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Paul Hart

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my expertise in the industry

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I'd personally avoid inviting the council into my properties period. Im sure many readers have similar views on trusting councils that only seem to want to work against us. If an owner wishes to gain assistance in such a way then there are plenty of charitable organisations out there operating in the same manner. They will fill your properties almost immediately (waiting list a mile long), support the tenant through the relocation, helping support the sorting of utilities to ensuring any UC is directed to the landlord (one of their big selling points is they can guarantee UC to landlord if its a claimant- which is most likely). However my very limited experiments of these organisations (them having approached me through my adverts) have found the organisations 'wanting' shall we say. Better to dig in and get on with it yourself than trying the seemingly easy route.

From: Paul Hart 01 March 2021 09:18 AM

I fully agree with the points in the article as in- too much too soon, the ability to shift old housing stock into a C from a D from an E takes very expensive measures such as solar pv, external or internal wall insulation etc costing multi £1000s per property (I've done some already and it ain't cheap!) Also agree- too much too soon when had hell on earth safely accessing properties over the last year for EICR requirements with covid- nightmare that isn't over yet with this 2nd massive covid peak. The funding for grants for energy performance measures is a joke and so far applications I put in in September haven't been 'vouchered' by the government yet. By the way have we forgotten about the white paper to outlaw gas boilers for heating by 2033? Thats a massive corker and needs to be factored in the epc planning now before taking any measures (landlords will need deep pockets!). So clarification on the whole package 'holistically' is necessary not a 'bit at a time' approach. In regard to the above comments I have found the same- in 28 years of landlording with 38 properties since the epc scheme came in (2007ish?) an epc has never been an issue asked for or raised by a tenant. However that still doesn't alter the fact we have to stop pumping megatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for climate change and environmental reasons nothing to do with benefitting tenants heating costs. We have signed up to the Paris agreement which obligates us too. What we need is breathing space and a sensible timescale with proper assistance- like it or not these measures are necessary and at some point soon will go forward regardless of the arguments surrounding 'tenants don't care.' Sorry but thats the harsh reality

From: Paul Hart 21 January 2021 09:40 AM

Lets live in the real world please- in every trade and indeed in every walk of life you are going to find dishonourable people that want to take you for a ride and rip you off if they can get away with it. Lets not be naive

From: Paul Hart 13 January 2021 21:49 PM

All the electrical trades bodys do give regular onerous advice to their members on working in a covid safe manner. I know because as well as being a portfolio landlord I am a regustered sparks. But just like everything else it comes down to the individual. The government gives covid advice to the public but we all see the non compliance. Not sure why you having a go at an organisation thats trying to throw you a lifeline if like me you find your tenants wont allow access?

From: Paul Hart 13 January 2021 21:42 PM

I would agree with every single one of you but..... I seem to read daily in the media that buy to let is still booming?- which quite frankly astounds me!! Why anyone want to enter this 'poison chalice' business in the current climate astounds me??? If I wasn't trapped into my portfolio and my situation were different id be right outa here in a shot. Been in the business 30 years providing a quality service that has been appreciated by 100s, but the daily beatings dolled out by the government, media and authorities are out of control. As it is I've got no choice but to take the daily kick in the b*llocks.

From: Paul Hart 22 December 2020 11:13 AM

To be honest I can't see why we landlords are getting so steamed up about this issue over and over and over again. Don't want to let to dss? Fine no problem. Just dont put 'no dss' in your advert. You then waste a bit more of your time (as well as the unfortunate applicant that has no idea they're a non starter) viewing someone who you know you're not going to give it to along with others you will consider. Dss applicants just get told 'sorry you were unfortunate on this occasion'. Nobody is asking us to justify our decisions when we agree a let as far as I'm aware? We got far bigger things to worry about than this seriously. Let shelter and co believe they have won a battle when actually nothing has changed. Simples! Now time to move on.

From: Paul Hart 21 December 2020 13:04 PM

I'd love to cancel my NRLA membership. Have wanted to for years, maybe jump ship to the RLA but decided they were no better. Of course now we don't have any choices. As much as it pains me I have to admit as poor as they may be its better to be in than out. Just in the same way that as much as I now hate the Conservatives selling us out and despise them I will still vote for them rather than Labour.

From: Paul Hart 04 December 2020 16:28 PM

So true. I have had my share of tenants ask for a 21. Not that we had any problems with each other or the house but sometimes as simple as falling out with neighbours and wanting to move but not having the funding or ability to find a prs property. Got a sec21 and the council moves them quicker than they could possibly do themselves.

From: Paul Hart 04 December 2020 16:23 PM

Not that many I would have thought. My experience is that the councils like to 'milk' their 'cash cows'. This involves recruiting tenants to 'dob in' their landlord even if their landlord is compliant- just in case. All my properties are licensed as required but no thanks to the council. Despite having worked with Nottingham council for 13 years and who are fully aware of my properties, my residential address and my email I didnt receive one communication informing me a licencing scheme was being put in place two years ago. I found out about it through the landlord news otherwise I could have been non compliant by ignorance-kerching for the council!! If I was into conspiracy theories i might be inclined to believe this is what they actually want- but of course I'm not that cynical...?

From: Paul Hart 27 November 2020 17:26 PM

Well I'm in agreement with Mark 100%. Having been in this business since 1990 I can say yes the easy money has been made. It was comparatively easy back then after the Housing Act 1988. Virtually no aggrivation, grateful tenants who had respect, the rent was always paid, my proprties being trashed was unheard of for ten years until my first incident. House prices rose, we had taper relief on CGT and no extrernal grief from the government or the other anti landlord bodies and media that have created an 'adversarial' landlord/tenant relationship that didnt exist intil they waided in. Easy money- relatvely speaking and I look back fondly to those long gone days and wished id exited the business in 2007 at the top of the market and prior to our demonisation. Now- regularly trashed properties that cost well over 10k to put right when arrears taken into account, ars*hole attitude tenants and we all know the rest. Yes comparatively easy money was made. Now its just bloody hard work, daily stress and grief in my experience.

From: Paul Hart 08 October 2020 10:30 AM

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