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Tricia Urquhart

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About Me

my expertise in the industry

Tricia's Recent Activity

That is exactly what this 'over privileged whiner' intends to do - so where are all the now homeless tenants going to live Daniel? Me selling up doesn't put the deposit in anyone else's pocket or increase the number of social housing units available. We are a significant part of the housing market and as we leave the pressure on the remaining stock will ensure higher rents & more homeless families. Is that what you want?

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 July 2021 08:13 AM

The Stamp Duty holiday has done more. harm than good! I'm sure nobody intended it to cause the boom it did and I am pretty certain many people have overpaid. Meanwhile those who had to move rather than chose to have got caught up in the madness - my son, a key worker moving for work, has had his transaction take 8 months to complete meaning he has had to commute an hour each way for 5 months!

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 July 2021 06:59 AM

When politicians make it impossible for LLs to evict non-paying tenants they will take whatever action they believe protects them best. A report out yesterday highlighted the fact that 70%. of us are basic rate tax payers - we cannot afford to house people for free - and so LLs have become creative in how to ensure they receive their rent.

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 July 2021 06:54 AM

My mortgage conditions do not permit tenancies longer than 12 months so that is one obstacle. And tenants who sign up for 12 months often ask to be released early - or just leave - due to a change of circumstances. Most of my tenants started on 6 or 12 months and then went periodic and stayed as long as they wanted. A good tenant is hardly ever asked to leave so in many ways this is a non story.

From: Tricia Urquhart 28 July 2021 07:17 AM

The bottom line is as LLs we do everything we can to reduce the chances of a bad tenant or damage to our property. Unfortunately for the many good tenants out there who have or would like pets, accepting pets increases the risks and so many LLs choose not to.

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 July 2021 10:05 AM

30 % over 5 years sounds like a significant number to me! Most of the extra burdens placed on LLs in recent years have had fairly minor financial implications which have been passed on to the tenant via increased rent. When the requirement for EPC C becomes law I expect to see a flood of LLs leaving the sector as this is not a simple case of proving you are compliant and passing the cost of the proof on. It has been estimated that the average cost to bring a property up to EPC C is £7500. Even with a rent rise of £25pm that is a return time of 25 years! That is of course assuming that your property can be made EPC C for £7500. Personally I will be selling all victorian terraces and all electric only properties thereby making 7 happy families homeless. There will be more tenants fighting over fewer properties so prices for those will increase but where will the rest go? Social housing - I don't think so? Owner occupied - unlikely. This Govt is pushing us into a housing crisis of never before seen proportions with its eyes firmly shut!

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 July 2021 08:40 AM

Until the EPC assessment accurately reflects the condition of properties, does not make invalid assumptions, gives realistic upgrades that can be achieved without ripping the fabric of the property apart and stops penalising electricity because of price most LLs will just sell any property below a C. The effect of this policy will not improve the living conditions for tenants but it will reduce the stock available and increase rents for some whilst pushing others into the arms of rogue LLs. This policy might result in a tiny decrease in carbon emissions but I believe it will decimate the PRS. Personally I will be selling 7 out of 11 properties, 3 Victorian terraces that require over £10k each investment to reach EPC C (not guaranteed) and 4 properties without gas, that cannot reach C due to the cost of electricity, ironically inflated hugely due to the green subsidies slapped on them.

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 July 2021 07:39 AM

What about the new space travel program for the very rich from Branson & Besos? What do you think the carbon emissions from that are? Or the new oil drilling platform off Shetland?

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 July 2021 12:42 PM

There was a report out this week that said modern houses will need to be retrofitted with cooling systems soon because they are too warm! Older houses were built to naturally cope with our climate - older properties are much cooler in this current heatwave than modern boxes. Yes it costs to heat them in winter but they can be made hotter when the weather is cold but stay cool when it is warm. Your tenants are discovering the problems caused once everything is insulated and air tight. Could insulating become the next cladding crisis with it all being ripped off? I also have properties that have 'lost' 8 points in 10 years. How can the Govt expect us to hit their targets when they keep moving them? This bill will be introduced, LLs will leave the PRS and the Govt will be left scratching their heads wondering what to do about the housing crisis.

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 July 2021 08:21 AM

1. 'This bill will help my constituents have lower fuel bills' - but watch their rent sky rocket as LL leave the PRS & those that stay put their rents up to cover the costs. If you want to lower fuel bills take the green subsidies off electricity bills (the only green fuel) - that will reduce bills by 40%. And since most electrically heated properties are lived in by tenants &/or low income families this will help those that need it most. 2. Sort out the EPC assessment so that gas boilers (due to be phased out by 3035) aren't the only way to get a C; electricity is recognised for its green credentials and improvements are feasible and cost effective. 3. How can you possible force owner occupiers to achieve a C? Most don't even know what an EPC is! This measure will single handedly decimate the PRS - personally I will be selling 7 of 11 properties that cannot make the grade. Where will these tenants go?

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 July 2021 08:08 AM

Over demand + under supply = rising rents. Wait until EPC C comes in and LLs sell up in their droves - only a few will be able to afford the rents of the compliant properties. Where will the rest live?

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 July 2021 09:16 AM

I am in favour of a LL database - especially if it then supersedes Selective Licensing schemes. If LLs had to register and then put their registration number on all tenancies surely prospective tenants would be able to see straight away whether or not their LL was compliant? If not they could be reported and maybe, just maybe we could start to see enforcement action against the real rogues instead of ever more regulation of those of us already complying with the law. At present many tenants rent from rogue LLs through ignorance or because they want to rent cheaply. This fuels the 'rogue' sector but with a registration number (or not) on documents they would be able to see easily if the LL is compliant. If they rent from a LL knowing there is no registration they would be part of the problem instead of a victim. Anything that exposes these crooks and removes them from the PRS is welcome in my view.

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 July 2021 09:14 AM

Once again the PRS is being mistaken for Social Housing! Given the support there has been for LLs in recent years (none) is it surprising that LLs feel no duty to tenants? I am making as much money as possible before selling up and leaving the sector completely.

From: Tricia Urquhart 09 July 2021 13:57 PM

Are we not allowed to make a profit on the investment we have made? We are not charities, we are businesses and we have invested our hard earned money into BTLs and provide homes for many happy customers. One bad tenant can leave us thousands out of pocket and the costs of running a decent BTL have gone up hugely in recent years. I also pass on all extra costs to my tenants. If you want not-for-profit housing get yourself a Council House!

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 July 2021 13:03 PM

Let's combine two topics: renting with (quality) furniture and allowing pets. Not sure the second set of tenants are going to be quite so happy as the furniture now has cat claw marks & dog hair all over it!

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 July 2021 06:45 AM

It’s fine - when your house burns down and you lose everything you put a sob story out there and crowd funding raises you enough to replace everything you lost!

From: Tricia Urquhart 07 July 2021 07:36 AM

That's like all the LAs who said that LLs would absorb the cost of new licensing - dream on!

From: Tricia Urquhart 06 July 2021 11:24 AM

Increased cost & regulations = LLs exiting market = less properties less properties + more demand = higher rent Basic maths!

From: Tricia Urquhart 06 July 2021 07:31 AM

Council Tax is supposed to be used to provide services not as a punishment! Most LLs don't want their property empty but if they do why should they be penalised? You don't get punished for taking your car off the road and not driving it do you? I have an empty property - I desperately want to sell it and I have a developer who wants to buy it, but the legal wrangling & planning permission is so slow it has sat empty for 3 years. The Council Tax is an unwanted burden and their planning department the main cause!

From: Tricia Urquhart 05 July 2021 07:26 AM

Andrew raises a lot of good points, however until the EPC regulations apply to the whole housing market not just the PRS & until EPCs accurately reflect improvements made and don’t ask for silly improvements it just feels like the Govt scoring points at LLs expense.

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 June 2021 12:08 PM

We wanted to upgrade my windows (already UPVc) in a conservation area and put in a new (coloured) door. We asked if we need to apply for planning permission as loads of others in the same street had changes and had no planning permission. The Council said they hadn't got the resources to challenge offenders but now we had alerted us to the fact we were going to do it they would check up on us!

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 June 2021 07:10 AM

As a LL I would only buy a property with, or able to get, an EPC of C or above. Not because I think this will help climate change or carbon emissions or even because tenants want this. No - simply because of arbitrary Govt targets likely to be introduced in the next few years. This will not make the housing sector better in terms of CO2 emissions, it will simply transfer inefficient &/or characterful houses to the owner occupier sector and reduce the PRS to boring, standard, but well insulated boxes. While Boris slaps himself on the back for achieving a target whilst signing off a new oil drilling platform and cancelling the Green Homes Grant, prospective tenants will be fighting over the few overpriced rentals available to them!

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 June 2021 07:04 AM

Here's a blunt message back - not in my property!

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 June 2021 06:54 AM

Just another example of the contradictory policies LLs have to contend with!

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 June 2021 07:51 AM

I have tenants who opt for E7 tariffs when they don't have storage heaters or standard tariffs when they do! Generally they are so un-proactive (is that a word?) that they consistently over pay for utilities and stay with expensive suppliers so I agree that many pay too much. Then there are those who don't register with a utility company or simply do not pay!

From: Tricia Urquhart 28 June 2021 07:21 AM

There has been a fall in possessions because it has been impossible to evict!

From: Tricia Urquhart 25 June 2021 07:19 AM

So in 84% of disputed cases the LL gets all or some of the money claimed. Seems to me that's the bigger story!

From: Tricia Urquhart 24 June 2021 07:47 AM

Surely you can remortgage at that .05% discount and all your problems will end! Oh - just done the maths and that 3.15% mortgage is more expensive than every mortgage I currently have! Your only option is to leave the PRS and sell to an owner occupier who has no obligation to improve the EPC.

From: Tricia Urquhart 23 June 2021 07:38 AM

Look at the date - Dec 2016!! Why does it take LAs so long to deal with these LLs? No-one wants them in our industry but when they can get away with providing substandard housing for so long is it surprising they continue to do so?

From: Tricia Urquhart 22 June 2021 10:50 AM

Unfortunately, in both residential & commercial sectors there are some who choose not to pay and the inability to evict them just plays onto their hands at the LLs expense.

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 June 2021 16:13 PM

Landlord possession claims in Q1 were done because were was no possibility of evicting!

From: Tricia Urquhart 16 June 2021 07:09 AM

Once again the assumption is that tenants are all wonderful people and LLs all ruthless, unfeeling money grabbers. The cost to repair the damage that can be done by even one pet is huge - considerably more than 1 weeks deposit - and tenants balk when given the bill. By not allowing pets in my properties I keep them in better condition (particularly the floorings) which new tenants greatly appreciate. How about thinking about those tenants who do not want to live with the after effects of a previous tenant's pet?

From: Tricia Urquhart 16 June 2021 07:08 AM

Selective Licensing is just a means for Councils to raise money for their Housing Department, paid for in the end by hard working tenants in the form of raised rents. Croydon have been caught out!

From: Tricia Urquhart 14 June 2021 06:51 AM

"Renting is so complicated" she says and then encourages tenants to use any possible error on the LLs behalf to their advantage! Not really sure 'doesn't remember receiving' is an accurate picture of events either! The PRS works best when LLs & tenants work together - this constant adversarial approach does tenants no good and is pushing good LLs out the door.

From: Tricia Urquhart 07 June 2021 07:15 AM

The grubby, greedy LLs who put roofs over tenants heads with their own hard earned money! Where would tenants live without us? Do you feel the same way about supermarkets - making money from feeding people? Or utility companies - making money from energy? No-one does it for free- why should they?!

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 June 2021 12:45 PM

That the most common recommendation is Solar Panels, costing thousands of pounds, shows why most LLs feel the whole system is ridiculous. The most common recommendation I have had recently is under floor insulation - costing thousands of pounds, disrupting tenants & requiring new flooring to be laid - all for a gain of £20 per year! Until the EPC is a fair reflection of a property and the recommendations sensible, LLs will just dump them on the market reducing voice & availability for tenants.

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 June 2021 07:15 AM

The Council is on the side of the tenants - whether they are in the right or not! Ask LLs with non-paying tenants, unable to evict because of the ban on evictions, who they think has all the power! For a PRS to work e need all sectors to work together; Councils declaring all out war on LLs is not helpful.

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 June 2021 07:04 AM

Eviction is never a quick option and usually it is the act of a desperate LL who has tried everything else!

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 June 2021 06:58 AM

Can someone show this report to Shelter please? Clearly we are not all the rogues we are constantly made out to be!

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 May 2021 06:54 AM

Good for them! Consultation over licensing is a tick box affair with Councils just riding roughshod over LLs to introduce licensing and the tenants end up paying the cost in extra rent. LAs already have the powers they need to deal with rogue LLs - licensing is just a way to fund their Housing Dept because they are short of funds.

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 May 2021 06:52 AM

Decent tenants do not get served with S21!!! How many times must we say that LLs do not evict good tenants before we are heard? S21 is used because it is quicker and easier than s8 to evict for arrears and other issues but no LL wants to evict a good tenant. Like Jim, in 20 years I have issued 1 S21 - because I needed to sell a property, so its abolition is not of a huge concern to me. But the Govt must tighten up on S8 so rogue tenants can be evicted.

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 May 2021 07:43 AM

Joining a redress scheme (when my agent already has to), no worries - I'll just pop the fee on the rent :)

From: Tricia Urquhart 25 May 2021 11:41 AM

Unfortunately for Generation Rent, most tenants are quite happy with their LL. Unfortunately for those tenants and their LLs this will be a self-selecting disaffected minority whose views will be extrapolated to the entire PRS resulting in more regulation and higher costs for the LL which will be passed on in...yes you guessed it...higher rent!

From: Tricia Urquhart 24 May 2021 07:01 AM

Where are all the renters going to live when all the good LLs have been driven out of the PRS?

From: Tricia Urquhart 22 May 2021 19:01 PM

Clearly their Housing Dept needs more funds. I feel sorry for the tenants, who through no fault of their own will now get an extra rent rise.

From: Tricia Urquhart 20 May 2021 06:47 AM

They'll be back! The lure of the Capital will return once we are through Covid - people generally have very short memories.

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 May 2021 07:06 AM

No-one has yet explained how the time when a LL is assessing, calculating and disputing a charge to the deposit in the old house will be covered. I am certainly not taking on a tenant without a deposit because it has not yet been released by the former LL! Even when things go well there is upto 2 weeks before the deposit is released - and if charges are in dispute, much longer. How is this going to be covered?

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 May 2021 07:18 AM

Probably cheaper than trying to evict legally and having a non paying tenant for the best part of a year waiting for the courts to open! There is no mention in the article of how big the arrears were, but given no legitimate way to evict a non paying tenant for the last year I am not surprised that some LLs resort to this kind of behaviour.

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 May 2021 07:14 AM

Its no wonder tenants don't get their deposits back if they need to be told such basic things!

From: Tricia Urquhart 17 May 2021 06:58 AM

Is the answer 'Because tenants are still failing to look after the houses they rent'?

From: Tricia Urquhart 14 May 2021 06:43 AM

The biggest barrier to becoming a homeowner is taking on expenses before buying. Live at home and don’t rent; don’t have children; don’t insist on the newest phone / car; don’t go on that ‘holiday of a lifetime’; don’t have expensive nights out all the time - these are all things that will help potential homeowners save. Once people prioritise ‘my own space’ / have children etc it becomes so hard to save enough for a deposit that many people will give up. The ‘must have it now / must have it new’ approach to life is the death knell for saving and the lack of financial education / understanding hamstrings a whole generation who will struggle to get on the housing ladder.

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 May 2021 12:43 PM

Some interesting points: "First, we must ensure that adequate housing standards and living conditions are applied to the private rented accommodation, in the same way they currently apply to social housing” - I think there are plenty of issues in social housing that need to be dealt with! "Secondly she says landlords should be required to join a local accreditation scheme" - happy to do this. "The upcoming [Renters’ Reform Bill] must get the balance right for both renters and landlords and not tip too far in favour of one or the other.”- absolutely! All the talk is about renters but if LLs are not protected from rogue tenants they will leave and the PRS will continue to shrink. Shelter's sledgehammer approach where all LLs are bad and all tenants are good does more harm than good. The focus should be on addressing the problem LLs without putting further burdens on the good LLs which just result in costs being passed on to tenants or LLs leaving the PRS completely. Decent LLs want the rogues pushed out of the sector too but all the time there are tenants prepared to rent substandard accommodation because of the lower cost it is hard to drive them out. This is the area where Shelter should focus is attention, not on the decent LLs who are trying to do a good job, providing decent homes to their tenants.

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 May 2021 07:07 AM

The sooner Council Tenancies are reviewed every 5 yrs and those who no longer meet the criteria are asked to leave the better! How can this situation be possible when the demand for council houses is so great?

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 May 2021 16:15 PM

Of course not everyone in this situation is a bad tenant - but too many are for me to take the risk.

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 May 2021 16:12 PM

Five weeks rent + VAT which will not be returned even if you leave your property in pristine condition - expensive for tenant. On a short term rent that is a huge premium to pay. Anytime you put a profit making venture between LL and Tenant there is a cost to be born, usually by the tenant.

From: Tricia Urquhart 05 May 2021 06:56 AM

Tenants should not have to foot the bill for basic safety works but they do foot the bill for selective licensing in my properties - £890! When inspected my properties were 'well above the required standard' so they receive nothing extra for this payment - but nor do I - so their rent (like many others in Nottingham) went up to cover the cost. Nothing is achieved with selective licensing that couldn't be achieved under other legislation other than money to run Nottingham City's Housing Dept and a rent increase. Nottingham City Council is broke so they use Selective Licensing to plug the financial gap and who pays (literally) - the tenants!

From: Tricia Urquhart 05 May 2021 06:51 AM

Generation Rent admit there will be wear and tear but say that that should not be taken from the deposit as it is not damage. They don't say that you shouldn't be surprised when your rent goes up - the only way to cover the extra wear and tear a pet causes.

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 May 2021 07:02 AM

Insurers are there to make a profit - if you put a profit making organisation between LL & tenant all you do is increase the costs to - guess who - the tenants! Not to mention the difficulties in trying to get an insurance policy paid for by a tenant to pay out to a LL. In addition, even the most well behaved pet will increase the wear and tear on a property. I don't really mind a cat in a house with a 10 year old carpet but I refuse to have one in a house with a brand new one! Anyone with a pet in my property will find their rent going up to the max!

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 May 2021 11:59 AM

But he is right - market forces will decide - so leave us alone to get on with running our businesses.

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 April 2021 08:40 AM

Councils already have all the powers they need to enforce improvements in substandard accommodation. Licensing simply funds Council Housing Depts by pushing up rents for tenants.

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 April 2021 08:13 AM

Do we have a comment from Shelter or Generation Rent?

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 April 2021 08:09 AM

Wait until the EPC legislation requiring a 'C' by 2025 / 28 is passed. LLs like me will be leaving in droves.

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 April 2021 07:02 AM

'Shelter and tenants' Groups' seem to forget that the PRS is just that - Private. They should focus their attention on getting more social housing built as this will not only stop rents rising but also create LLs with a social duty. The PRS is a profit making sector and due to the extra costs heaped on LLs by the Govt their costs, and so their rents, keep rising. Many LLs are not hugely rich and just trying to supplement their pay or pension. They do not have a duty to house people or to offer low rents - that is for the Social Housing Sector. Only when we invest in that area will rents stabilise - although there is no guarantee these will be decent houses, well maintained if recent revelations are to be believed!

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 April 2021 07:44 AM

My daughter owns her own home and has 2 cats. I the first year she has had vomit, wee and blood on her carpets - and she is a 'responsible owner' with 'well behaved' pets. This shows the inevitability of accidents and is why pets are not allowed in my properties until I am convinced tenants are staying long term and are looking after my property.

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 April 2021 07:07 AM

Shhhhh - don't tell Shelter!

From: Tricia Urquhart 23 April 2021 07:09 AM

Unfortunately the SDLT holiday has done more damage to the prospects of FTBs than can be undone with a 95% mortgage! If you can buy a house now because you only need a 5% deposit, your monthly payments are gong to be bigger because you have to borrow more and at a higher rate. How is that helping FTBs?

From: Tricia Urquhart 23 April 2021 07:06 AM

Why would LLs try to take part in any future Green Scheme after the fiasco of the last one?

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 14:37 PM

David - what is your experience of benefit tenants? Clearly as a tenant you have not housed them - people here are talking from experience. I agree with Andrew that benefits are supposed to be a safety net, not a way of life.

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 12:47 PM

David, I also have 11 sets of happy tenants, many who have been renting from me for several years. Don’t believe the press - and if you continually have problems with your LL then maybe it’s you or the type of property you rent.

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 12:41 PM

I want to kick that box every time I see it! My only dealing with Shelter resulted in an 80 year old leaving her home of 40 yrs to become a sofa surfer because they were more interested in beating a LL than supporting a tenant.

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 12:37 PM

I have issued 1 S21 in 20 years when I needed to sell a house to buy my own home. But I have had tenants break agreements, damage my property, not pay rent - who needs protection from who?

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 12:35 PM

Why would any LL want to take on a tenant 'facing homelessness'? Polite speech for 'in rent arrears!'

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 09:00 AM

I can't believe anyone thought pre-tenancy training or a leaflet would make a LL more willing to accept a tenant! What we want is a guarantee that the rent will be paid - is that too much to ask?

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 08:58 AM

If you pay your rent on time and look after your property you are unlikely to be served a section 21. No LL wants to lose a good tenant.

From: Tricia Urquhart 21 April 2021 07:22 AM

LLs are business people - if being green reduces costs we will be interested. Unfortunately, many of the recently announced 'Green Mortgages' don't have a market leading rate, because (guess what) the lenders are businesses trying to make money too! With the mixed messages coming from Govt - Boris is to announce cuts in emissions of 78% by 2035 shortly after cutting the Green Homes Grant & subsidies for electric cars - it is difficult to know whether this will be a successful tactic.

From: Tricia Urquhart 20 April 2021 07:16 AM

Guess what - rents will go up and so the tenants will end up funding the Housing Dept instead of Central Govt. I get that LAs have had such big cuts in their funding that they need to be creative in how they fund their services but at least be honest and admit that this is about funding not standards.

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 April 2021 11:36 AM

Making plenty of money in Nottingham - doesn't even make the list!

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 April 2021 11:34 AM

90% collection rate & tenants who can't and don't want to manage their money - doesn't sound like a good proposition to me!

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 April 2021 07:13 AM

There is always a reason (and usually a 'fault') - no LL wants to evict a good tenant.

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 April 2021 07:25 AM

Its not an issue then is it and those of us who want to have pet free rentals should be allowed to say no?

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 April 2021 07:24 AM

This will only be of any benefit if the EPC assessment is fit for use - which it currently is not. Replacing electric heating with gas (if you could) might increase your EPC but it doesn't make the house more climate friendly. Landlord are unlikely to spend the sums of money required to improve their properties' EPC when the whole assessment is such a lottery.

From: Tricia Urquhart 14 April 2021 07:38 AM

GCH scores highly because it is cheap (although not green) and electricity scores badly because t is expensive (although can be carbon neutral). Gas is supposed to be being phased out by 2035 and yet it is the only sensible way to get to a C. The whole thing is a joke!

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 April 2021 14:29 PM

Do the really think its the availability of funds that stops LLs from improving the energy efficiency of their properties? Rather I believe it is the cost (which needs to be passed on to the tenant); the payback (often £20 per year for a £4000 outlay); the vagueness of the EPC system (no guarantee what rating you will get after the work); the selectiveness (only applies to PRS not home owners); the farce of the Govts entire policy (Green Homes Grant - need I say more?); the timescale (ridiculously short) etc etc. Good luck with your new product NW!

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 April 2021 10:07 AM

I hope he's got a satisfactory EICR!

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 April 2021 10:02 AM

There are 2 major commercial - to - residential conversions near me that completed in the last couple of years. Both are electric only with EPCs of D with no potential to go higher. What happens to these - do they just get exemptions? Why were they allowed to be converted without extra energy efficient measures? It's a joke!

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 April 2021 15:09 PM

Clearly he believes it will get him elected - and it might, as tenants may believe his propaganda & that of the militant leftwing anti LL brigade!

From: Tricia Urquhart 09 April 2021 07:21 AM

Whilst it would be helpful to have the dates pushed back as suggested, in my case it will just mean the date I sell my properties will go back by a couple of years. I can get to a 'D' but the expense of getting to a 'C' will still not be viable for a LL like me, with perhaps only 10 years left in the game. There is no realistic alternative to GCH until EPCs reflect the 'green-ness' of electricity so my electric only properties will have to go to the owner occupier sector and my tenants will be left looking for alternative accommodation in an ever decreasing pool of houses. If you agree with me that EPCs are unfair in their current state please look for my petition on the Govt website & sign it if you can. I can't add the link on this site but if you search for EPC it will come up. Thanks.

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 April 2021 07:45 AM

The cost of upgrading a property from E to C will not be covered by any saving from a mortgage like this, it just means an extra product is available to some LLs. If you ask me its just a gimmick - and all my mortgages have a significantly better rate than 3.99% (although they are also all less than 80% LTV).

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 March 2021 08:19 AM

Look out for the rent rises.

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 March 2021 08:20 AM

If only EPCs could be scrapped as easily!

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 March 2021 08:19 AM

It is not lack of finance that is holding LLs back from improving energy efficiency in their properties - it is that the measure used is opaque and ever changing. Trying to improve your EPC rating is like trying to hit a moving target without blindfolded. Give us a clear set of goals based on a consistent policy and we will invest in our properties. At present we are being asked to invest large sums of money with unpredictable results and no guarantee of being able to continue to rent our properties out. And please bear in mind that if LLs are forced to spend large sums of money on their properties they will look to recoup through rent. We are, after all, a business nor an environmental charity!

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 March 2021 07:45 AM

John Elledge does a huge disservice to the many honest, hardworking LLs in the PRS who provide decent housing to tenants. Not everyone wants to live in a tower block with a faceless LL and most tenants have a good relationship with their LL. There is not a one size fits all for renters and small LLs are an important part of the choice for tenants. Although there are some rogue private LLs out there, the existing corporate LLs (LAs & HAs) are not without their faults and without the smaller LLs many tenants would struggle to find a home at all!

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 March 2021 07:35 AM

Not sure I would call property 'low risk' at the moment! Like Shane, I am beginning to unwind - thank goodness Rishi didn't mention raising CGT in his tax proposals!

From: Tricia Urquhart 25 March 2021 11:53 AM

Funny that they should announce this just as everyone is turning their heating off! As has been said before, tenants take no notice of EPCs when choosing a property and many expect to be able to walk around in T-shirts in January! EPCs a flawed and unfair - If you haven't signed my petition yet (and thanks to those that have!) search for 'EPC' on the Govt petitions website & it should pop up (unfortunately this website won't allow me to post a link ).

From: Tricia Urquhart 25 March 2021 11:50 AM

I know of 2 house fires this week where the occupants lost everything but did not have contents insurance - it is a false economy in anyone's book. However....is it not breaking the law under the Tenant Fees Act to insist tenants take out contents insurance?

From: Tricia Urquhart 23 March 2021 07:51 AM

CGT and the 3% additional SDLT.

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 March 2021 15:16 PM

I had a prospective tenant for a coach house with no outside space ask if they could bring their Labrador!

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 March 2021 15:13 PM

Increase in CGT; EPC ratings required to be C; no section 21 eviction; forced to take pets - why would anyone choose to be a LL in 2021 and beyond?

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 March 2021 07:21 AM

How on earth does a LL demonstrate a pet is poorly behaved? What a load of twaddle!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 March 2021 07:19 AM

I can only imagine there are serious issues of rent arrears, illegal occupation or some other serious issue for the Police to get involved in evictions. LLs and the Police don't just turn up and evict decent, rent paying tenants.

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 March 2021 10:39 AM

Why doesn't the Govt just build social housing on this land?

From: Tricia Urquhart 16 March 2021 07:34 AM

Councils are under huge budgetary pressure and this is one way they can fund their housing dept without using their own money. They don’t care that the rents go up - just that it relieves the pressure on their budgets. Unfortunately the tenants suffer.

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 March 2021 13:57 PM

It’s becoming a 2 tier system - and like others here I am aiming for the top tier. All the time demand outstrips supply good quality houses will rent.

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 March 2021 13:52 PM

People were always going to go back - they have short memories and I am sure London is a great place to live. And they've had enough time to realise a garden is hard work!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 March 2021 14:28 PM

They do realise it will cause rents to increase significantly don't they?

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 March 2021 09:09 AM

I wonder whether they asked the question 'Would you support selective licensing if it increases your rent by £25 pcm?' ?

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 March 2021 09:07 AM

I offered to top up the insulation in one of my properties to the recommended 270mm and the tenants said "No Thanks'!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 05 March 2021 10:30 AM

Bit of a risky market after the year we've just had!

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 March 2021 14:26 PM

It's amazing how these types of proceedings are announced with a flourish as a great success. Success would've been stopping this LL long before he had raked in £750K!

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 March 2021 15:56 PM

This is just headline grabbing and pandering to their target audience.

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 March 2021 11:54 AM

Where are these tenants going to live? If LLs don't accept LHA and social housing is full do we just make them homeless?

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 March 2021 11:53 AM

This is very noble of you - do they qualify for LHA? This looks. like they might not be claiming their due.

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 March 2021 11:51 AM

Oh..and by the way...where do 'Public Funds' come from? The taxpayer - so we get to pay again!

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 15:52 PM

I agree with what you say but you missed out that it was outsourced to a US company - how ridiculous was that!

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 13:41 PM

Links can't be posted here but if you google Govt Petitions 559700 it should pop up, or on the petitions website put EPC in the search box. Thanks.

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 09:39 AM

I think they are confusing the PRS with Social Housing!

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 09:37 AM

How is a suspended sentence appropriate for this? That is a slap on the wrist for all the damage he has done, putting lives at risk, stealing power as well as growing an illegal drug!

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 08:42 AM

If you, like me, think that going from an EPC E to a C under the current assessment is virtually impossible please sign my petition. You can find it on the Petitions website, number 559700.

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 08:40 AM

This is all well and good but where is the protection for LLs who have tenants with huge arrears refusing to pay? The support for tenants must be balanced by a court system that allows LLs to deal with rogue tenants swiftly.

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 08:38 AM

He's been home schooled for the last year!

From: Tricia Urquhart 28 February 2021 07:59 AM

When Nottingham introduced SL the cost was passed to the tenants immediately - Nottingham had some of the highest rent increases in the country as a result!

From: Tricia Urquhart 28 February 2021 07:58 AM

The important thing is not to pay CGT and IHT and you seem to have found away around it - good for you. You could sell it and give the money away - that too would avoid one set of tax.

From: Tricia Urquhart 28 February 2021 07:55 AM

Whilst no-one condones rogue LLs this is another blatantly biased position. The Council could spend its money searching out and prosecuting rogue LLs instead of spending it on a few tenants who will presumably spend their entire rented lives looking for a reason to get a rent repayment order.

From: Tricia Urquhart 25 February 2021 08:01 AM

You can already set 'Green Improvements' again your income on your Tax Return, so I think the NRLA are wrong about LLs needing to wait until they sell to get the credit.

From: Tricia Urquhart 24 February 2021 17:41 PM

Part of the problem is the the LHA fuels rent rises - so rents go up, LHA goes up and rents go up again! When the Govt took the brakes of fLHA rises as a response to the pandemic, rents shot up again snd so tenants continue to struggle to pay. The solution is more affordable housing but successive Govts have failed to address the lack of building and we are in the sorry state we are.

From: Tricia Urquhart 24 February 2021 17:39 PM

Selective licensing is just a way for Councils to fund their Housing Departments. They are so short of cash that they need the fee in order to do what they already have the power to do, but funded by LLs, who incidentally pass the costs straight on to the tenants!

From: Tricia Urquhart 24 February 2021 17:29 PM

Consultation is a box ticking exercise. The one question the councils always miss off is 'Tenants - would you like your rent to go up?' It is the one certainty of SL. I know - its what I did when Nottingham introduced SL and I was not alone.

From: Tricia Urquhart 22 February 2021 11:10 AM

I am one of the LLs who has got vouchers - 2 for external wall insulation. My installer won't be doing them until the summer and if the scheme ends early I won't be doing them at all. The vouchers only last 3 months (they can be renewed) but EWI can't be done in the winter so this is very worrying news.

From: Tricia Urquhart 22 February 2021 11:06 AM

It has been proven over and over again that rent controls don't work - but it makes a good headline & tenants think its good so vote accordingly. Another politician who doesn't understand the PRS!

From: Tricia Urquhart 20 February 2021 11:42 AM

Many people who have to be housed by the Council have been evicted from the PRS - probably for non-payment of rent - so why would we want to house them? Without wishing to tar all council tenants with the same brush, why would anyone risk getting a rogue family for the princely sum of LHA? Why does the social housing sector expect the PRS to bail them out?

From: Tricia Urquhart 20 February 2021 11:41 AM

Students have maintenance grants to pay their rent - LLs don't have access to effectively interest free loans that get written off after 25 years, they have mortgages that need to be paid. Students pay little or no attention to the contract they sign and are just interested in living with their mates. They, and many other people, got caught out by covid. Unlike many other people, most have parents to fall back on. Those that don't can access a hardship fund. The pandemic was not caused by LLs so why should they take they hit? You signed a contract and you've had to absorb a loss. Welcome to the real world.

From: Tricia Urquhart 17 February 2021 10:30 AM

Many renters, particularly the young, can only afford a room because Govt policy has forced rents so high. A combination of lack of building housing over decades and the availability of LHA for everyone has pushed the cost of renting a whole house out of the reach of many. That, combined with people's desire for their own space before they can afford to buy, has pushed demand for HMOs up. HMO LLs are only responding to demand - if people didn't want the rooms LLs won't convert houses in this way.

From: Tricia Urquhart 17 February 2021 10:25 AM

I have sympathy for anyone who is suffering under the pandemic but I don't see the Govt insisting grocers and utility companies provide their services for free. Why is housing, arguable the first expense you should pay, different? By all means, offer support to people who need it - just don't expect the LL to foot the bill on his / her own.

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 February 2021 07:54 AM

Any tenant who leaves my property with a debt can be sure I will go for a CCJ. Those who pay have nothing to worry about.

From: Tricia Urquhart 12 February 2021 12:55 PM

Also read today that the Govt's Green Homes Grant Scheme is going so well they are withdrawing £1 billion from the scheme for year it has been extended by - that is half the funding! So much for Govt investing in our Green Future - it appears the only people required to do that are landlords!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 February 2021 17:05 PM

My rents are all going up.

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 February 2021 14:08 PM

We all know this - its just that Shelter & Generation Rent don't want to see this type of headline as it doesn't support their agenda.

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 February 2021 14:22 PM

If the answer is renting to the Council it must be a stupid question!

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 February 2021 14:20 PM

Fine words but where is the action to support them?

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 February 2021 12:49 PM

It took about 10 weeks for my voucher to arrive once I had finally found an installer to quote. I don’t quite understand why they only last 3 months when it’s unlikely the installer can do the work that quickly. I know it can be extended but why make more work?

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 February 2021 12:00 PM

So SDLT is preventing new accommodation coming onto the rental market; extra costs like EICRs & reduced tax breaks are encouraging LLs to exit the market - you just wait until the EPC C regs hit - we will be running for the exit leaving hordes of homeless tenants behind us! This Govt is destroying the PRS without putting any extra social housing in place. Its a disaster slowing unfolding before our very eyes!

From: Tricia Urquhart 05 February 2021 08:37 AM

Who'd be a tenant on benefits - there is no way you will get a property now or in the near future!

From: Tricia Urquhart 05 February 2021 08:34 AM

All the climate change levies are currently loaded on to electricity bills - according to the Times this morning 25% of your electricity bill is this levy whilst it is only 2% of your gas bill. This discriminates hugely against properties with electric heating and adversely affects the EPC as the algorithm is based on cost.

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 February 2021 09:55 AM

What about protection for LLs from non-paying tenants?

From: Tricia Urquhart 03 February 2021 15:19 PM

Can see any great uptake on this - you need to get the Green Homes Grant issued first and this seems impossible!

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 February 2021 09:54 AM

Given what some tenants believe 'clean' means I'm not surprised that this is the number issue. I've yet to meet a tenant who realises dust & grease settle on the top of kitchen cupboards and limescale seems to be an alien concept - I don't know what some tenants do to toilets!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 February 2021 09:52 AM

Nottingham City Council recently released the figures for their Selective Licensing Scheme. Since lunch in 2018 when they anticipated 30k applications the have had 24,069. That suggests 6k (probably more) LLs have not applied. A simple LL Register, where tenants could check their property is registered and report it if it is not, would help to flush out these 'hidden' LLs who are often the ones renting substandard properties. As an aside NCC have issued just under 17k licences - not what I would call a success story.

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 February 2021 09:49 AM

You don't have to give a reason, just choose a different tenant.

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 February 2021 10:25 AM

It's really interesting how many comments "pets in rentals' generate - you would think that alone should show the Govt how big a problem LLs believe pets to be. The bottom line is there are a significant number of renters who are not at all bothered about looking after someone else's property and until there is a way to identify them (and evict the) all tenants are treated the same and will pay the price.

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 January 2021 11:51 AM

Inspections - pretty easy to spot a pet!

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 January 2021 11:46 AM

You don't need to hold the amount as a deposit to charge it - bill them and if they don't pay do a MCOL.

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 January 2021 11:45 AM

You don't need to put it in the agreement just do it on the next anniversary and tell the tenant the rent rise is due to them having a pet.

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 January 2021 11:44 AM

No requirement to use the Govt's model tenancy.

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 January 2021 11:00 AM

What are they using their grants for?

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 January 2021 10:45 AM

Apparently the scheme is administered by a companion the US - how mad is that!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 January 2021 10:43 AM

The consultation is just a nod to the law, Councils take no notice! LLs tell them rents will go up and then Councils act surprised when they do! Given most Councils are broke this is their best way of funding their housing departments and if the cost is borne by the tenants that's a shame but we can always blame the greedy LLs can't we?

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 January 2021 09:05 AM

More evidence! The LL wanted to move from his 3 bed house into a 1 bed rental! What was needed here was more common sense! This eviction order should never have been upheld.

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 January 2021 09:01 AM

As someone with 2 family members who work in NHS hospitals I can confirm this is not just fake news but in fact simply a lie. It's idiots like you spreading fake news that is contributing to the death toll.

From: Tricia Urquhart 26 January 2021 08:23 AM

Its not the death rate that is the problem, its the toll on the NHS! Have you been to a hospital this year? Or been waiting for an operation? We have to get on top of the virus for all our sakes is we want treatment in hospital for anything else in the next decade!

From: Tricia Urquhart 25 January 2021 15:19 PM

Selling with non-paying tenants? Don't see that working and think it a bit mean to pass your problem on to an unsuspecting LL!

From: Tricia Urquhart 25 January 2021 15:17 PM

I have started a petition onEPCs to help bring to the Govts attention the unfairness of the EPC assessment - if you agree with me please sign. I can't post the link on the website but if you google Govt petitions 559700 it should pop up under the title 'Overhaul current, flawed EPCs so that they are fair, accurate & relevant'.

From: Tricia Urquhart 23 January 2021 08:31 AM

5 out of 5 LLs will say selective licensing would increase rents - but that's not going to be reported is it? And given the demands on Council resources at present how else will they fund their housing dept?

From: Tricia Urquhart 20 January 2021 12:43 PM

Given that the tenant is (usually) responsible for utilities - except perhaps in HMOs - the LL cannot do this as the utility companies will only talk to the account holder. So this is a nonsense story!

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 January 2021 07:39 AM

Can I claim a mental health breathing space and stop HMRC from chasing for my taxes??

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 January 2021 10:49 AM

But what happens if they go into a home or hospital or even die - how do you end the tenancy?

From: Tricia Urquhart 16 January 2021 17:26 PM

So Kristjan, how does the porting work? If it takes 2 weeks to get the deposit back from the old house and it is not sufficient for the new house how does the new LL get the full deposit? I can imagine that some tenants will be happy to make it up but what if your tenant chooses not too?

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 January 2021 10:56 AM

I too have tenants of this age and they really look after the property. My only concern is how all these older renters will cope when they retire. The lack of pension provision by most people coupled with no equity in a house to fall back on sounds like a recipe for disaster.

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 January 2021 10:20 AM

What are they using their Student Loan for? I'm sure they are still receiving them!

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 January 2021 10:11 AM

Our whole rental market is based on a 6 or 12 mth AST. To allow longer tenancies we would need a change from mortgage providers and possible in type of tenancy so that current eviction rules (!) still apply. My tenants can stay as long as they like as long as they pay their rent & look after the property - no need for longer tenancies here. In my experience it is tenants who have a change of circumstance and want to leave.

From: Tricia Urquhart 14 January 2021 10:46 AM

If it is the insurance based product they are an expensive way to offer security for anyone who looks after the property and generally gets their deposit returned.

From: Tricia Urquhart 14 January 2021 10:41 AM

How about the 'lifetime deposit' how exactly do you cover the gap between needing a new deposit and having the old one retuned - assuming that it is returned - and what happens if there is a shortfall of hundreds of pounds?

From: Tricia Urquhart 14 January 2021 10:23 AM

An evictions ban together with a loan scheme for tenants - with money paid direct to LLs- would prevent people from being evicted whilst they get themselves back on their feet. The alternative is a landslide of evictions post covid with many tenants receiving CCJs &/or poor references so un able to rent again, LLs selling up and homelessness increasing. It is common sense & the Govt should see that a relatively small sum of money could prevent chaos in the housing market post covid.

From: Tricia Urquhart 12 January 2021 12:34 PM

Nottingham Council seems to want all students in purpose built accommodation anyway so that the private houses go back into the 'family market'. Problem is these all inclusive, ensuite student boxes cost more than the maintenance grant!

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 January 2021 10:06 AM

Not in a million years would I hand over my property to a council!

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 January 2021 09:09 AM

When the evictions ban is finally lifted and the courts have caught up with the backlog of cases there will be a number of things that will happen: 1. Thousands of tenants will be made homeless with no alternative accommodation 2. LLs who have been badly affected will sell up reducing the number of available properties in the PRS 3. Those that remain will put up their rents to cover for losses 4. Anyone without a perfect credit history and a secure well paid job will be unable to rent. Surely the answer is to financially support the PRS (as is being done in Scotland & Wales) so that the arrears can be dealt with over a period of time resulting in tenants staying in their homes paying their rent and LLs remaining in the PRS.

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 January 2021 09:08 AM

"No repossessions were recorded between April and end September 2020 compared to 14,847 in the same period last year." Presumably these were all excellent tenants who were unfairly evicted by the greedy LLs. I accept that there are tenants struggling financially because of Covid but why are LLs expected to pick up the tab? Many of them are struggling too and unable to access any meaningful financial support. Why doesn't the Govt support both sides of the housing market?

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 January 2021 09:01 AM

Scotland have a tenants loan scheme - by all means prevent evictions but at least support the LL. A tenant building up a debt which is then set against a loan which must be repaid is much less likely to stop paying just because they can.

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 January 2021 10:58 AM

With no help forthcoming from the Govt LLs will be forced to evict non-paying tenants as soon as possible even if they are willing to help them. The simple truth is that many LLs just cannot afford to bear the cost of a non-paying tenant. No-one wants to evict previously good tenants who have fallen on hard times but without financial support many LLs have no choice. Then, any tenant evicted for non-payment of rent will find it impossible to rent again from a decent LL so where will they go? Either into shady, off grid properties or on to the streets. Come on Rishi, give tenants & LLs a break instead of just businesses.

From: Tricia Urquhart 07 January 2021 09:30 AM

Why would I want a non Trustmak tradesman to to the work on my property? And this doesn't address the time taken to get a voucher from the scheme - still waiting for mine :(

From: Tricia Urquhart 06 January 2021 11:42 AM

What will the renters do when they retire? Most won't have a decent pension and we will have a whole generation expecting the Govt to provide them with LHA to pay their rent because they can't!

From: Tricia Urquhart 06 January 2021 11:40 AM

Where are all these people going to go when they are eventually evicted? They will never pass a credit check for the PRS again!

From: Tricia Urquhart 05 January 2021 11:54 AM

I am not an Air BnB host but if I was why should I do this for free? How long would the person expect to stay and what happens if the abuser finds out where they are and trashes my house / car/ etc. I am all for supporting victims of abuse but this is a nonsensical idea. Surely empty hotel rooms would be a better solution. (Or Lib Dems' spare rooms!)

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 January 2021 14:06 PM

We had selective licensing introduced in Nottingham 2.5 years ago. Result - about half of the number of LLs expected applied and rents went up! So....no rogue LLs caught and Nottingham on the list of fastest rising rents in the country. My tenants gained absolutely nothing - except a rent increase!

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 January 2021 14:02 PM

The problem is not LLs buying properties - they are investors who are responding to a supply and demand chain - it is the lack of building houese for decades by successive Govts. The lack of housing pushes prices up - for buying & for renting - then LHA paid to allow renters to afford to rent pushes rents up even further! Builders restrict the number of units coming onto the market so the price doesn't drop - why risk profits by building more? Build more houses and house prices stop rising; build more houses to rent and rents stop going up. This is Govt policy at fault, not landlords who are providing a much needed service.

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 January 2021 13:54 PM

Ridiculous! HMOs fulfill a particular role, catering to a particular tenant. If you want an ensuite, rent an ensuite but don't force people who are trying to spend as little as possible on rent to pay for something they choose not to have. Next we will have an increase in LHA to cover the extra costs incurred because of extra facilities!

From: Tricia Urquhart 31 December 2020 12:33 PM

I bough a property with a tenant in situ nearly 20 years ago - my solicitor was really concerned about lack of vacant possession but I guess now that is not an issue. I would be a bit concerned to do the same today, given the difficulties of eviction, but I can see how it works for many people.

From: Tricia Urquhart 31 December 2020 12:30 PM

Nottingham City Council have just lost millions of pounds on an energy scheme and are about to go bust - I know they have a difficult job and a limited budget but as a business most Councils would not survive in the real world.

From: Tricia Urquhart 24 December 2020 10:50 AM

Given the 'success' of the Green Homes Grant - firstly overwhelming tradespeople with demand and then taking forever to issue the vouchers - it is difficult to see how we can get this done even with Govt help. Personally I think the Govt should concentrate on getting ALL homes to EPC E before trying to get rentals to C. We also need realistic improvements - heat pumps in Victorian Terraces is not ever going to be the answer!

From: Tricia Urquhart 24 December 2020 10:48 AM

Goodness - LLs are not all greedy, unscrupulous rogues! Who would have thought it!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 December 2020 10:35 AM

When the supermarkets give out free food and the utilities give out free gas, electricity and water then free rent should follow. Until then people should pay for necessities and cut back on non-essentials. The Govt has handed out money by the bucketful to people who have been furloughed or made redundant - whose money? Our money! We all pay. I am sorry for those who have been impacted by the pandemic but they must understand that the world has now shifted and they need to move with it not stand there bleating with their hands out!

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 December 2020 10:33 AM

My understanding of the ruling in question was that the discrimination was against women and disabled people as they were more likely to be on benefits than other groups. The bottom line is that the PRS falls into 2 groups - working and non-working. The price charged and standard of property reflect which group is the target market. Low income people applying for high value property will not usually pass the affordability criteria or credit check - if those checks have to be done there is a cost to someone, which is ultimately passed on in rent increases. The 'No benefits' line generally saves everyone time and money. We can remove it but the result will be the same - the working tenant will get the rental. You can change the language but not the reality.

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 December 2020 10:27 AM

I have a house that has never had mould until current tenants. Turns out they never put the heating on and condensation is settling on external walls and going mouldy! There is a difference between damp caused by structural issues and by tenants and LLs can only solve one type!

From: Tricia Urquhart 17 December 2020 15:36 PM

Are tenants with guide dogs a large section of the population? I've never met one in 20 years of renting. The fees ban means LLs can no longer take a pet deposit or insist on professional cleaning - those changes made in favour of tenants have made LLs even less likely to accept pets.

From: Tricia Urquhart 17 December 2020 15:11 PM

If tenants are to be given loans & grants how can we ensure they actually use them to pay off the rent arrears? Some, I am sure, will use it to pay off other debt - such as doorstep loans for Christmas - as we all know it is pretty impossible to evict a non paying tent at present.

From: Tricia Urquhart 15 December 2020 11:53 AM

I think the drive towards greener homes is going to continue and denying it is just sticking your head in the sand. The problem is there isn't a reasonable alternative to a gas boiler that is relatively cheap to install and run. I guess the hard deadline will encourage R&D and so there maybe a solution soon that we are not aware of yet. But we have all got to go green whether we choose to or not.

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 December 2020 08:20 AM

I think you mean lower not higher! A is high G is low!

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 December 2020 08:17 AM

Renters pretty much can't be evicted, small businesses can claim grants and individuals have been furloughed - not everyone has been helped but many have. It is a hard time for everyone but your statements are not really accurate.

From: Tricia Urquhart 09 December 2020 08:16 AM

Given that LLs need to get their properties up to higher EPC ratings using the GHG to do so is a no brainer. Because of the way this scheme has been put together there is no opportunity to 'choose' your contractor - you are limited to the one you can get to quote! So LLs are between a rock & a hard place - do I do the work and risk using a cowboy or miss the opportunity to benefit from this scheme, without which the costs of many improvements are prohibitive?

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 December 2020 07:54 AM

Do Acorn realise that in areas where Selective Licensing has been introduced the most noticeable difference is rent rises as LLs seek to recover this extra cost? I hope in their coaching notes they include the facts that selective licensing increases rent, reduces stock and drives rogue LLs underground with even less oversight. Be careful what you wish for - you may get unintended consequences!

From: Tricia Urquhart 07 December 2020 12:20 PM

LLs don't generally evict good tenants so who are these people who are being protected and why? There is absolutely no chance of evicted anyone at the moment who is not hugely in debt so where is the support for the LL in all this?

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 December 2020 12:53 PM

Conciliation service? I can't see a LL who is owed £1000s in rent arrears and the tenant who owes them sorting it out over a cosy chat! Eviction process not helped by Councils refusing to do anything until a tenant is actually evicted. What we need is a swifter Court process for arrears and an increased social housing sector .

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 December 2020 15:35 PM

A year after SL came in in Nottingham the Council had received about 16,000 applications out of about 33,000 expected. It took nearly 2 years for my license to arrive even though I applied a month before the scheme started. I think there are thousands of LLs who have yet to apply. The authorities just keep hounding the good LLs with more requirements whilst failing to go after the real rogues.

From: Tricia Urquhart 28 November 2020 09:58 AM

How long does it take to fine this LL? Over 2 years - no wonder so many don't bother, there a good chance they'll never get caught. Instead of patting themselves on the back the Council should be asking why it took so long!

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 November 2020 15:30 PM

Just reports what most of us already know - unfortunately 'LL and Tenants get on' isn't usually newsworthy - but well done to Paragon for doing the survey and publishing the results :)

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 November 2020 14:52 PM

I believe this story could also be written as "Council failing to complete alterations required for family with disabled child causing family to become homeless". Depends who you want to slag off doesn't it? Eviction is not possible at present with significant rent arrears but "Tenant doesn't pay rent" isn't an emotive enough story is it?

From: Tricia Urquhart 23 November 2020 13:15 PM

I also spell out the cost of oven cleaning (£50-£75) and other cleaning £20-25 per hour. That certainly helps some tenants focus on leaving the property clean! I also advise them which products work best - some people really don't seem to know anything about cleaning at all! The place I always find missed is the tops of kitchen cupboards - usually thick with grease & dust. I put newspaper on top now then it just gets thrown away :)

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 November 2020 16:06 PM

This is a pointless article - if you haven't already got your quote and your tradesman booked you have no chance of accessing the Green Homes Grant. This whole policy is all 'Fur Coat and No Knickers'! It makes the Govt look good but costs nothing because no one can access it!

From: Tricia Urquhart 12 November 2020 17:26 PM

The choice is CGT or IHT - just make sure you only pay one of these!

From: Tricia Urquhart 12 November 2020 16:57 PM

Not really a plan of action for the majority is it?

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 November 2020 16:35 PM

If we are to bring our properties up to an EPC C can we please have an energy assessment that is not fatally flawed? Gas - high score on EPC but Govt banning GCH from new builds in 2025 - how is this consistent? Storage Heaters - score better than intelligent electric heaters yet are inflexible and cause all your other appliances (and any boost to heating) to be charged at higher rate Modern electric radiators - efficient and controllable, can be powered by renewables yet slated by the EPC Assumptions made about construction and insulation based on age of property regardless of whether it is in fact correct. Recommendation inappropriate and not cost effective - solar installations on north facing roofs, £10k to do external insulation taking 30 yrs to get back in rent Older properties will be dumped into the owner occupier sector, where no improvements will be made, whilst LLs snap up modern boxes with GCH and charge more because they can! And overall, no improvements to the energy efficiency of the housing stock. Sheer Muppetry!!

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 November 2020 16:35 PM

Why do Shelter persist in this adversarial monologue? We all know there are good and bad tenants and good and bad landlords. Instead of continually promoting the idea that all tenants are saints and all LLs are the devil they could come up with some constructive ideas for improving the PRS for all. Instead they LL bash and promote the idea that there is a war going on when the truth is that most tenants and LLs are quite happy! The PRS is not perfect so let's all work constructively to deal with the rogue elements on both sides and make it a good experience for all. If all the private LLs left there would be chaos so lets move forward together instead of taking sides regardless of the facts!

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 November 2020 16:28 PM

If the property is unliveable why does the tenant want to stay?

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 October 2020 12:42 PM

I don't have a problem with the general principle of improving the energy efficiency of my properties but I do have a problem with this proposal. 1. As already commented - the cost of getting a Victorian Terrace up to this level is prohibitive, if possible. I will sell mine to owner occupiers who don't care. 2. The EPC process is not fit for purpose - to get a better EPC I should rip out my highly efficient electric radiators (which can run on completely green electricity) and replace them with either storage heaters - designed by the energy industry to use electricity produced at night and horrid to live with; or gas central heating - which the Govt is trying to ban but which gives the highest EPC rating! This will result in a complete lack of choice for tenants as the only houses that will achieve a C or above will be modern, featureless boxes and the numbers of these available will mean sky high prices. Where are all the tenants who cannot afford these going to live? In a Housing Association house - if they can get one - which doesn't comply?!

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 October 2020 14:08 PM

The 'have-it-now' generation can't buy a house because they are too busy buying cars / phones / 'experiences' now. We know its hard to save when you are renting but if there is no reason to save if you don't believe you can ever buy, so you can spend all your money instead. Additionally, the traditional route of buying a house before you start your family has been reversed and if you start your family in rented accommodation you greatly reduce your ability to save & therefore buy. Those who prioritise buying & are prepared to make sacrifices to do so still seem to find a way.

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 February 2020 08:06 AM

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