this won't happen for at least a year if the tenants game the useless eviction system.
    Very few rent defaulting tenants will correctly surrender their tenancy.
    They will take the p and wait the day before eviction.
    With Court delays it will be at least a year before evictions start.

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    Surveys are a load of tosh unless conducted but an organisation who are totally independent of the result. If I wished to prove the Shelter case, I would survey poorer areas of the country, areas where work is scarce and the community is poor, then the result would prove shelters case. If I wanted to prove NRLA case the survey the better off areas of the country where most of the community are in work.
    The bottom line must be your business, if it's making a profit keep the tenant, if it's not change the tenant. If there are other issues then carefully consider your options. Remember, all business's need to make a profit or you're heading for closure and the dole queue.

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    Interesting that this debate has turned into a vindictive against Shelter. They are a registered charity and as such have standards to maintain. No-one seems to want to admit that they do actually do a lot of good work for the homeless. And of course they must advise those in danger of losing their homes - it's their core reason for existing. It's becoming a very sad situation when no-one has a good work to say about them.
    I do however agree with Daryll (above) who states that surveys should be independent, i.e. not commissioned by one side or the other.

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    • 06 July 2020 15:56 PM

    No one has a good word to say about them because they give information to tenants to enable them to game the system to stay rent free until eventually evicted.
    That is why LL despise Shelter!!

    Encouraging breaking of civil contracts does not endear the adviser to the provider!

    Having said that Shelter are propagators of magnificent propaganda.
    Goebbels would be proud!!
    Tell a big enough lie and it will be believed!!
    Just a shame LL don't have Shelter propagandists working for them.
    Say what you like about Shelter but you do have to respect them as very effective at the propaganda bile they spew out.

     
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    • 06 July 2020 16:07 PM

    Rightly so.
    Bunch of crooks.

     
    PossessionFriendUK PossessionFriend

    Registered charity ! - my back-side !!! ' do a lot of good work for the homeless ' !! - such as ?
    Shelter openly admit they don't feed or provide any accommodation.
    They are paid a third of their annual budget by the Govt ( Tax-payers ) to advise tenants facing eviction, on how to stall it, - costing landlords £ 000's more in losses.
    Shelter won't admit there are Any tenants deserving of eviction and will seek to help the worse of them 'game the pathetic legal system. '
    Obvious your not a landlord David Worth.

     
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    And we all know about the scam that most charities are today, most of the money received goes to the over paid fat cats at the top.

     
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    Most landlords are far better friends of most tenants than Shelter who only protect the rogues who deserve eviction and prevent decent tenants from getting decent homes from decent landlords. Landlords don't want to evict good tenants - only those causing misery to their neighbours and landlords - but Shelter staff don't have to live beside or rely on payment from such rogue tenants - so why would they ever need to take a balanced view and do what is best for the wider population of tenants?

     
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    shelter do nothing for the homeless--its the usual gaggle of unemployables feasting off mostly the public sector--

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