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Tricia Urquhart
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About Me

my expertise in the industry

Tricia's Recent Activity

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 14 May 2021 06:43 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
Do we have a comment from Shelter or Generation Rent?

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 April 2021 08:09 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
'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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
Shhhhh - don't tell Shelter!

From: Tricia Urquhart 23 April 2021 07:09 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 April 2021 11:34 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
I hope he's got a satisfactory EICR!

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 April 2021 10:02 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
Look out for the rent rises.

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 March 2021 08:20 AM

Tricia Urquhart
If only EPCs could be scrapped as easily!

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 March 2021 08:19 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
CGT and the 3% additional SDLT.

From: Tricia Urquhart 19 March 2021 15:16 PM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 16 March 2021 07:34 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 March 2021 09:09 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 04 March 2021 14:26 PM

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 02 March 2021 11:54 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
I think they are confusing the PRS with Social Housing!

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 March 2021 09:37 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
He's been home schooled for the last year!

From: Tricia Urquhart 28 February 2021 07:59 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
My rents are all going up.

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 February 2021 14:08 PM

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 10 February 2021 14:20 PM

Tricia Urquhart
Fine words but where is the action to support them?

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 February 2021 12:49 PM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
What about protection for LLs from non-paying tenants?

From: Tricia Urquhart 03 February 2021 15:19 PM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 01 February 2021 10:25 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
Inspections - pretty easy to spot a pet!

From: Tricia Urquhart 30 January 2021 11:46 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
No requirement to use the Govt's model tenancy.

From: Tricia Urquhart 29 January 2021 11:00 AM

Tricia Urquhart
What are they using their grants for?

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 January 2021 10:45 AM

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 January 2021 10:43 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 11 January 2021 09:09 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
"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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 18 December 2020 10:35 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 13 December 2020 08:17 AM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 12 November 2020 16:57 PM

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 08 November 2020 16:35 PM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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

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

From: Tricia Urquhart 27 October 2020 12:42 PM

Tricia Urquhart
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

Tricia Urquhart
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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