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Robert Brown
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my expertise in the industry

20 + years

Robert 's Recent Activity

Robert Brown
In your case, two punches are better than one. BTW I am definitely not poor - haven't been for many years and don't expect to ever be poor again, despite the efforts of various Governments and defenders of rent dodgers and others.

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 21:44 PM

Robert Brown
Seb I had replied earlier but it ended up in the wrong place (like some of the more recently joined posters). Anyway you'll find my reply in a reply to the post above. Hope you can find it more easily than you can find any common sense in most of your posts!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 19:42 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew Having an equally enjoyable and cozy afternoon/evening in Scotland. I've now got over any annoyance or outrage to some posts from various ill-informed posters and moved on to enjoying our various exchanges. I'll continue to enjoy them as long as it remains harmless, coupled with a nagging thought that there are some real undeserving victims on both sides. My main nightmare is if my IQ and bank balance ever got confused with that of some of our fellow posters! Thanks for all your likes - much appreciated!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 19:37 PM

Robert Brown
Seb. We don't just provide bricks and mortar for the tenants to build the properties. We provide fully functioning homes, often fully furnished. Your analogy is down to your usual standard!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 16:42 PM

Robert Brown
Pointing out unfairness and inequities is not the sole right of those who suffer them. Others should support them whenever such things are identified. That applies equally to landlords being taxed on revenue instead of profit, being forced to continue to provide services to non-payers etc. ( unlike any other business) and to deserving Universal Credit claimants who do not have enough to live on due to the system being overwhelmed by the feckless and work-shy.

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 16:38 PM

Robert Brown
Fair point (for once!). My posts should all be assumed to begin with "in my experience" but then everyone should only speak from experience - although that would severely limit the number of posters and posts on this platform!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 16:31 PM

Robert Brown
Seb The world has far too many people who are consuming our resources much too quickly. The green protesters have a valid point but they aren't doing enough to solve the problem. They need to gather closely together in their millions, not just a few thousand at a time when demonstrating or holding up the traffic, if they are going to have any effect on saving the planet! The students seem to be showing them how it should be done. I forgot to add them to my list of non-contributors but they seem to have realised their status as such and agreed to self-inoculation of the Chinese virus ( title courtesy of Donald Trump - talking of non-contributors reminded me of him!).

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 16:26 PM

Robert Brown
There are also reports of around 1/3 of food bought being thrown away, which would explain a lot of the 80 million versus 60 million figures. Interesting to see what clothing sales tell us about the ethnic styles and quantities of clothing sold? That might be more reliable evidence of a hidden immigrant population - unless they stay hidden and naked!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 16:10 PM

Robert Brown
Seb This was meant to be a response to. Seb's post of 14.45 today but seems to have ended up in the wrong place ( a bit like some of our anti-landlord posters!). It's totally justified to complain about unfairness, even if it doesn't affect one personally. The pressure on the small % of landlords who are suffering from the government-sponsored rent dodgers (egged on by Shelter etc.) must be intolerable. Had I been 29 years later in starting to build my portfolio I would be worried sick. I've worked long and hard to be "successful" and planned carefully but I do admit to having benefitted hugely from the rise in property prices over the last 40 odd years since I first became a home owner and from the SNP sponsored increases in rents over the last few years. That doesn't disqualify me from campaigning against iniquities when I see them. Incidentally I am amused by the outcries from those initially forced not to work after 23 March about potentially being forced to live on Universal Credit - which led to the over generous furlough scheme ( although full time landlords were and still are excluded). I do hope one consequence of this pandemic is an overhaul of the benefits system so that those who deserve and need help get enough of it, but those who don't deserve it or fraudulently spend benefits meant for rent get their comeuppance - but I don't think that will happen unfortunately and the furloughed fortunate will revert to complaining about paying to support those in need.

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 15:54 PM

Robert Brown
Seb I have set my portfolio up so that I actually own a very small portion of it ( around £1 million equity) with the majority of it already in the names of my grown up children - to minimise inheritance and capital gains tax whilst continuing to benefit from the entire rental stream. I'll never get out of the PRS and the current debacle with high density student accommodation has led to unprecedented demand from students desperate to get into normal domestic accommodation, so I personally continue to feel optimistic about the future of my portfolio but that doesn't mean I don't support or sympathise with fellow landlords trapped with rent dodging scum, apparently supported and lauded by some of the contributors to this platform.

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 14:11 PM

Robert Brown
Even by your figures 97% of us aren't lying in claiming full rents are still being received. That doesn't make the current unfairness acceptable.

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 11:09 AM

Robert Brown
There are still plenty of solvent potential tenants looking for better properties so only the lower quality properties will be difficult to re-let other than to undesirable tenants.

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 11:07 AM

Robert Brown
I'm certainly not in support of society or companies having to support anyone who hasn't contributed or isn't contributing! The world has far too many people as it is. Perhaps the Chinese could make a virus that targets the non producers - the old, infirm, those living in overcrowded and insanitary conditions, those too stupid to obey social distancing etc. Wonder if such a virus could be made and how successful it would achieve these objectives?

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 11:00 AM

Robert Brown
Rate caps on energy has been a great success (sarcasm or irony for those who can't recognise it!). Energy is capped at around £300 more for the feckless than sensible customers can get by shopping around. Rent caps would be the same. History shows rent controls don't work and only market forces prevail in the medium to longer term.

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 10:55 AM

Robert Brown
There are lots the two above can't see or understand!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 09:14 AM

Robert Brown
Yet again, lack of business acumen, Seb. Lost income and costs affect the same side of the balance sheet!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 09:12 AM

Robert Brown
Surely every tax payer has such a duty of care - not only to HMRC but also to our fellow tax payers - and even to non tax payers? However your grasp of business is so poor that you don't understand the principle of needing to maximise income to ensure expenditure can be afforded. You also don't grasp irony!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2020 09:01 AM

Robert Brown
I have used Gumtree quite successfully in the past, along with newsagents' windows. However I did find out that my rents were lower than market rents a couple of years ago when I contacted an LA. £900 tenant find fee gave me an extra £6000 annual rental, so I will test them out every couple of years just to make sure that I am not inadvertently causing problems for fellow landlords by not charging the full market rents. I also owe HMRC the same duty of care to maximise my rental revenue, profit and consequently my tax liability.

From: Robert Brown 24 September 2020 22:16 PM

Robert Brown
Seb Would you complain if someone could hijack any increase in their value but you still had to bear any risk of loss, insurance costs etc.? Despite being told countless times, you haven't grasped the inequality of landlords being forced to continue to provide a service that is no longer being paid for, with no right to limit their losses to those already accrued and to offer that same service to an alternative paying customer.

From: Robert Brown 24 September 2020 22:09 PM

Robert Brown
Seb Your comments are getting even more crass - but then you have been practising pretty hard recently to reach your current level!

From: Robert Brown 24 September 2020 22:04 PM

Robert Brown
Seb Who' getting personal now? You were complaining about personal attacks only yesterday and now you're indulging in them.

From: Robert Brown 24 September 2020 22:00 PM

Robert Brown
Let me answer for Paul Why should we be concerned about anything that is in your 2nd paragraph? Come to think about it, why should we be bothered about any of your posts? They show a distinct lack of grasp of reality and experience of being a landlord.

From: Robert Brown 24 September 2020 21:47 PM

Robert Brown
Seb I think the Government is quite good at debt collecting but if not, the debt is shared among all tax payers instead of one innocent landlord having to suffer the entire loss.

From: Robert Brown 24 September 2020 21:44 PM

Robert Brown
Mediation is a good idea. How about using "Getusboysin.com". They are great at discussing the alternative outcomes to an early orderly departure to rent dodgers.

From: Robert Brown 23 September 2020 09:50 AM

Robert Brown
Another useless article. The average sold properties are not the same properties as the average rental properties, which tend to be at the lower end of the market and give far higher yields than is suggested here.

From: Robert Brown 23 September 2020 09:02 AM

Robert Brown
Seb The clue is in the title of this article! By using a loan to pay rent arrears, tenants can avoid eviction, illegal or eventual - the main difference is in the length of time taken to achieve it.

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 22:42 PM

Robert Brown
Margaret Thatcher brought in the much fairer Community Charge but the lefties called it the Poll Tax and hoodwinked the majority into thinking it was unfair. Another non existent but much vilified "Bedroom Tax" was the perfectly justified removal of the Spare Room Subsidy which wrongly subsidised social tenants to stay in houses larger than needed and preventing families from moving out of more cramped accommodation. Two examples where fairer systems were successfully vilified by the loony lefties and harmed the more deserving sections of the population.

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 22:36 PM

Robert Brown
Seb As is often the case, I have no idea what points you are trying to make! I was stating facts, not expressing any opinion or "moaning" as you have accused me of in the past.

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 22:22 PM

Robert Brown
Not accessing any available loans should be grounds for immediate eviction and classed as making themselves deliberately homeless - so no help from the Council.

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 22:19 PM

Robert Brown
No - but I think you have the wrong platform. I do believe landlords may need agents to assist them in regaining possession of their properties by persuading rent dodgers to leave promptly without any need to use the legal means now more difficult to access.

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 22:15 PM

Robert Brown
Landlords do need more help now to ensure successful evictions - but I suspect that such help might persuade defaulters into deciding to leave voluntarily!

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 14:22 PM

Robert Brown
Get up to date! Council tax is already doubled for properties left empty long term - even when they have been bought by new owners who are bringing them back up to habitable standards - which acts as a disincentive to people buying them to improve them and is also reflected in higher rents for new occupiers. Only the local council wins with this crazy rule that you support but didn't know already existed. PS. Why on earth give special treatment to prisoners? Surely their properties could be used by the homeless whilst they are getting free board and lodging at tax payers expense?

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 14:17 PM

Robert Brown
I do hope this article is true and the rent dodgers get to hear about these probably totally justified if illegal evictions. Why isn't Shelter publicising this? They're usually so good at doing things that end up helping landlords!

From: Robert Brown 22 September 2020 14:09 PM

Robert Brown
Every other business can rightly discriminate against people who can't pay - so can landlords if they do so properly. No business says "no poor people" but that is usually their totally justified business model.

From: Robert Brown 21 September 2020 08:54 AM

Robert Brown
Michael Totally agree with everything you say! Just take comfort that you know that you are paying your way and making a positive contribution to society, even if not all those enjoying its benefits are fully deserving of them. I find that remembering that makes me feel better, especially when the internet is down or slow and I can't monitor in real time the several hundred pounds per day that my net worth is growing through rental income and increasing property values. Whilst I have no first hand experience, I suspect those non contributors are usually unhappy and dissatisfied with their lot as evidenced by the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs in a vain attempt to find self respect and the pride which comes with success - or even just with putting in the effort required in the pursuit of success.

From: Robert Brown 20 September 2020 22:31 PM

Robert Brown
Mark Your mask has totally slipped - showing pure bare faced jealousy! No one in a free country will ever be able to dictate to an owner of any property who should have the use of it. That principle will endure whether the property is a car, bed, house or anything else. Generations before us fought and died for this principle which you clearly despise because you're jealous of those more enterprising and successful than you - a common leftie trait!

From: Robert Brown 20 September 2020 19:49 PM

Robert Brown
Mark What it does do is give him the right to decide who he'll allow to live in his property - and no loony lefties can take that away from him, no matter what self-defeating schemes they may dream up. Market forces should always dictate who has the right to a property - the highest bidder or the most suitable candidate, if the owner decides to use other criteria - but that is very unlikely to include the receipt of benefits and cannot be made to do so in a free democratic state. Incidentally very few rental properties are grotty when the tenants move in and the condition on tenants vacating does unfortunately often match the socio economic standing of the tenants. The payment of rent only four weeks in arrears is not the main reason why most landlords will always operate a no DSS policy. The main reason is the poor condition that properties are returned in by the more indolent and feckless members of our society.

From: Robert Brown 20 September 2020 16:58 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree with both above. Rents must be paid monthly in advance with guarantors checked out and maximum deposits taken. Nothing will change with this ruling - just a waste of time for both parties which could easily have been avoided by using common sense.

From: Robert Brown 18 September 2020 09:08 AM

Robert Brown
Homes need paid for - whether buying or renting. Paying for a home should be top priority and both purchased and rented homes should be within the means of the occupiers. If means change, then inevitably homes must change to match such changes in affordability. No one else, - banks, building societies, housing associations or private landlords - should be asked to subsidise anyone defaulting on a mortgage or rental agreement. However loans should be made available to cover arrears already built up but can't cover shortfalls indefinitely and if the longer term prospects are still bleak then occupiers must accept they'll need to move out and should do so promptly before their unpaid debts escalate totally out of control.

From: Robert Brown 18 September 2020 09:01 AM

Robert Brown
That is exactly why it's every landlord's duty to use the law to maximum extent and get ccj where tenants blatantly withhold rent and refuse to vacate as soon as they realise that they can't afford to meet their contractual obligations which they freely entered into. Only then will such tenants understand the hidden costs of reneging on legally binding agreements.

From: Robert Brown 17 September 2020 19:45 PM

Robert Brown
Price controls just don't work. Look at the energy price cap - around £300 per annum higher than that available to those with the common sense to shop around. The big energy companies capped tariffs are all right on the cap limit and no sensible consumer would countenance paying so much. The same has happened in the student accommodation market where the extortionate rents of the cardboard clad high rise purpose built ghettos have led to owners of student flats being able to charge similar rents. Any interference with market forces will just lead to higher rents in normal rental properties unless they are at the slum end of the market.

From: Robert Brown 17 September 2020 15:55 PM

Robert Brown
Seb Thanks for your support. I shall do so but I am a bit short of time. Counting £250k pa rental income is so time consuming! You clearly have much more free time than I have - wonder why?

From: Robert Brown 16 September 2020 09:18 AM

Robert Brown
Rents went up by about 33% as soon as the new loony SNP legislation came into force in December 2017. Many fewer long-term homes are available as many became Airbnb. Landlords can usually pick and choose as many tenants chase each property. The new legislation has not helped the typical decent tenants but has allowed landlords to avoid the dross - hence fewer problems - but nothing to do with landlords using velvet gloves. Incidentally rent arrears is still a valid reason for eviction in Scotland and with no "no fault" evictions, landlords are alert to finding out why tenants are looking for accommodation with landlord references and solvent guarantors typically required.

From: Robert Brown 16 September 2020 09:11 AM

Robert Brown
Paul You may well be right,but that is because most landlords don't bother to pursue rent dodgers as they should. Andrew said a few days ago that doing so actually protects other landlords and I agree. It's our duty to send a strong message out to those who deliberately defraud us whilst being sympathetic to those genuine cases who seek to minimise their debts and our potential loss by agreeing to move out of our properties as soon as they know they will be unable to continue to meet their contractual obligations.

From: Robert Brown 15 September 2020 18:21 PM

Robert Brown
This article shouldn't have the word "renters" in it as renters pay rent and don't need to fear eviction. Rent dodgers however should remain fearful of eviction as it will eventually happen along with ccj debts accruing 8% statutory interest and trashed credit ratings. Far better to lobby Government for loans to honour their legal and moral obligations than simply seek to delay justice and comeuppance which will eventually happen.

From: Robert Brown 15 September 2020 12:46 PM

Robert Brown
Hugh Did the tenant move out?

From: Robert Brown 14 September 2020 19:34 PM

Robert Brown
Great idea! Tenants need told they will pay 8% interest on a ccj, plus trashed credit ratings - so should go for any such loans available.

From: Robert Brown 14 September 2020 09:11 AM

Robert Brown
Everyone needs to go for ccj's every time tenants take the p**s. Genuine hardship cases should be treated sympathetically if they move out promptly. Deliberate squatters and rent dodgers should be pursued mercilessly to protect decent deserving tenants.

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2020 18:53 PM

Robert Brown
David If the defaulting tenant was upfront right away and left the property in good condition then I would give them the benefit of the doubt and write off a month's rent maximum. If they think, like Mark W, that they have a God given right to defraud me then they would need all of God's help because I would throw everything at them! Why do these loonies think the latter is the best course of action, when the tenants are going to have their credit ratings trashed and still eventually end up being evicted?

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2020 18:47 PM

Robert Brown
Excellent answer Paul!

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2020 18:42 PM

Robert Brown
Peter That's like saying members of a criminal gang are exploiting each other! It might true in some county lines drug couriers but criminals usually know exactly what they're getting into, tenant or landlord alike. The article also specifically mentioned that the abuse of the accomplices was evidently due to their being illegal immigrants - who clearly couldn't be accommodated by any law abiding landlord. The guy is not a typical landlord any more than a getaway driver is a typical motorist!

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2020 11:28 AM

Robert Brown
Great question! Does anyone have the answer during this time when landlords' normal rights are curtailed so unfairly?

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2020 11:23 AM

Robert Brown
No lower rents have been necessary or given in my properties and there are still several groups after every available quality property.

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2020 10:04 AM

Robert Brown
It's so simple. Government should genuine cases enough to pay their rents and assist landlords in removing the shirkers so making properties available for more deserving decent tenants. Why do "charities" prioritise rent dodgers and rogue tenants over decent tenants who are desperate for decent homes?

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2020 10:02 AM

Robert Brown
Sue Don't trust the LA to try hard unless they have a huge incentive to do so. Whilst customers can and do take umbrage and may make irrational decisions to cease a business relationship, I have never had a supplier do so. Give the LA an ultimatum - fix it by a deadline of your choosing or you WILL get legal - and make sure you have all your ducks in a row to move as soon as your deadline passes - and ensure your LA knows that is what you're doing, so he knows you're not bluffing. It should be relatively easy for the LA to source YOU a better property for the six months or so that the tenant can stay put - and the LA should foot the bill to avoid being sued.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2020 20:17 PM

Robert Brown
I'm not good enough at maths or accountancy to work out my yield but I risked (or invested) £6000 deposit in buying a £60,000 flat which I rented out trouble free for the same £600 per month ( and only one change of tenant) for about 15 years. The last 10 years has seen the rent grow to over £1300 per month and it's now worth about four times what I paid for it. I utilised the early healthy capital growth to remortgage and put the released funds as a 10% deposit on other flats. I now have a £4 million portfolio with over £3 million equity and around £250,000 gross annual rent. You could argue that yield is all from the initial £6000 investment - so that's a yield of over 4000 %. Like I said my maths and accountancy knowledge isn't good enough to work it out. All I know is I have always been wealthier than any accountant I have used for the last 20 years. My message is: Invest for the long term and the yields will always grow as so many people want it all now - fancy cars, holidays, costa lot coffees etc. They will never be wealthy but the more astute and patient investors will continue to prosper by surfing on their indolence and ignorance.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2020 20:04 PM

Robert Brown
As I said to you in a similar reply a few weeks ago, the landlord is not a charity. You seemed to think that rent arrears didn't count as a debt but the solution is for the government to lend defaulters the rent arrears so that they can stay and meet their contractual obligations.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2020 09:41 AM

Robert Brown
Mark Speaking from 3 years experience of the loony SNP legislation, one unexpected consequence is that rents very quickly rose by a third for the best properties due to both sides losing the certainty of minimum length tenancies. A second was the rise of Airbnb and reduced availability of long-term homes to rent. A third was the fact that all joint tenants were trapped in a tenancy unless there was unanimous agreement by all joint tenants to end the tenancy. I could go on - but the bottom line is all of the above harmed tenants but usually benefited landlords. Other measures mooted by the loony lefties such as rent controls will also have harmful effects for tenants as rents will always be put up as much as possible as often as possible whereas currently landlords tend to keep rents stable for good tenants for several years and often for the entire tenancy.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2020 19:34 PM

Robert Brown
Mark The vast majority of tenants are satisfied with their landlords and the properties they rent - hence the nearly 4 year length of tenancy in what might be regarded as a pretty transient population. Given the vast majority of landlords own only one or two properties, it follows that the vast majority of "good" landlords are those you insultingly call "mom and pop" landlords. However I suspect I am wasting my time in trying to put a logical argument or plain facts to you. You mentioned some time ago you would prefer a Tesco landlord. Such landlords build cardboard clad high rise properties such as many students now have to endure and their rents are at the highest level and go up as much as possible year after year. By contrast, most small (average) landlords only put up rents at the change of tenancies or when tenants are causing problems or unexpected expense.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2020 19:25 PM

Robert Brown
Jo Jo ( or Mark/Seb) Where has any landlord on this site asked for a bailout? We are asking for our tenants who need help to get it so they can meet their obligations and stay in the home we provide for them in exchange for rent paid promptly and in full. As Emma points out, the problem is that currently, unlike every other supplier, we can't simply limit our losses by refusing to continue to supply a service no longer being paid for. If you have been paying attention you would already have identified this key difference and understood why the current situation is so unfair, both to landlords and to decent tenants who can't get the homes being occupied by rent defaulters.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2020 12:40 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree! The honest tenants and landlords are subsidising the rogues in both camps and the loony lefties are too dim to see that - or don't care as the "cause" is more important than the effect. What really bugs me is the Tories apparently falling into line with this leftie claptrap. I think Paul B could be right about the end objective being the elimination of landlords and the emergence of huge corporate landlords owned by their major donors. Good luck to tenants if they end up being housed in cardboard clad high rise ghettos such as many students are now.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2020 09:59 AM

Robert Brown
Of course they are! 80% of gross pay is probably nearer 90% of net pay and no travel costs or several costa lot coffees, lunch, after work drinks etc. Furlough was a good idea but much too generous for those claiming it and too many people not qualifying - especially the more entrepreneurial who had recently set up businesses. I am NOT saying landlords should have been helped directly but tenants should have been helped to avoid rent arrears and problem tenants should have been evicted with maximum ease and speed.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2020 09:06 AM

Robert Brown
The Tories are proving to be better friends to rogue tenants than Corbyn! The solution is so simple. Government should lend the rent money to those tenants who need it and allow fast eviction of all problem tenants who make the lives of neighbours and landlords a misery.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2020 09:00 AM

Robert Brown
Are they serious? The deposit is the only thing that tenants are potentially putting at risk. I will not ever consider tenants not willing or able to save two months deposit and put it up as evidence that they can save and will take care of my property. Two months deposit is still allowed in Scotland - but for how long?

From: Robert Brown 08 September 2020 09:05 AM

Robert Brown
No chance of tenants with any history of rent problems ever being able to rent decent accommodation again. Is that really what the loony lefties want - or don't they care?

From: Robert Brown 08 September 2020 09:02 AM

Robert Brown
Housing is a lifetime requirement and therefore a long-term investment. Those with the financial acumen, resources and resilience will continue to prosper despite what others may predict and hope for. Thank goodness for those too scared and too poor to invest. It makes it easier for those who will brave a potentially short term rough ride for a pretty safe long term gain.

From: Robert Brown 07 September 2020 10:52 AM

Robert Brown
Despite what you're hoping for, most tenants are continuing to meet their contractual obligations and the seller's market of the PRS continues for all but the worst properties with the worst tenants - which most astute landlords avoid as much as possible.

From: Robert Brown 07 September 2020 10:44 AM

Robert Brown
In any business the money is the objective. We look after customers because they make us money. When they cost us money we no longer want to deal with them. For tenants, that means eviction!

From: Robert Brown 05 September 2020 09:51 AM

Robert Brown
Seb You're an idiot! Tell me where I am complaining or whining? My gross rental income has increased by around £50k in the last 3 years due to the loony SNP legislation. Of course increased rents are a pitfall - for the tenants! Everything that the loonies try to do to harm landlords ends up harming tenants. I am pointing out the pitfalls of attacking landlords with ill thought out policies but I am certainly not complaining about the consequences for landlords which have meant a big increase in my gross and a more modest but welcome increase in my net income. As for not understanding why the length of the rental term normally affects the rental rate, it shows a total lack of business understanding and you should not be wasting our time with your ignorant posts. I'm quite happy to be a wealthy landlord and have never said otherwise. I would never invest in depreciating items like cars, solar panels etc. I leave those for the less financially astute. How are they doing for you incidentally? PS. If the local traffic is a bit too slow, try playing on the motorway!

From: Robert Brown 05 September 2020 09:27 AM

Robert Brown
Seb I am NOT complaining. I have benefited hugely from the increased rents that market forces have pushed my way since the December 2017 legislation came into force. I was merely pointing out the pitfalls of forcing landlords, who have to commit to long term investments, to accept all future tenants on a short term basis - which will inevitably reflect short term rental rates. Don't think you could lease a car on the same daily rate for 28 days as for 28 .months. The same market forces apply to property rents, as proven in Scotland over the last 33 months. As ever, loony lefties end up hurting those they claim to support - but as long as their loony ideas get adopted they don't care.

From: Robert Brown 04 September 2020 22:28 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland all tenants can give 28 days notice at any time, putting extra letting agent costs and hassle on landlords. Result is that rents for the best and highest demand properties have risen by 33% to compensate for the lack of security which landlords now face. Buying a property is a long term commitment for grown ups only. If immature tenants don't want any commitment then it comes at a cost. No benefit is without cost - simple market forces economics.

From: Robert Brown 04 September 2020 14:05 PM

Robert Brown
Seb Stop wasting everyone's time on semantics. We're trying to run businesses with no support from anyone else. We're grown ups and not looking for favours or hand-outs - just a level playing field where the rules don't change in mid match. If you haven't anything better to do with your time try playing with the traffic!

From: Robert Brown 04 September 2020 13:54 PM

Robert Brown
Many of these "vulnerable" tenants are obese - so they could divert some of their expensive junk food spending to pay their rent. Healthy food is far cheaper but many of them can't even cook. The solution is so simple - lend deserving tenants rent money - evict the con artists fast and house more deserving tenants who are blocked from decent homes by these rent dodgers.

From: Robert Brown 04 September 2020 09:49 AM

Robert Brown
Sorry Seb. My moan about having to take the time and trouble to chase up people who won't keep to our agreement is still valid - as well as moans about losing money due to some people genuinely unable to pay due to unexpected change in circumstances - whom I won't pursue with ccj's.

From: Robert Brown 03 September 2020 22:32 PM

Robert Brown
I agree with Andrew. With a name and occupation like that it shouldn't be too difficult to trace him.

From: Robert Brown 03 September 2020 22:28 PM

Robert Brown
Then all HMG needs to do is to pay the rent directly to the landlords and recover it from tenants over time. Landlords and courts could then focus on evictions for anti social reasons etc. - helping everyone except the problem tenants who usually also make problem neighbours.

From: Robert Brown 02 September 2020 17:48 PM

Robert Brown
Seb. It will be a richly deserved ccj if they are too feckless and lazy to take the help on offer. I would hesitate to punish cases of genuine undeserved hardship but would enjoy punishing the feckless who didn't apply for such loans and thus sentence them to at least six years of poor credit ratings and corresponding inability to rent decent accommodation from clued up landlords. If they didn't clear their debts to me, including 8% interest then I would happily renew the ccj and their six year poor credit ratings would start all over again. Revenge served cold tastes all the sweeter!

From: Robert Brown 02 September 2020 17:41 PM

Robert Brown
Never thought I would say so - but take a lesson from the SNP's tenant loan scheme! Landlords don't need help if it's given where it's needed - to tenants in financial difficulties. However such a move needs to go hand in hand with helping chuck out anti social tenants, deliberate rent dodgers etc. There are too many decent tenants stuck in sub standard accommodation to protect the feckless and anti social at the expense of the decent!

From: Robert Brown 02 September 2020 10:11 AM

Robert Brown
Some common sense from the SNP? Some could be forgiven for thinking a Holyrood election was due next May! I just wish they would stop talking about the non existent Bedroom tax! This was a perfectly justified removal of the spare room subsidy which subsidised social housing tenants to remain in larger homes which they should have vacated to allow families in cramped accommodation to have more suitable accommodation. However credit to the SNP where it's due, although 1 right decision out of about 999 is hardly a pass mark - even if they do get to correct their own homework currently!

From: Robert Brown 02 September 2020 10:05 AM

Robert Brown
David E. Landlords don't evict model tenants. People like you are model tenants' worst enemies as your ill-informed propaganda just helps rent dodgers defraud decent landlords and prevent decent properties from being let to decent tenants. Rogue landlords have their own highly effective ways of ensuring rents are up to date as the feckless rent dodgers you protect will eventually learn when they are eventually evicted and no sensible landlord will touch them - but the rogue landlords will be happy to do so, confident that they will learn the error of their ways - and the ccj will live with them for the next six years - probably longer if they continue to renege on their financial obligations.

From: Robert Brown 27 August 2020 22:19 PM

Robert Brown
Paul Surely the real solution is to abandon the loony moves to ban E and F rated properties from being rented? I have NEVER had any tenant ask for or query an EPC rating. This is yet another waste of public money and a sop to the greens who think jerry built "energy efficient" shacks are greener than solid Victorian properties which will significantly outlast them. How much energy is expended in building new builds and disposing of their rubble within the next 50 years?

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 22:15 PM

Robert Brown
Cut off in mid flow? Hopefully permanently?

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 18:25 PM

Robert Brown
David E. Landlords don't kick out model tenants. They want them to stay long term. Idiots like you support the dross who prevent other decent tenants from getting into better properties.

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 16:55 PM

Robert Brown
Thanks Adrian. I wouldn't have wanted to see you among his idiot supporters!

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 16:51 PM

Robert Brown
Adrian It looks as if you liked the idiot's initial post objecting to the idea of help for tenants by helping landlords. Did you mean to do so?

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 13:24 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree, Andrew. Quick answer to question: It doesn't!

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 10:07 AM

Robert Brown
If the government helped the tenants by paying their rents then landlords wouldn't need help. Don't you think big business has been helped too when their staff are furloughed? Why should landlord businesses be denied help when multi national companies have had help?

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 10:05 AM

Robert Brown
You're an idiot. Any help would let tenants have better security. Any businessman knows that the best way for the business to prosper is to look after the customers. Leftie idiots don't realise how customer and supplier interests usually co-incide.

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 10:02 AM

Robert Brown
Sorry to hear about your situation in detail Paul. I agree with everything you say and your desire to get out. I would point your real life situation out to any leftie that would listen - but that will be none!

From: Robert Brown 26 August 2020 09:02 AM

Robert Brown
Paul I don't totally agree. With less than 50% ltv and interest cover of at least 4 times, landlords with several properties have probably enough of a spread to be reasonably safe. The % of rent arrears is actually relatively low and the"crisis" being claimed by the loony left is grossly overstated. In my case, I would have to sacrifice at least £60k of gross rental income to save £20k of mortgage interest - and suffer a substantial CGT bill into the bargain. I'm very happy with the ltv and net yields I achieve currently and have no intention in becoming mortgage free.

From: Robert Brown 25 August 2020 22:59 PM

Robert Brown
David Try the Dorchester. I've heard it's very popular with Union bosses - and they're famous for their freebies!

From: Robert Brown 25 August 2020 15:24 PM

Robert Brown
David W. Are you too dim to realise that rent arrears is already a debt? Rest assured those rent dodging tenants will be aware of that soon enough when they are (eventually) given a ccj - and that will cost them far more than the statutory 8% interest - in trashed credit ratings, black listed from all decent properties, forced to rent slum properties from the tiny minority of rogue landlords whom all decent landlords and tenants despise - and who have their own very effective ways of dealing with rent arrears! But for the loony left, only their philosophy counts - and the inevitable harm done is simply collateral damage - and blamed on anyone but them.

From: Robert Brown 25 August 2020 15:04 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew The problem is the Tories know that landlords are very unlikely NOT to vote Tory, so they can ignore our voices and needs. Everyone seems to be cozying up to the younger generation - even M&S - and the young are no more likely to buy there as they are to vote Tory. In Scotland, it's even worse as the SNP know full well that landlords are too financially savvy to vote for them - hence they are even more anti landlord than any of the others. Unfortunately their tenant supporters are too dim to realise the harm done by anti PRS legislation - reducing the availability of rental properties and increasing rents through market forces.

From: Robert Brown 25 August 2020 14:56 PM

Robert Brown
David Lester. If you're calling me a parasite you're just as stupid as The other landlord bashers who have crawled out from under their stones recently. I have worked very hard and taken many risks to provide quality homes for around 50 people. The first £40,000 of annual rental income goes on the minimum costs of maintaining these homes along with periodic capital expenditure on new fixtures and fittings. Finally 41% of the remaining rental income goes out on Income Tax - so after a lifetime of working hard I continue to be a valuable contributor to the community and economy. All I am asking from tenants is a reciprocal contribution from tenants which they have signed a legally binding contract to make. How could I be called a parasite for requesting any rent dodgers to move out so that a more deserving tenant can move in? CORRECTION. I forgot to take into account the marginal rate of 61% paid on over £40k of the joint income of my wife and me. On checking, we paid over £100k income tax last year. Rent dodgers don't just defraud landlords. They defraud the tax payer too!

From: Robert Brown 25 August 2020 12:55 PM

Robert Brown
Pay your way or go away.

From: Robert Brown 25 August 2020 10:18 AM

Robert Brown
Government should pay the rent and convert the arrears into a loan to be repaid by tenants - with 8% interest - problem solved.

From: Robert Brown 25 August 2020 10:18 AM

Robert Brown
Seb Change the record!

From: Robert Brown 24 August 2020 13:20 PM

Robert Brown
Mark. Please pay attention! The court system is currently suspended meaning feckless rogues are squatting in homes which could otherwise be let to decent tenants willing and able to pay their way. Why would any right thinking person protect a feckless rent dodger at the expense of a decent hard working family? Over the last few months there has been huge support for most of society - except landlords - and many jobs available in supermarkets etc. for those willing to work.

From: Robert Brown 24 August 2020 13:10 PM

Robert Brown
Please don't encourage him. His posts are a waste of time and he doesn't understand the real consequences of all the anti landlord sentiment and behavior which actually harms the most vulnerable tenants the most - like all loony leftie philosophies do in practice - but their supporters are too thick to see that.

From: Robert Brown 24 August 2020 13:03 PM

Robert Brown
My rents are all up to date but I have always been careful in tenant selection - not through discrimination but through choosing better properties which are in high demand and command top rents.

From: Robert Brown 24 August 2020 12:58 PM

Robert Brown
Reality is shown in the above posts. Landlords will no longer be prepared to take a punt on potentially vulnerable tenants - so the Landlord bashers are actually harming the most vulnerable tenants even more than before. I feel sorry for such tenants but I'm not running a charity and the so- called charities are only worsening the prospects of those they claim to help. THAT is the reality of the effect of current misguided actions of Government.

From: Robert Brown 24 August 2020 12:56 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew Given his previous posts I doubt he's mature enough to remember the 90's!

From: Robert Brown 23 August 2020 17:20 PM

Robert Brown
As I have said above, such resilience can come through volume and ensuring the portfolio can only be afforded by solvent tenants with solvent guarantors, preferably with several sharing joint and several liability. In the days of high interest rates, the interest cover was much less and the risk much higher, but the compensation was high capital growth which could be remortgaged to provide deposits for further properties. Currently mortgage companies want interest cover of 125 to 150%. I think that is too risky but I'm comfortable with interest cover of above 300% ( I currently have about 1200%) and with mortgages of up to 50%, which is twice what I currently have. Being panicked into selling up simply to reduce gearing is foolish without carefully considering all the other factors in the mix- CGT, IHT, Interest cover, number of enquiries for every vacant property, alternative rental streams from HMO, Student lets, Airbnb, furnished holiday lets etc. We have many weapons in our armoury if we know how to use them and when to use each one to best effect.

From: Robert Brown 22 August 2020 00:22 AM

Robert Brown
Paul/Andrew There are two considerations with leverage/ gearing. One is the % of equity in a portfolio and the other is the multiple of interest cover from the rent. My families' portfolio has about £1 million debt and £3 million equity, so 25% gearing, which I consider low risk and selling 25% of the portfolio would leave the other properties unencumbered if it weren't for CGT! On the other hand, the interest payable on the £1 million mortgage is currently under £20,000 and the interest cover is around 12 times at £250,000 per annum. However, selling 25% of the portfolio would lose around £60,000 in rental income and only save £20,000 in mortgage interest. I'm comfortable with the risk level of my borrowing and interest rates would have to go up to around 8%, or rent defaults go to over 30% before I would consider divestment of any of the portfolio. Having put the majority of the portfolio, and all of its debt, into the names of my grown up children to avoid IHT, I think we're in the PRS for the long term, even with the SNP loony legislation but I welcome any move by other landlords to sell up and let market forces continue to drive up rents for the best properties. I'm not interested in adding more properties or going downmarket into low income or DSS tenant territory which is where most of the risk and hassle is and will continue to harm landlords in that market sector.

From: Robert Brown 22 August 2020 00:07 AM

Robert Brown
Paul I actually bought quite a few of them in my grown up children's names so no CGT and very manageable IHT implications for me. I continue to manage them and enjoy their after tax profits but only have very modest btl mortgages on the flats which are in my children's names, with my own properties being mortgage free. I don't want a Lamborghini or bigger boat, car or house and can live very well on the after tax profits. My fear would be some sort of wealth tax that would seriously damage my cash flow and potentially force some property divestment or further giving away of assets.

From: Robert Brown 18 August 2020 23:04 PM

Robert Brown
Paul The loony SNP legislation has actually helped rents grow from £1500 per month in 2016 to £2100 in 2020 and I typically have 10 to 15 groups wanting to rent. The secret is to get the new tenants signed up in February and paying from 1st June or earlier, knowing that they will leave as soon as they can, often in early May in final year. 2nd and 3rd year students will pay throughout the summer as they don't want to risk losing my flats which are all very near the University and kept in pristine condition. I have never had to go to court as the threat of court action and peer pressure on joint and several liability from all guarantors is enough to ensure no rent arrears or unexpected repair bills. My "professional" tenants, on the other hand, are much less reliable, even with guarantors in place and my only eviction was of a DSS tenant - so never again! I can tolerate snobbery and demanding parents provided it's matched with top level rents paid on time every month.

From: Robert Brown 18 August 2020 22:44 PM

Robert Brown
I have yields of 10% plus from students in Glasgow's G12 West End. I agree about the snobbish parents but at least they are scared about their credit ratings and always fold and pay up if their offspring fail to pay rent or trash the property. Incidentally the basic premise of this article is totally flawed in that the average property is not the same value of property which is rented out for the average rent as they are in totally different markets. In St Andrews KY16 the average rent of around£1250 is achieved from a property worth around £200k or even lower which is much less than the average property purchase price of around £370k which could get around £3000 per month. In Glasgow G12 West End a rent of over £2000 per month can be achieved from a property worth £200k to £250k - so between 10 and 12% yields.

From: Robert Brown 18 August 2020 22:09 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew I agree - now - but in the 80's buying my first btl flat for £60k with a 90% mortgage was the best move I ever made and over the next few years I remortgaged using the growth in property prices to buy a few more without having to put in any more of my own money. That £6k has grown to over £3 million in equity with £250k gross rental per annum. Sadly those opportunities no longer seem to exist although auction properties are still an opportunity for those willing to put in the effort and take a punt.

From: Robert Brown 17 August 2020 08:57 AM

Robert Brown
Paul No Scottish landlords with decent properties are at all worried about any prospect of rent controls. The only properties under threat are the slums which only the dreg tenants would consider and no self respecting landlord would buy. This is a non threat whilst there is a shortage of decent properties and a surfeit of demand from potentially acceptable tenants.

From: Robert Brown 16 August 2020 19:30 PM

Robert Brown
I don't think btl was ever on the way down apart from overheated areas and will continue to be a good investment. However Landlords won't buy any overpriced new builds, leaving them for naive first time buyers etc. taking on unaffordable mortgages.

From: Robert Brown 14 August 2020 10:00 AM

Robert Brown
No deposit - no chance of being my tenants. Grow up and save up and show landlords that you can be trusted.

From: Robert Brown 13 August 2020 13:30 PM

Robert Brown
No DSS would have been a cheaper and more reliable method to achieve this!

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2020 11:44 AM

Robert Brown
As well as being totally misguided, you're years out of date as the DHSS split into NHS and DSS years ago. We still won't take DSS claimants as there are plenty of hard working more reliable tenants available but we'll now have to waste everyone's time in sifting them out. Like every leftie initiative it will be counter productive to the people they think they are supporting. Decent hard working tenants will still get the priority they deserve but they might have to wait a bit longer whilst we sort through the dross that we can't just ignore now.

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2020 11:41 AM

Robert Brown
The tax dodgers will dodge the register like everything else.

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2020 09:24 AM

Robert Brown
I agree. Rents for the best properties are still rising thanks to Shelter etc. and principally to the SNP in Scotland. According to their 50-50 policy the next article here will talk about rents falling faster!

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2020 09:22 AM

Robert Brown
But it's better than just slapping more rules and costs on decent landlords - which are ignored by the rogues anyway.

From: Robert Brown 05 August 2020 11:28 AM

Robert Brown
Totally agree. I wasted £200 on a Green Deal "consultant" and the quotes I got from "approved contractors" were much higher than local highly reputable contractors. It's a pity that successive generations never learn from the mistakes of their predecessors but they seem to think that 30 years' less life experience is an advantage! Incidentally I have NEVER had any tenants pay any attention to the EPC which is another waste of time and money.

From: Robert Brown 05 August 2020 11:26 AM

Robert Brown
Totally agree with both your posts above. In Scotland I have had one flat's market rent go up from £750 per month ( in 2000 to 2007) to £1250 in 2010 and to £2100 since the SNP loony legislation came into force in December 2017. Sincere thanks to SNP, Shelter et al.

From: Robert Brown 04 August 2020 15:49 PM

Robert Brown
I bought premium bonds with the delayed tax payments and won £1 million on each bond - then I woke up - but I still have six months of chances to come using this interest free money. Sometimes dreams can come true???

From: Robert Brown 31 July 2020 14:53 PM

Robert Brown
I'm pretty sure that isn't how the landlord would have given the property to the sitting tenants!

From: Robert Brown 31 July 2020 14:09 PM

Robert Brown
Yesterday the article warned about lower rents. At least with a 50-50 hedging bet they'll be right more often than a stopped clock - but not any more useful as an indicator to be relied upon!

From: Robert Brown 31 July 2020 14:06 PM

Robert Brown
This is why rents won't plummet as Airbnb is a real alternative for most high quality properties.

From: Robert Brown 30 July 2020 10:11 AM

Robert Brown
I'm laughing too - but there is a germ of a good idea in this. Government should guarantee all unpaid rents whilst ensuring landlords can evict for all other reasons promptly and easily - thus improving life for all neighbours and landlords whilst ensuring poverty isn't a prime cause of homelessness. It would be down to government to pursue rent arrears with the same vigour as income tax and other tax arrears. A win win for everyone except those who deliberately avoid paying when they can well afford to do so.

From: Robert Brown 24 July 2020 10:06 AM

Robert Brown
Another tax on decent landlords and tenants. Rogue landlords will ignore it and rogue tenants still won't leave until forced out - acting on Council advice when staying put and causing misery to neighbours and landlords alike! Making eviction quick and simple is the easiest way to improve the lot of all decent landlords and tenants, not more bureaucracy and licence fees!

From: Robert Brown 24 July 2020 09:59 AM

Robert Brown
Crazy idea! It will reduce the number of house moves even more than SDLT does and people will stay put in their starter homes for much longer, thus impacting even more on first time buyers. Why not remove the tax free CGT element and increase all CGT to match that already paid on sale of investment properties? Currently shareholder speculators are treated much better than landlords who provide homes for those who can't or won't buy their own.

From: Robert Brown 24 July 2020 09:19 AM

Robert Brown
I've never been asked about the EPC from any tenant - ever! There are many things much higher priority than the EPC ratings, especially in older quirkier properties - which tenants love to rent. I bet there was nothing questionable about Grenfell's EPC rating and the cladding probably"improved" it!

From: Robert Brown 21 July 2020 19:48 PM

Robert Brown
Landlords already pay higher CGT (28%) than stock market speculators and only get one tax free allowance no matter how many years they have owned the property. Happy to see fairness by all investors paying the same CGT, which will mean tax hikes for all other investors if they are to match the CGT paid by landlords.

From: Robert Brown 16 July 2020 16:10 PM

Robert Brown
There shouldn't be any disputes over rent to resolve. Unpaid rent is due and not paying it and remaining in the property is theft. The Police should "resolve" this by charging the thief - simples!

From: Robert Brown 15 July 2020 11:21 AM

Robert Brown
Is it discrimination for a mortgage company to decide on the basis of affordability, credit rating etc.? Of course not! No DSS is just a shorthand for credit worthy solvent tenants only. I say No Smokers which is almost the same as No DSS. The ban on No DSS just wastes everyone's time and doesn't help DSS tenants get better properties that they can't afford anyway. My practices won't change.

From: Robert Brown 15 July 2020 10:38 AM

Robert Brown
How has any nationalisation ever worked out for anyone other than its workshy employees? Capitalism can work for everyone as the customers still have a choice of provider. The better then customer, the better the choice!

From: Robert Brown 13 July 2020 14:43 PM

Robert Brown
Sorry - did I miss something? I didn't see Paul say he was going to demolish any properties thus adding to homelessness. He will sell to someone who hasn't been feckless enough not to save the necessary deposit to get on the property ladder. Perhaps your lack of understanding of this is why you're still a tenant and contributing to your landlord's wealth?

From: Robert Brown 13 July 2020 14:38 PM

Robert Brown
I agree. It's the new timeshare scam just waiting on the gullible investors, having already fooled the gullible politicians. Such tower block ghettos are also ideal virus incubators - just look at Melbourne!

From: Robert Brown 13 July 2020 10:14 AM

Robert Brown
Landlords are always happy to work with good responsible tenants, but such tenants will already be trying to work with their landlords. It's those who ignore the situation - or their landlords' attempts to work with them - who should rightly be worried - but their evictions will still be a long way off unless they cause the property to be repossessed.

From: Robert Brown 13 July 2020 10:06 AM

Robert Brown
Lefties are never happy! If the BTL penalty were increased they would initially be happy until they saw that it led to higher rents.

From: Robert Brown 13 July 2020 10:02 AM

Robert Brown
Remember the £2000 car scrappage scheme? New car prices rose, often by over £2000. Market forces always win over government interference or assistance.

From: Robert Brown 09 July 2020 09:15 AM

Robert Brown
Surely it's the occupiers ( tenants) who will benefit from such insulation? It's unlikely to be totally cost free for landlords and will be unlikely to affect the price realised on selling.

From: Robert Brown 09 July 2020 09:13 AM

Robert Brown
Most landlords will be happy to waive the rest of the lease if tenants can't afford to pay their way. Why should landlords or the taxpayer take the hit once it's obvious that staying put is no longer affordable?

From: Robert Brown 07 July 2020 11:42 AM

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

From: Robert Brown 06 July 2020 20:20 PM

Robert Brown
The potentially - and usually - fully returned deposit is NOT a cost of rental, unless the tenants know full well that they won't return the property in good order. Everything done to "help" tenants seems to have the opposite effect, preventing decent tenants from getting good affordable housing as rogue tenants are protected from prompt eviction and the financial consequences of their careless and feckless lifestyles.

From: Robert Brown 06 July 2020 20:07 PM

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

From: Robert Brown 06 July 2020 09:01 AM

Robert Brown
I agree with Andrew. Don't let them stay beyond their initial lease period but wait until they have left before telling them why you did so just in case they get difficult. It's called revenge eviction - which is now much more difficult in Scotland - but in the end every eviction is a revenge one - and a source of consolation for the landlord.

From: Robert Brown 04 July 2020 14:18 PM

Robert Brown
Excellent post Michael! The CGT penalty is particularly cruel to older landlords trying to implement an exit strategy. Stock market investors can get over £11000 capital gains tax free every year but we can't roll up any unused GGT exemptions to reduce our much higher 28% tax bill if we want to sell up.

From: Robert Brown 03 July 2020 13:41 PM

Robert Brown
Smart meters - especially the first generation - are a waste of money. They don't save the customer any money - just let the original supplier read them remotely, which is a facility lost whenever the utility provider changes.

From: Robert Brown 03 July 2020 13:30 PM

Robert Brown
Guidance for dealing with rent arrears: 1. Talk to tenants and agree short term repayment plan or accept their request to leave your property before the end of the lease period with the deposit going towards unpaid rent. 2. Suggest they seek financial support elsewhere as we're neither banks nor charities and tell them you will alert their guarantors shortly if 1 above not satisfactory - or immediately regret not insisting on guarantors. 3. Give notice that you will get a ccj against them and their guarantors. 4. Warn them you are considering eviction. 5. Keep promises made in 3 and 4 above. 6. Expect to be out of pocket for quite a considerable time.

From: Robert Brown 03 July 2020 13:22 PM

Robert Brown
Market forces will always prevail. Good times ahead for landlords, especially those who have escaped any downside recently and keep rents unchanged so that their decent tenants will probably be enjoying below market rents - so for once a win - win for decent landlords and tenants, a win for other landlords who can increase rents for new tenants and a lose for rent dodgers. A rare case of justice in the PRS!

From: Robert Brown 02 July 2020 09:30 AM

Robert Brown
Good news - but public sector employees who have sat at home on full pay for 4 months should now work 50 hour weeks for the next year to make up the time off and deal with the backlog - however don't hold your breath! Landlords should be very wary of new tenants from now on to ensure they aren't inheriting another landlord's problem. Perhaps Shelter can help the homeless? After all, is that not what they claim to do - or do they only bash decent landlords and by extension decent tenants?

From: Robert Brown 02 July 2020 09:25 AM

Robert Brown
Water testing is actually in force in places with Legionella risk assessments which should be updated every two years!

From: Robert Brown 01 July 2020 17:45 PM

Robert Brown
I'm buying premium bonds with this interest free money and will sell them in January if I need to do so but will otherwise hang on to them with the tiny chance of winning big. What idiot is claiming we risk paying double in January? We would simply be paying the same amount but in one payment instead of two.

From: Robert Brown 29 June 2020 13:53 PM

Robert Brown
Paul It's the norm in Glasgow student flats and any questions or doubts see me move on to the next group wanting the flat. Having said that, many think that they are only guarantors for their own offspring and while my standard letter does spell it out and suggests that they seek independent legal advice, I've never had a refusal when the alternative is not getting my flats. Perhaps with cheaper lower quality properties, market forces don't make this so easy but I have never been tempted by lower quality properties or the resulting tenants.

From: Robert Brown 26 June 2020 15:41 PM

Robert Brown
Both say £460.35 million.

From: Robert Brown 26 June 2020 15:33 PM

Robert Brown
A level playing field would be a good start but unlikely with any potential government in this country in the foreseeable future. Massive homelessness and soaring rents are the only way we'll get landlords' rights properly protected.

From: Robert Brown 26 June 2020 15:31 PM

Robert Brown
Fire Brigade management are not blameless either. I recently enquired if regulations had changed regarding provision of emergency lighting as I had heard a rumour to this effect. I was pointed to a load of government gobble degook publications and when I asked them to confirm that I wouldn't need this if my last formal inspection hadn't highlighted it as a requirement I was told not to rely on this as it was my responsibility to ensure that I followed all relevant guidelines etc. I was pointed to a retired senior fire official to provide customised fire safety advice for £100. I decided to spend the £100 on installing potentially unnecessary emergency lighting instead!

From: Robert Brown 26 June 2020 15:28 PM

Robert Brown
That's what consultants do.... borrow your watch and charge you for telling you the time..... but it will only be an estimate based on easily verifiable evidence that won't be verified......and only given when you've signed their contract and multiple page disclaimer.

From: Robert Brown 26 June 2020 15:21 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree! I've found most self employed tradesmen only too willing to work in empty properties but those working for the larger firms are only too happy to take tax payers' handouts - and as for Councils closing everything possible for as long as possible......... Who would ever have thought that fly tipping would increase when dumps were closed? ????

From: Robert Brown 26 June 2020 15:15 PM

Robert Brown
Any research by Shelter will be biased rubbish. Apparently there are lots of jobs available picking fruit that worried tenants could take - but why bother when landlords are powerless to pursue their legal rights? Will the folly of not insisting on large deposits be recognised? Don't hold your breath!

From: Robert Brown 26 June 2020 15:09 PM

Robert Brown
I'm fairly relaxed so long as I have four solvent middle class guarantors sharing joint and several liability and who value a good credit rating. I've never had to get to court with the mere threat of a ccj being enough to get any arrears settled or rents paid to end of the lease, when Scotland's landlords and tenants could still agree on a mutually acceptable lease period. Our biggest threat currently is all joint tenants agreeing to up sticks on 28 days notice if the snowflake lecturers stay scared of face to face teaching.

From: Robert Brown 24 June 2020 12:03 PM

Robert Brown
It should be tenants' own number one responsibility to look after their safety. Coronavirus only survives for 2 or 3 days so all they need to do is to wait for this time after getting the keys. Alternatively if they want then they can get 3 days rent free in return for a 10% increase in normal rental rates. Everything is eventually paid for by the end user.

From: Robert Brown 23 June 2020 09:52 AM

Robert Brown
Gearing at a sensible percentage is an excellent way to grow equity in normal times but I would be a bit nervous about being overextended currently. Perhaps Shelter would help out landlords who need it to protect tenants from being made homeless?

From: Robert Brown 23 June 2020 09:46 AM

Robert Brown
Someone has to suffer an unexpected and undeserved loss in these circumstances. Why is it always the assumption that the tenant is more deserving of sympathy,flexibility and understanding than the landlord? The tenant's maximum exposure is the rent due until the end of the contract. The landlord could be exposed to bankruptcy, especially if he has multiple properties and multiple tenants reneging on their contractual obligations. The tenants should have solvent guarantors to help them out. The landlord will normally have only lenders or bankers who have shareholders' interests to protect as their primary responsibility.

From: Robert Brown 22 June 2020 11:39 AM

Robert Brown
Property owners who trusted the appropriate building standards authorities to do their jobs properly should not have to foot the bill but will probably end up doing so. To make matters worse, those incompetent officials who are to blame are still in their overpaid jobs looking forward to an undeserved final salary pension - and would have been on full salary for the last three months whilst doing little or no productive work!

From: Robert Brown 19 June 2020 13:51 PM

Robert Brown
Surely recent events have shown the folly of low deposits? If tenants could start with 2 months deposit down and pay an extra 10% rent towards an increased deposit, then they would have three months deposit after 10 months renting and 4.5 months deposit after 2 years renting. That way tenants would be much better placed to weather any unexpected drop in future income, build up a useful nest egg and demonstrate fiscal responsibility to landlords. At the moment, everyone is relying on the fiscal responsibility of the landlords to avoid early repossession by lenders. It's time for a level playing field!

From: Robert Brown 18 June 2020 11:12 AM

Robert Brown
By "country" I assume you mean England and not UK? I have NEVER experienced rental falls in Scotland and that was before the SNP's contributions caused the recent 33% increase in rents achieved for the best properties. I do NOT expect anything other than sustained healthy rent increases in Scotland over the foreseeable future.

From: Robert Brown 18 June 2020 11:02 AM

Robert Brown
Investing in the stock market gives tax fee dividends of £2000 and gains of £11000 or so per annum but I prefer property instead of trusting the red braces brigade.

From: Robert Brown 17 June 2020 15:41 PM

Robert Brown
We understand that this is not free money but a potentially expensive option to be avoided where possible. Many other borrowers are less astute.

From: Robert Brown 17 June 2020 15:37 PM

Robert Brown
I suggest that real reason is that home owners plan ahead better and get their priorities right. Many tenants only live for today, don't save, buy clothes, cars and holidays they can't afford along with too many costalot coffees and expensive hospitality. In fact the lockdown should have saved many of them a fortune!

From: Robert Brown 17 June 2020 15:24 PM

Robert Brown
Don't forget they'll be paying 28% CGT whereas someone investing in the stock markets could have made about £150,000 capital gains tax free along with about £80,000 dividends tax free during the same period.

From: Robert Brown 17 June 2020 15:09 PM

Robert Brown
Glasgow is winning thanks to the SNP loony legislation banning tenants and landlords from agreeing a mutually acceptable length of lease, restricting rent increases to once a year etc. Result is rents are up 33% for the best properties compared to 2016 and landlords can pick and choose their tenants. Rents always go up annually whereas before it tended to be only when tenants left unless they were tenants we didn't want to keep. As usual, decent tenants and landlords bear the brunt of legislation that only protects rogue tenants and is ignored by rogue landlords.

From: Robert Brown 17 June 2020 14:54 PM

Robert Brown
Don't agree with you this time Andrew. Doing the same as millions of others is unlikely to get you noticed. You might even win £1 million, courtesy of the taxman by buying Premium Bonds.

From: Robert Brown 13 June 2020 18:12 PM

Robert Brown
Put it into Premium Bonds for 6 months. Any winnings are a double bonus as they're tax free AND you're using money that would otherwise have gone to the taxman by 31 July.

From: Robert Brown 13 June 2020 18:09 PM

Robert Brown
Why not? If the tenant is willing to pay more then the landlord is entitled to charge more. It's capitalism and market forces in action.

From: Robert Brown 11 June 2020 12:58 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew The key word is little!

From: Robert Brown 09 June 2020 17:34 PM

Robert Brown
Rents have shot up since the SNP crazy legislation in December 2017 banned tenants and landlords from agreeing fixed term leases and allowed tenants to leave any time on 28 days notice. Results include no one being able to plan ahead, schedule routine maintenance, offer Airbnb rents to tourists to subsidise student term time rents etc. In fact, no positive results for tenants but around 33% increase in rents achieved by landlords due to market forces prevailing as they always do.

From: Robert Brown 09 June 2020 17:32 PM

Robert Brown
Great Suggestion Paul.

From: Robert Brown 03 June 2020 09:06 AM

Robert Brown
Honouring the rental agreement is treating everyone fairly. Anything else disadvantages one party to the agreement.

From: Robert Brown 03 June 2020 08:59 AM

Robert Brown
Well said Matthew! Indeed Students often rely on the additional protection afforded by deeming their term time homes as their "principal or only home" instead of the additional protection which landlords would have if they were regarded as short- term furnished lettings as is the case for self catering holiday accommodation. As usual, students and their parents want it both ways.

From: Robert Brown 27 May 2020 13:44 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew Totally agree - always amused by their designer gear and the parents' posh cars on lease or pcp, which they couldn't afford to buy outright. On a brighter note, in Scotland students may often have dustman or road sweeper parents and buck the trend. About the only successful (but unaffordable moving forward) SNP policy has been no tuition fees for Scottish students, allowing more modest students to attend University AND afford my rents!

From: Robert Brown 27 May 2020 11:31 AM

Robert Brown
Groups of professionals will be the preference over students for the better properties, forcing them into the dross or purpose built student ghettos. Investors should go for better standard properties which can be marketed to various groups of flat sharers until students disabuse themselves of any illusion that they are a preferred or privileged group. Purpose built student accommodation, where investors "buy" a room should be avoided as they are very like the bygone timeshare properties, with no easy resale options, escalating maintenance charges and no option to avoid the increasingly unattractive student market.

From: Robert Brown 27 May 2020 09:13 AM

Robert Brown
Paul Most solvent middle class guarantors pay up to avoid having their credit rating trashed and claim they were unaware of their errant offspring's misbehaviour. I've never had to take them to court, and with several guarantors with joint and several liability, peer pressure on the defaulting party's guarantor is virtually guaranteed to succeed.

From: Robert Brown 26 May 2020 22:48 PM

Robert Brown
Solvent middle class guarantors are the only thing that makes letting to students worth while, although I am often amused by being looked down on by snobbish parents with a net worth a fraction of mine.

From: Robert Brown 26 May 2020 18:26 PM

Robert Brown
They will be left with the dross properties that they deserve with parents like you showing them exactly how NOT to behave when entrusted with six figure assets! I often have around 15 to 20 groups wanting to rent my properties, which are all kept in pristine condition with no voids apart from this spring. All have since been relet without any rent reductions to professionals, so less choice for the students when they re-emerge from having fled home in March.

From: Robert Brown 26 May 2020 16:13 PM

Robert Brown
The SNP "model agreement" in Scotland runs to nearly 40 pages with the same again of explanatory notes. I have read it and am pretty conversant with it as I am bound by its terms. I'm happy to advise any tenants who can't or don't read it, but I doubt Google can provide such advice.

From: Robert Brown 26 May 2020 13:32 PM

Robert Brown
Councils are asking for a come and go policy. We do the coming and when asked to reciprocate, they do the going!

From: Robert Brown 26 May 2020 13:23 PM

Robert Brown
I am now actively avoiding students where I have a choice, which is currently always. Students will find their actions will come back to bite them, especially in Scotland where many left with 28 days notice in mid March, as allowed by the loony SNP legislation of December 2017. Some even had the gall to ask for the 28 days notice to be waived!

From: Robert Brown 26 May 2020 13:21 PM

Robert Brown
I don't think Google has a copy of my tenancy agreements. Tenants should check these first and if still unclear ask their landlord. In fact they should ask their landlord in any case otherwise they might find out what happens as a result of failure to communicate or adhere to the terms of their agreement. In my experience agreements are most needed when there isn't agreement.

From: Robert Brown 25 May 2020 09:08 AM

Robert Brown
I don't understand why I am expected to undertake these additional responsibilities. Why not ask the under-worked council employees enjoying full pay to do this whilst they're still being paid but not doing their normal jobs? On second thoughts, I'll do this if they all volunteer to pick fruit etc.

From: Robert Brown 21 May 2020 13:08 PM

Robert Brown
Michael Thanks for the info. I gave up a fast track career in London in the early 70's to return to a more modest but better quality of life in Scotland. I've often wondered "what if" but from what you describe I made the right decision to return to Scotland, even if the SNP are screwing umpteen thousands more income tax from higher earning tax payers, threatening to bankrupt us with independence, no fixed term leases, limited rent increases etc.

From: Robert Brown 19 May 2020 19:02 PM

Robert Brown
In my experience, middle class guarantors pay up before legal action to protect their credit ratings and often claim they were unaware of their errant offspring defaulting on the legally binding tenancy agreement. I inform them as soon as I smell trouble and have never had to take legal action when I have solvent guarantors.

From: Robert Brown 19 May 2020 11:02 AM

Robert Brown
So btl interest rates will fall - another win opportunity for brave solvent landlords.

From: Robert Brown 18 May 2020 18:00 PM

Robert Brown
The difference is the lower purchase price is a permanent saving but the potentially lower rent is a temporary reduction in yield and will improve over time, as will the property values due to market forces once things begin to normalise. Buying now or soon is a win win for solvent investors with the cash or 50% plus deposits. I have always bought when most are selling and have turned a £6000 deposit into around £3 million of equity and £250k gross annual rental income over a period of 22 years. I can afford to take a risk in the current climate and may well do so.

From: Robert Brown 18 May 2020 17:55 PM

Robert Brown
Seb 2) Legal every time. I've tried moral and flexibility and it's never reciprocated - so now always legal action if any requirement to protect my interests.

From: Robert Brown 18 May 2020 17:46 PM

Robert Brown
Agreed. To avoid the ban on NO DSS, I always state No Smokers. It's almost the same thing and is quite legal and justifiable, although Shelter are probably on the case!

From: Robert Brown 15 May 2020 12:00 PM

Robert Brown
David I did caveat my comment to be about the best properties in specific areas, price bands etc. which in my experience are the first to be taken. Inferior properties might have to reduce rents or purchase prices due to affordability issues.

From: Robert Brown 14 May 2020 11:39 AM

Robert Brown
Pent up demand will lead to higher rents and purchase prices for the best properties. Landlords will win out of this - just reward for all we have done and the risks we have taken. Sebastian will be so pleased for all of us!

From: Robert Brown 14 May 2020 09:40 AM

Robert Brown
Totally agree. There are plenty of decent tenants out there - no need to tolerate the rent dodgers who are stopping decent tenants from getting better homes - something Shelter, Seb etc. can't grasp.

From: Robert Brown 13 May 2020 21:00 PM

Robert Brown
Sebastian If you took the trouble to read our posts you would learn that we DO support decent tenants in trouble. Your problem, along with Shelter etc. is that you want us to support the dregs who stay in our properties without paying and thus deprive decent tenants and families of renting decent homes from decent landlords.

From: Robert Brown 13 May 2020 20:38 PM

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

From: Robert Brown 13 May 2020 09:19 AM

Robert Brown
I smell jealousy from you Ray? I think you need to learn a bit about real life (as well as how to spell properly). Many of us have built our portfolio on hard graft and sacrifice. However people like you will never accept that risk and effort should reap reward - but I don't care what you think or wish for as I shall never be poor again and my conscience is clear.

From: Robert Brown 12 May 2020 20:14 PM

Robert Brown
Tell them all they won't be allowed to stay after the lease end date if the rent is even a penny in arrears then. The other two can then use peer pressure on the furloughed guy or make up any shortfall. Come to think of it, just put them out anyway and make sure that they know why.

From: Robert Brown 12 May 2020 12:28 PM

Robert Brown
I am a fan of Landlord Action and the Channel 5 programme where at least some tenants stealing free accommodation eventually get their comeuppance. We need more Pauls to help more Landlords.

From: Robert Brown 12 May 2020 12:23 PM

Robert Brown
I would say you can definitely now do so but I would still have done so anyway last week. The problem is that most people can't understand shades of grey and black and white is too blunt an instrument in many cases.

From: Robert Brown 11 May 2020 10:23 AM

Robert Brown
And only 2500 complaints to TPO, with 2/3 upheld. Just another vote seeking load of propaganda from Labour.

From: Robert Brown 11 May 2020 10:17 AM

Robert Brown
2500 complaints is miniscule out of millions of tenancies - doesn't sound like an industry rife with exploitation and victimisation etc. Maybe Shelter can disband itself and give its millions to hard pressed landlords and tenants?

From: Robert Brown 11 May 2020 10:13 AM

Robert Brown
Estate Agents should be on the High Streets, and on the motorways etc. - lying in the fast lane!

From: Robert Brown 07 May 2020 18:52 PM

Robert Brown
Surprised any Council has anyone still working to implement this - but it's probably that they're not at work to stop it happening anyway.

From: Robert Brown 06 May 2020 11:34 AM

Robert Brown
Sebastian I don't think Courts ever sell tickets, but some cases would be worth paying to see, although the opponent is unlikely to turn up and put up a fight. I think the Romans had the right idea. Pity it got too cold for them up here!

From: Robert Brown 06 May 2020 11:28 AM

Robert Brown
Since the SNP abolished the right of Scottish Landlords and tenants to agree on a mutually suitable fixed term lease, landlords have been blighted by tenants upping and leaving on a whim at 28 days notice, with no right for the landlords to end the tenancy on a no fault basis. Many students simply left their flats in early March and many of these flats will stay empty until September or later if the snowflake University staff plead unsafe working conditions. This scheme does nothing for landlords who no longer have tenants and little for those who do but again the SNP manage to grab favourable but misleading headlines!

From: Robert Brown 06 May 2020 11:16 AM

Robert Brown
Mark Not sure what you're putting in between? I think you believe speculation is a bad word? It's simply a synonym for "risk" and those of us who took the risk to provide homes for the feckless, reckless and hopeless now richly deserve the reward that justly follows well-researched risk!

From: Robert Brown 01 May 2020 19:56 PM

Robert Brown
That is one agency added to my "never use" file. She has as much idea of how to gain customer confidence as Ryanair's O'Leary!

From: Robert Brown 29 April 2020 10:22 AM

Robert Brown
I would definitely pull out and cut your losses. If things get clearer over the summer there will probably be opportunities to get back on an even keel then but the downside of not pulling out is probably more than the cash you'll lose in pulling out, given you haven't yet exchanged contracts.

From: Robert Brown 27 April 2020 18:30 PM

Robert Brown
Don't insult the journalists. They might dream up scare stories about Landlords not providing PPE for all tenants!

From: Robert Brown 24 April 2020 12:29 PM

Robert Brown
So what ARE tenants going to spend the money saved on lunches and holidays? Don't see why the wealth of the landlord affects the legal obligation to pay the AGREED levels of rent?

From: Robert Brown 23 April 2020 09:02 AM

Robert Brown
Why not just give the support directly to those landlords that are affected to ensure that it actually gets directly to where it's needed?

From: Robert Brown 23 April 2020 08:59 AM

Robert Brown
A decline of -12% means an increase of 12%. Journalists should learn basic mathematics and the grammatical effect of a double negative!

From: Robert Brown 23 April 2020 08:56 AM

Robert Brown
Perhaps we could use Agents like canaries in mines - checking out if properties are safe. If they live, it's safe for others. If they die it's still a win for mankind.

From: Robert Brown 21 April 2020 15:52 PM

Robert Brown
Tenants refusing to allow vital safety checks, especially in flats, should be fined as they're putting other occupants' lives at risk - unless these checks are largely a waste of landlords' money - like many other schemes only applying to rental properties. How many owner occupied properties have gas explosions or CO- related deaths in the average year? What Covid-19 checks will be dreamt up for us in the coming months?

From: Robert Brown 21 April 2020 15:49 PM

Robert Brown
He'll have changed before he gets the letter!

From: Robert Brown 21 April 2020 15:42 PM

Robert Brown
I would have thought that one lesson from the current crisis is the need for much better proof of affordability by prospective tenants and one way to demonstrate that is to have saved a substantial deposit. Deposits can help both landlords and tenants as they could be drawn on in current circumstances to protect Landlords' cash flow whilst protecting tenants' homes. Snake oil " no deposit " schemes will only make money for their salesmen, protect no one and cast doubt on the tenants' financial acumen, capability to manage their finances properly and commitment to look after our property. My mantra continues to be " no deposit, no tenancy".

From: Robert Brown 17 April 2020 22:22 PM

Robert Brown
I agree Andrew. Mind you, I must be one of the highest paid cleaners in the UK! I try to remember that when up to my armpits - never fails to cheer me up then.

From: Robert Brown 16 April 2020 13:17 PM

Robert Brown
I agree. I was laughed at by people for spending New Year and Easter holidays etc. dressed in my painting clothes, lugging rubble bags etc. I don't need to do that anymore and could now afford far more holidays than I have either time or inclination to take.

From: Robert Brown 16 April 2020 13:11 PM

Robert Brown
Paul. Pity a lot of them were conceived about 30 years ago - but if they hadn't been, we wouldn't have had such demand to rent our properties!

From: Robert Brown 16 April 2020 13:06 PM

Robert Brown
Buying opportunities for the bravest in the months to come. Carpe Diem!

From: Robert Brown 16 April 2020 09:08 AM

Robert Brown
I hope students have real problems finding accommodation when they eventually come back cap in hand - for two reasons. 1. Revenge. 2. Market forces will push up rents. They will find it will end up being a Zero Sum Game with landlords recouping current losses through higher rents later this year.

From: Robert Brown 15 April 2020 13:49 PM

Robert Brown
SS. If your son's loan doesn't cover his outgoings, the assumption is the parents can afford to act as guarantors, not rely on the landlords to take the hit. I put 3 kids through University but planned ahead by buying flats for which their flatmates covered the mortgage. Solvent parents moaning about rents should plan ahead whilst kids are still at school instead of moaning about the people who showed more foresight than them, probably by not having fancy cars, foreign holidays etc. I gave all of that up for about 20 years but I'm certainty not giving them up now just because some parents don't want to observe their parental duties now when they are most needed by their offspring.

From: Robert Brown 15 April 2020 13:40 PM

Robert Brown
Rely on the lenders - to look after their own interests - and stuff everyone else!

From: Robert Brown 15 April 2020 13:28 PM

Robert Brown
Our Council has closed the local schools, libraries, recycling centres etc. and slashed bin collection frequencies. Will they give me back the money they're charging me for services they're not providing? I'm still providing student properties. Why should I not be paid for something I am providing when Councils still get paid for many things that they are not providing?Are Universities cutting their fees for the Summer terms?

From: Robert Brown 14 April 2020 10:35 AM

Robert Brown
They're saving a fortune on Costalot coffees, pub booze and restaurants whilst getting 80% of their pay for doing nothing. They'll get refunds on their cancelled foreign holidays. Why can't they still afford their rents?

From: Robert Brown 14 April 2020 10:29 AM

Robert Brown
I think 2021 will be fine, but perhaps with a slow start

From: Robert Brown 11 April 2020 17:55 PM

Robert Brown
Where the market hasn't been turbo charged before, I think 2021 will see losses reversed in both the property and the stock market, but there will be fantastic buying opportunities in both markets in the next six months or so.

From: Robert Brown 11 April 2020 17:51 PM

Robert Brown
Market forces will ensure property values and rents recover pretty quickly in 2021. Any dip is a buying opportunity for properties and shares.

From: Robert Brown 10 April 2020 20:17 PM

Robert Brown
Take Andrew's advice. Get heavy with him right away and he'll pay up as he will still be able to afford it. However tell him to get out at a time that suits you - maybe not right now - but as soon you're confident of getting a new tenant with no void period. Make sure he knows exactly why you're doing this. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

From: Robert Brown 08 April 2020 09:03 AM

Robert Brown
Security works both ways, like all sensible agreements.

From: Robert Brown 07 April 2020 09:10 AM

Robert Brown
Gosh! A sensible article!

From: Robert Brown 07 April 2020 09:08 AM

Robert Brown
The key point is "honest conversation". I'd be happy to help tenants in genuine need but many are trying it on. After all of this is over the whole topic of deposits needs to be looked at sensibly. It should be there for mutual protection, so 3 months rent holiday expectations should be matched by 3 months deposit as protection in case of default. It also gives both parties some extra assurance that the rent is affordable in normal times and can be used as security in hard times. The banks and mortgage lenders want security from landlords who should have similar security from tenants. Of course Shelter could put their money up for this instead of the adverts currently on the TV.

From: Robert Brown 03 April 2020 09:20 AM

Robert Brown
Tenants are no different from owner occupiers. Use common sense and wash hands. Not the landlord's job to do anything that any normal sensible people should be doing for themselves . Tenants keep banging on about our properties being their homes. They need to take responsibility for their own health and our properties, just like any other adult.

From: Robert Brown 02 April 2020 13:09 PM

Robert Brown
Some common sense in this document. Surely not issued by Government?

From: Robert Brown 02 April 2020 09:32 AM

Robert Brown
Why advise delay where the move can be made safely? Leaving properties deliberately empty just adds to a shortage of homes. SNP join Labour in wanting everyone to get paid but do no work and pay no rent!

From: Robert Brown 02 April 2020 09:31 AM

Robert Brown
They might dig you up and go through your pockets! Nothing would surprise me with that loony party just now and as a miner's son it pains me to say that.

From: Robert Brown 30 March 2020 16:54 PM

Robert Brown
These buy to rent and purpose built cardboard cladded student accommodation will be shown to be the new timeshares, as I predicted some months ago.

From: Robert Brown 28 March 2020 08:12 AM

Robert Brown
Same with me, although Scotland hasn't had the volatility of English markets.

From: Robert Brown 27 March 2020 18:43 PM

Robert Brown
In normal circumstances the clue should be in the question. Agreement means exactly that. Unpaid rent should be theft. If we had such security in normal times we could afford to show more forbearance now. Bigger deposits would also be a help to tenants experiencing unexpected difficulty at any time. This won't be the only crisis in most tenants' lifetime.

From: Robert Brown 27 March 2020 18:41 PM

Robert Brown
Sam Please explain how to be successful in getting unpaid rent back from defaulters. In 23 years I have never managed it, but I have over time developed a survival instinct that has protected me from repeating the experience very often. I am happy to allow a rent deferment to match the deposit and take a risk on the property being left in good condition, but like most "reforms", small deposits are not in the tenants' best interests.

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 22:44 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew There might be a lot of cardboard boxes with vacant possession after all this. Who knows? Perhaps our DSS benefits bill will be slashed and paying the debts incurred for all the money getting thrown at the employed and self employed will actually be affordable?

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 22:33 PM

Robert Brown
If the Government is helping self employed people earning up to £50k, it should also help landlords caught in this kind of dilemma but don't hold your breath! I really can't see what is so risky about allowing families to move their own stuff between properties. I accept we can't expect others to take that risk for us. However we need to remember most people have a mild illness and are able to be back at work in two weeks, so there should be a growing immune workforce as time goes on.

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 22:24 PM

Robert Brown
If there is a housing shortage, it's crazy to force landlords to keep properties empty. The SNP obviously don't think there is a housing shortage as they have banned Scottish construction workers from working, even where they could do so safely.The UK Government seems to be trying to get a sensible balance.

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 22:18 PM

Robert Brown
I don't see why we can't have the situation where the tenants with the biggest deposits get first choice of the best flats. After all, better flats attract higher rents so it makes sense for tenants to prove they can afford them even if things get tough.

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 21:56 PM

Robert Brown
We need bigger deposits all round - for buyers and for renters - then there is something to fall back on for everyone.

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 21:51 PM

Robert Brown
That is why small deposits are a crazy idea.

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 21:49 PM

Robert Brown
Perhaps people will realise that the deposit is actually there for everyone's protection? Low deposits help no-one. Wonder how the snake oil zero deposit salesmen will cope with the demand for them to keep their unaffordable promises?

From: Robert Brown 26 March 2020 21:46 PM

Robert Brown
Daniela Did you not implore us to be sympathetic very recently? With some tenants, no good turn goes unpunished. We need to push for larger deposits to safeguard everyone in future.

From: Robert Brown 25 March 2020 19:43 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree with your first sentence! The flat can't be dismantled and shipped to other areas of demand for the summer. Its overheads need paid for 12 months a year. A University education, even at a lower tier one, has to be paid for. It's supposed to be an investment unless it's for a media studies degree etc. Look at the long term like landlords have to do and weather the current storm.

From: Robert Brown 25 March 2020 19:39 PM

Robert Brown
Ditch the students and go for professionals for the next year if you can get them earlier. You're not a charity and it's first come first served. It's actually worse in Scotland where they're able to leave any time on 28 days notice. I'm going to focus on professionals from now on and the students will not have enough accommodation in September.

From: Robert Brown 25 March 2020 19:32 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland there are no leases and many students are leaving now with no notice. I hope there aren't enough flats for them when they come back! Presumably University lecturers are still being paid for doing nothing instead of just a little?

From: Robert Brown 25 March 2020 09:23 AM

Robert Brown
The idiot Greens leader also wants to allow tenants to leave without notice. After all this is over we need to move to longer deposits to safeguard everyone.

From: Robert Brown 25 March 2020 09:20 AM

Robert Brown
Jamie. Remember to wash your hands if you use a tissue to wipe your tears.

From: Robert Brown 24 March 2020 08:58 AM

Robert Brown
Surely Shelter would act as Guarantors if Barclays asked them?

From: Robert Brown 24 March 2020 08:54 AM

Robert Brown
Daniella. I wish I had your faith! In my experience a rental payment delayed is a rental payment lost.

From: Robert Brown 23 March 2020 20:19 PM

Robert Brown
Well said David From a £6000 deposit on a £60000 flat about 23 years ago, rented out at £600 per month then and around £1300now, by remortgaging and ploughing the latte drinkers' rents into further properties, I've built up a £4 million portfolio with around £3 million equity and gross monthly rents of over £20,000. A big thank you to all those spending on pcp cars, fancy holidays and lots of lattes. I now also take fancy holidays and buy nice cars - but all paid as I get them.

From: Robert Brown 23 March 2020 20:15 PM

Robert Brown
Most people recover within 2 weeks, so why is everyone looking to be rent free for 3 MONTHS?

From: Robert Brown 23 March 2020 10:29 AM

Robert Brown
Pity we haven't got three months deposit to fall back on, then we could offer a three month rent freeze with the deposit built back up again over the next few months. TDS etc. need to give us access to the deposits they're earning interest on while we're expected to see our income stop completely. Boris hasn't said anything to support landlords, just banning evictions for three months.

From: Robert Brown 23 March 2020 10:26 AM

Robert Brown
Tenants should get the help they deserve. Decent tenants should be helped but not the hopeless feckless and reckless! Pity there isn't a 3 months deposit as a safety net! Perhaps a 5 week rent holiday should be the norm?

From: Robert Brown 20 March 2020 09:01 AM

Robert Brown
If your mortgage balances your rent you're not making any income!

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2020 12:33 PM

Robert Brown
Make up all rent shortfalls to landlords. That is all it takes. Up to HMG to recover arrears if it can. Why bankrupt landlords?

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2020 09:05 AM

Robert Brown
Fine if the deposit covered three months rent.As ye reap.

From: Robert Brown 18 March 2020 12:32 PM

Robert Brown
The next bang will be when they hit the floor!

From: Robert Brown 17 March 2020 12:55 PM

Robert Brown
Let's see how the figures are at the end of March and April?

From: Robert Brown 17 March 2020 12:53 PM

Robert Brown
Perhaps they could sell their fancy cars? Oh...hang on... it's on pcp! Most tenants self isolating will save a fortune on costalot coffees, booze etc. That combined with cancelling their Easter and Summer breaks should go a long way to paying the rent.

From: Robert Brown 17 March 2020 12:52 PM

Robert Brown
Throughout history, people have been widowed, lost jobs etc. and been evicted. The only difference now is the potential scale of the problem but the principle remains the same. If the welfare state can't help enough, why does it fall at the feet of private landlords to plug the gap?

From: Robert Brown 17 March 2020 10:21 AM

Robert Brown
I doubt that Mark is a landlord at all!

From: Robert Brown 17 March 2020 10:14 AM

Robert Brown
Nil deposit means nil chance of becoming my tenant. Things are fairer when decent solvent tenants can rent decent properties. Allowing insolvent feckless tenants to stay put and prevent decent tenants from renting from decent landlords is what is most unfair in the current rental market. All do gooder ideas only make things worse for decent landlords and tenants.

From: Robert Brown 13 March 2020 10:09 AM

Robert Brown
Zero deposit means zero chance of becoming my tenants. Next more financially responsible tenants please!

From: Robert Brown 12 March 2020 10:55 AM

Robert Brown
Don't pay - don't stay! We're not charities. Try Shelter. They claim to be a charity.

From: Robert Brown 12 March 2020 10:45 AM

Robert Brown
Perhaps Shelter will act as Guarantor for tenants who want to keep pets instead of saving towards the 5% deposit needed to become an owner occupier? Perhaps Shelter will do something - anything - helpful for tenants? Perhaps I'll win £150 millions on the Eurolottery? More likely and I don't even buy its tickets!

From: Robert Brown 04 March 2020 14:04 PM

Robert Brown
The sad thing is that the "greenies" mostly don't actually understand what is "green". Most Victorian or Georgian properties will outlive the modern "greener" properties several times over, thus saving on high energy consumption activities such as transporting construction materials and labour, manufacturing bricks, steel, concrete, glass, insulation etc. as well as avoiding cutting down atmosphere-cleaning trees. It's the same perverse logic, based on ignorance, which vilifies nuclear electricity generation and 70 mpg Category 6 diesel engines whilst advocating an impossibly swift move to electric vehicles which only push the pollution and fossil fuel consumption back to the power stations, with a significant loss of energy in the transmission and storage processes. These are probably the same people who think Shelter helps the homeless!

From: Robert Brown 28 February 2020 21:51 PM

Robert Brown
There really only needs to be one rule for tenant safety. Tenants should act like responsible adults and use their common sense. Are we going to see house builders held responsible for ensuring that owner occupiers are kept safe years after moving in - or are owner occupiers rightly regarded as more responsible adults who don't need or want a nanny state?

From: Robert Brown 27 February 2020 10:27 AM

Robert Brown
Pets are money Hoovers. I thought tenants were pleading poverty and condemned to rent as they can't afford to save up the 5% deposit to buy? Tip: Ditch the dog, cast out the cat, flush away the goldfish. Also avoid pcp car contracts, costalot coffees, fancy holidays and designer clothes. Gradually the necessary deposit will accumulate.

From: Robert Brown 26 February 2020 13:56 PM

Robert Brown
Another pressure on decent landlords and tenants! If house buyers can make an informed decision to buy a lower efficiency home, why deny tenants the same opportunity? How many cardboard boxes have the necessary epc rating?

From: Robert Brown 26 February 2020 13:39 PM

Robert Brown
You're missing the key point! It shouldn't be beyond someone of integrity and reasonable intelligence to manage the process of finding and keeping good tenants. Instead of everyone vilifying all involved in PRS, it should be recognised the added complexities only work against decent tenants and landlords alike, providing undeserved protection to rogue tenants and ignored by rogue landlords.

From: Robert Brown 26 February 2020 13:36 PM

Robert Brown
Surprised it's not a lot more!

From: Robert Brown 21 February 2020 16:50 PM

Robert Brown
Michael I think you are probably underestimating the returns in Scotland currently. A nice flat in Glasgow West End with an HMO licence for 5 students can get £30,000 per annum rent and be bought for around £300k, so yielding around 10% gross. With many Scottish landlords wanting out, it's also pretty much of a buyer's market currently. Thanks SNP - glad most of your supporters are too thick to see the consequences of your so-called progressive policies!

From: Robert Brown 19 February 2020 14:42 PM

Robert Brown
The main disadvantage to prospective tenants is not the added cost of no-deposit schemes, compared to the almost zero cost (loss of potential interest earned) of normal deposits for responsible tenants entitled to the full deposit being returned. It's the question marks that resorting to such extra cost measures plants in the minds of landlords. Are these tenants actually destitute, financially illiterate or simply not responsible enough to ensure that the property will be returned in good condition at the end of the tenancy? In all cases, however, the answer is the same. Avoid such tenants and opt for tenants who have been able to save up the modest deposit and first month's rent required to be regarded as financially responsible and thus a safer bet to merit consideration as a tenant.

From: Robert Brown 19 February 2020 14:32 PM

Robert Brown
Landlords need to spread their risk - but what if multiple properties all have rogue tenants advised by Shelter and the Council to stay put, even if they haven't paid rent for months? Rent evasion should be a criminal offence, not a civil matter, then Landlords might feel a bit more secure.

From: Robert Brown 19 February 2020 11:46 AM

Robert Brown
What a stupid question! An investment costing 10 times annual earnings with the capability to bankrupt a highly leveraged investor? Nah! Don't bother forward planning - what could possibly go wrong? Surely politicians of every colour will recognise the importance of your investment in other people's homes and ensure you're well looked after by the tax system etc.? Hang on! With thinking like this I could either write for this lot or get a senior job in politics! I think I will go for a lie down until these thoughts pass!

From: Robert Brown 19 February 2020 11:43 AM

Robert Brown
In most cases the tenants end up paying for any increase in Landlords' costs, which is as it should be. Where the landlord can't recoup the extra costs then the short term rental market will provide higher returns. This reduces the amount of homes available to rent and leads to higher rents through normal market forces. Look at the 30% increase in rents in Scotland since the SNP introduced its crazy new PRs legislation in December 2017. Only the rent dodging rogue tenants win out of such anti decent tenant legislation, but it seems most SNP supporters are too thick to see what has happened and understand why. England should take note and not repeat these mistakes. Similar crazy legislation in Ireland, now repealed, has led to the rise of the loony lefty IRA/Sinn Fein terrorists potentially toppling the two centre ground parties.

From: Robert Brown 18 February 2020 17:46 PM

Robert Brown
DW. Decent tenants can stay as long as they want to. No business turns away paying customers or pays for alternative customers to replace good customers who want to continue giving their custom. What people like you fail to see is that you're actually stopping decent tenants from getting homes by protecting wasters who stop paying rent and deprive the landlords of the rent they are entitled to charge and deprive other tenants of decent homes.

From: Robert Brown 18 February 2020 17:32 PM

Robert Brown
If you take them to court at least they will have a ccj against them and other landlords will be warned not to rent to them.

From: Robert Brown 17 February 2020 09:16 AM

Robert Brown
Over two thirds of the Scottish Parliament are anti landlord, but so far everything that they have done has proven to be anti tenant! I could live with linking future rent rises to wage increases, but after suffering frozen rents from 1998 until 2016, the recent 30% rent increases due to market forces have simply redressed the balance.

From: Robert Brown 17 February 2020 09:12 AM

Robert Brown
There was definitely no virus in my properties when current tenants moved in. Why should I therefore have any "role" to play or any "risk" to manage?

From: Robert Brown 14 February 2020 17:22 PM

Robert Brown
I heard on the radio that this type of investment will be the next timeshare with individual investors having no control over maintenance charges, poorly built properties which don't need to conform with normal residential building standards, no easy exit mechanism for investors etc. It concluded that normal btl investments were still better even with everything that has been thrown at landlords!

From: Robert Brown 14 February 2020 17:18 PM

Robert Brown
Welsh rents will soar like they have done in Scotland after fixed term leases were abolished by the SNP in December 2017, who also build unfit for purpose hospitals, bridges,ferries and poorly performing schools whilst clamouring for independence which would leave us with a £13 billions annual budget deficit!

From: Robert Brown 12 February 2020 11:57 AM

Robert Brown
Good to see recognition that this costs all tenants real money whereas standard deposits being withheld either in part or in full only cost tenants who have not returned the property in an acceptable condition. What is not covered is the doubt placed in Landlords' minds by tenants who are not confident that they will take proper care of the property ( and thus have their full deposit returned) or who cannot afford the deposit and thus are more likely to incur rent arrears. In my view, no deposit schemes only benefit the organisations making money out of them at the expense of poorly advised tenants.

From: Robert Brown 11 February 2020 10:54 AM

Robert Brown
Perhaps the Councils will act as guarantor for these tenants - and pay the rent upfront along with a sensible size of deposit? Perhaps the Tory Government - with a genuine housing shortage to deal with, and no need to worry about GR votes for nearly 5 years - will make rent evasion (after 2 months arrears) illegal? Perhaps Shelter will start acting in the interests of decent tenants and landlords, instead of encouraging scum to stay put without paying rent and depriving decent tenants of decent homes from decent landlords? Perhaps I should think about joining the real world again - but the thoughts were nice while they lasted!

From: Robert Brown 07 February 2020 16:36 PM

Robert Brown
Perhaps Shelter, GR, and assorted lefties will turn their attention on Airbnb etc. and the tax advantages currently given to the short term let market who cause havoc in many residential areas as well as removing homes from the longer term rental availability. They might even realise that decent landlords are not their enemy and focus on rogue landlords AND rogue tenants who deprive decent tenants of decent homes due to following Shelter's advice not to leave a property - for which they're not paying rent - until all legal avenues (and the landlord) are exhausted! However, I won't hold my breath!

From: Robert Brown 07 February 2020 16:28 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree! What the government forgets os that over a third of this (Income Tax, NI and VAT) will end up back in its pocket whereas many owner occupiers don't maintain their properties as well landlords and if they do then DIY and cash in hand jobs will definitely reduce the tax take compared to landlord- initiated works.

From: Robert Brown 05 February 2020 14:56 PM

Robert Brown
This is not a saving, simply a reduction in the potential remedy available to a landlord if the property is not returned in good order. Indeed market forces will dictate that rents will rise to cover such shortfalls which will place an extra burden on responsible tenants whilst letting the feckless and reckless off with a further £163 that should rightly belong to the landlord. Shelter shafting decent tenants yet again!

From: Robert Brown 05 February 2020 14:50 PM

Robert Brown
Thanks SNP - but then delay is what you excel at, whether it's in delaying the opening of new children's hospitals already years late, suspending the building of double-budget ferries or failing to meet statutory A&E and operations waiting times etc. etc.

From: Robert Brown 05 February 2020 12:01 PM

Robert Brown
This is destroying residential areas in Edinburgh in a way that student rentals never did. Abolish the £7500 tax free rents and council tax exemption from short term rentals and give the incentives to landlords providing long term homes instead.

From: Robert Brown 03 February 2020 10:03 AM

Robert Brown
40% of readers have missed the deadline - didn't realise such a high % of readers were tenants - but thanks anyway on behalf of HMRC for the £100 donations.

From: Robert Brown 03 February 2020 09:55 AM

Robert Brown
I'm reasonably confident in them until about a year before the next election, then they'll jump back on the anti landlord band wagon, especially if they have to out-idiot Rebecca Long-way-down in chasing tenant votes.

From: Robert Brown 30 January 2020 10:30 AM

Robert Brown
Most landlords are sensible and would never support the SNP loonies. Tenants, on the other hand........... I don't ever expect any help from the SNP who will always chase the populist votes and going after landlords suits their long term objectives.

From: Robert Brown 30 January 2020 09:38 AM

Robert Brown
Of course you can pay a lower rent! Just rent an inferior property. BTW, my offer to rent to you is now withdrawn. Next please!

From: Robert Brown 29 January 2020 17:33 PM

Robert Brown
Good post Andrew, but the dedicated housing tribunals now in Scotland are every bit as ineffective as everything else that the SNP gets involved with.

From: Robert Brown 29 January 2020 13:37 PM

Robert Brown
The rules should not be broken by either party - but sanctions don't seem to ever be applied against rogue tenants - only against hapless landlords.

From: Robert Brown 29 January 2020 13:34 PM

Robert Brown
This is malicious damage. The rogue tenant should be jailed and made to pay compensation out of the benefits undoubtedly being claimed.

From: Robert Brown 28 January 2020 13:55 PM

Robert Brown
I don't think it would apply to lodgers,but how could I have several properties as my main residence at the same time? Surely that is the only time that tenants would counter as lodgers? Totally agree about the SNP! Looking forward to forthcoming trial in Edinburgh in March, but can't comment further on that just now!

From: Robert Brown 27 January 2020 11:04 AM

Robert Brown
Not surprised. The only guidance from the SNP is to vote for independence and not worry about the £13 billions deficit as the rich Scots will pick up the bill! The sad fact is that 45% believe them, probably including all those who will be put out of PRS properties deemed too draughty by the loony new legislation.

From: Robert Brown 27 January 2020 10:53 AM

Robert Brown
Opposite was claimed just last week!

From: Robert Brown 27 January 2020 10:48 AM

Robert Brown
Given that many landlords have several properties this probably means that the number of rental properties put up for sale won't be much more than the long term average. Another article pretending to give lots of data but telling us nothing useful!

From: Robert Brown 23 January 2020 10:42 AM

Robert Brown
In Scotland, an HMO licence is needed to let to 3 or more unrelated adults, even in a 3 or 4 bedroom property. This costs over £1900 for the first 3 year licence and over £900 for subsequent 3 year periods, in addition to costly alterations like fire doors, mains smoke alarms and emergency lighting. On the upside, the yields can easily exceed 8% and there are usually 3 or more solvent guarantors who are more concerned about credit ratings, honouring agreements etc. than their often pretty feckless offspring. Another bonus is that no single tenant can end the lease without all tenants agreeing, so void periods also tend not to happen for the better properties. I now only have such HMO properties, having converted other flats into 3 or 4 bed HMO's and seen rents treble over the last 10 years as a result of the demand for such HMO properties among students with solvent guarantors.

From: Robert Brown 23 January 2020 10:40 AM

Robert Brown
There was talk of rent pressure zones where tribunals could limit rent increases but they are mainly in areas where no sane landlord would buy or decent tenants want to live. They are probably a perfect example of being careful what you wish for as they are destined to become even more deprived and properties even further in disrepair as they have no chance of any gentrification or even normalisation. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if the SNP were to go ahead with them and show case them as a success, along with our failing schools, hospitals, shipyards, railways and everything else that they clamoured to control and wrest from Westminster's slightly more sane control.

From: Robert Brown 22 January 2020 18:13 PM

Robert Brown
There are no rent controls in Scotland currently, although the SNP- supporting Labour MSP, Monica Lennon was pushing for them until it was pointed out that this would mean all rents would increase by as much as possible as often as allowed. She can't be a proper SNP supporter as it seems she actually listened. However currently we can't increase rents more than once a year, which means most of us now DO increase them annually, whereas before we tended to wait until decent tenants had left and only increased them for bad tenants to get the message across during the lease.

From: Robert Brown 22 January 2020 12:06 PM

Robert Brown
Tenants need to take some responsibility for their own safety. Are mortgage suppliers going to be forced to put CO alarms etc. in those properties for which they have provided mortgages?

From: Robert Brown 20 January 2020 09:17 AM

Robert Brown
Gosh! The % of non readers has now risen to 11% - they're possibly later risers than the literate majority.

From: Robert Brown 17 January 2020 10:11 AM

Robert Brown
Scotland now has this and it's a shambles, like everything that the SNP touches. It can now take over a year to get rid of tenants, leaving the landlord without a year's rent but with a year's worth of costs to pay. Rent dodging should be a criminal offence with mandatory eviction after two months arrears and then the problem will disappear.

From: Robert Brown 17 January 2020 10:06 AM

Robert Brown
It seems that 4% of the respondents to this survey are equally well qualified - or can't read - probably both.

From: Robert Brown 16 January 2020 13:19 PM

Robert Brown
I would have thought living in a cardboard box would cause more health problems than a privately rented home. Shelter's war on landlords will force more of its supporters into boxes as landlords get increasingly demonised by the real enemies of tenants.

From: Robert Brown 15 January 2020 14:01 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree. Internal fire doors are invariably wedged open and I must admit I do have some sympathy with the tenants as they're a pain in the neck to open every time you want to go in or out of a room. Until there is some electrical connection broken every time a fire is open which stops the heating etc. from working, no frequency of inspection will ensure that internal fire doors are kept closed.

From: Robert Brown 10 January 2020 13:29 PM

Robert Brown
1st time I've ever agreed with the SNP, but no doubt they'll still manage to screw it up.

From: Robert Brown 10 January 2020 13:14 PM

Robert Brown
I agree totally. Most students would rather be in the (cheaper) conventional flats we provide, usually in the heart of a real community, than live in cramped purpose built student ghettos with wooden frameworks and compressed cardboard walls etc. - which don't have to conform to "residential building standards" (like the Bolton multi storey building which was engulfed in flames recently) at much higher rents. The only benefit of the purpose built ghettos is to demonstrate the excellent value for money of conventional flats where students can learn some real life skills - like holding noisy parties, going into arrears with utilities, dodging paying TV licences, getting chased by Councils because the can't be bothered to fill in the Student Council Tax exemption forms easily available online etc. etc. Come to think of it, most of them are tailor made for a career in politics!

From: Robert Brown 07 January 2020 10:58 AM

Robert Brown
Agreed Daniela - on most points. However the only time I have had rat or mice infestations ( other than an isolated short visit) is when tenants keep the property like a tip. Vermin are social creatures and tend to like living with like. Clean properties don't tend to have rodent infestations.

From: Robert Brown 02 January 2020 13:37 PM

Robert Brown
Bad news for those nice residential areas now blighted by multiple Airbnb properties including many parts of Edinburgh. To rub salt in, owners of such properties are often exempt from council tax and business rates, with many earning up to £7500 tax free. Why be so generous to Airbnb landlords whilst those providing homes are vilified?

From: Robert Brown 31 December 2019 10:49 AM

Robert Brown
Make deliberate withholding of rent or remaining in a rental property after accruing more than 2 months' rent arrears criminal offences. It's just plain theft after all. Put Shelter in the dock too as accomplices. Then the current legislation can be amended as rent arrears can be kept under control. Why would any decent tenants object to this? After all it would free up properties being hogged by Shelter-backed freeloaders for decent tenants to occupy.

From: Robert Brown 31 December 2019 09:45 AM

Robert Brown
No deposit means no lease in my properties. Next more financially responsible prospective tenant please. Teach the snowflakes to save for things worth having and they might even end up with a big enough deposit to buy their property! These no deposit schemes only benefit the people providing the chargeable service. Good tenants can easily get their full deposit returned to help build the deposit needed for purchase, with the only cost being loss of 0.00000001% interest, usually less than one costalot coffee.

From: Robert Brown 30 December 2019 10:38 AM

Robert Brown
Government should be asking why there is a shortage of homes to rent and reversing their anti landlord and thus anti tenant legislation. If there is a shortage of any commodity then common sense illustrates that incentives emerge to counter the shortage. In the absence of government involvement the market will react by enabling higher prices to be charged and paid - hence the increase in rents and possibly signs that this is tempting some landlords back into buying mode, but this is a fragile change easily reversed if the government continues to act against its suppliers and consumers. If any of them had ever had real jobs they would know this already.

From: Robert Brown 30 December 2019 10:30 AM

Robert Brown
The initial capital costs - purchase, stamp duty, new fixtures and fittings, furniture etc. can be subtracted from sale proceeds to reduce CGT on any eventual sale, thus gaining 18% or 28% tax relief at point of sale. Agreed, income tax relief on the initial cost of provision would usually be better for most tax payers, but that was never the situation, although the 10% wear and tear allowance did allow such capital costs to be slowly recouped over many years.

From: Robert Brown 27 December 2019 11:35 AM

Robert Brown
Free safety advice to tenants. Use common sense and act like grown ups!

From: Robert Brown 23 December 2019 10:23 AM

Robert Brown
So 14% of LA's don't think rents will rise and 39% don't think demand will increase in 2020! What parts of the disillusionment expressed by landlords do they not see or hear? Have they been educated at the Corbyn School of Communication and Listening?

From: Robert Brown 23 December 2019 10:20 AM

Robert Brown
Rents will inevitably increase hurting good tenants whom landlords are happy to keep long term. Everything seems to be designed to protect rogue tenants and rogue landlords (who have their own highly effective means of evicting tenants).

From: Robert Brown 20 December 2019 11:39 AM

Robert Brown
Ian I tried to sell a property when "good" tenants were still in it but it was a nightmare. No cooperation during viewings regarding keeping the flat clean and tidy, giving viewers some space and privacy to look around properly, indicating that they would not move out without a struggle etc. Offers received once the flat was empty, cleaned and refurbished were nearly 20% higher than the joke offers from potential rogue landlords who were the only interested parties with sitting tenants. Vacant possession is essential to allow landlords to maximise return on investment on selling.

From: Robert Brown 17 December 2019 13:25 PM

Robert Brown
Same message to Boris as in the posts in the neighbouring article. Support your prs landlords and they will deliver. Go against them and suffer the consequences.

From: Robert Brown 13 December 2019 10:48 AM

Robert Brown
Boris needs to look at how rents have soared in Scotland since the loony December 2017 outlawed fixed term tenancies and the reversals forced on the lefty government in Eire when their PRs almost collapsed. No need now to chase the tenant vote but a real need to support decent landlords willing and able to provide more decent good value homes for those unable or unwilling to put their own money into providing for themselves.

From: Robert Brown 13 December 2019 10:45 AM

Robert Brown
Surely it should be relatively easy to trace the tenant and prosecute him, but I guess there won't be as much effort put into this as is put into prosecuting landlords or motorists.

From: Robert Brown 11 December 2019 12:07 PM

Robert Brown
I don't condone this landlord flouting safety regulations but the Council's actions were just as bad. Some senior officials should be fired over this but I doubt if there will be any repercussions at all. I think its so unfair that individuals trying to run businesses have to risk bankruptcy to fight the crazy decisions of public body officials who can then use public money to defend their decisions with zero risk to their own finances and probably zero risk of any sanctions at all.

From: Robert Brown 11 December 2019 12:04 PM

Robert Brown
Tenant fee ban puts extra costs on to landlords - so passed on to tenants who complain. What a surprise! They should note their costs haven't gone up - just changed in shape but that would require some financial common sense - sadly lacking in most costalot coffee buyers (aka tenants).

From: Robert Brown 09 December 2019 10:33 AM

Robert Brown
"Report anything to the council". Surely it should be report anything you feel is illegal, unsafe etc.? York Council is going to be very busy after giving such advice to Generation Rent and their barrack room lawyers, Feckless, Reckless and Hopeless!

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2019 09:35 AM

Robert Brown
These 10 tips are all under the control of the tenants, not the landlords, which seems to prove the point that it's tenant lifestyle that is the main cause of damp and mould. I have had two cases of mould in two flats which have each had about 20 tenants over the years but no mould problem with the other 18 or so tenants occupying the same properties. Nothing has changed in the basic condition of the properties. The only change has been the way the tenants have kept the property heated and ventilated ( or not).

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2019 09:29 AM

Robert Brown
The logic here is flawed. It assumes no landlords have previously voted for the party who won these seats last election and all will vote for the runner up party with no other voters changing their votes. Even if this happened, 55 Conservative seats would change and 39 Labour seats would also change hands, along with 30 others so the overall effect would be pretty inconclusive, just like this article!

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2019 09:13 AM

Robert Brown
Why not take action first only against the "head tenant" who was charging these sub tenants, almost certainly against the terms of the lease and probably without the knowledge or approval of the landlord? Arguably, frequent inspections would identify this problem, but we would then be accused of not leaving the tenant in peace.

From: Robert Brown 29 November 2019 19:50 PM

Robert Brown
No deposit, no chance of renting any of my properties. It shows two alarming symptoms. Firstly doubtful if the prospective tenants place enough emphasis on financial prudence by not prioritising saving a deposit and ensuring rent is affordable and paid promptly. Secondly it shows a lack of willing to take responsibility and pay for any damage etc. caused during the tenancy. Either symptom is fatal in my opinion.

From: Robert Brown 28 November 2019 13:11 PM

Robert Brown
I have never taken out contents insurance, whether as a very young renter or in over 40 years as an owner occupier. I regard insurance as protection against catastrophe, loss of my home, car, third party liability etc. I have the means to replace all my furniture etc. in the event of fire, flood etc. I have probably saved over £20,000 by not having contents insurance and opting for very high voluntary excesses on home and car insurance policies. I currently pay under £500 per annum to insure 2 expensive homes, worth over£1 million and 2 cars which cost around £40k new 3 years ago. I trawl all comparison sites and some companies' own web sites and consistently under cut renewal premiums by around 25% by spending around 30 minutes online. By comparison, properties on block insurance policies seem to go up by 5% to 10% every year which I seem powerless to influence.

From: Robert Brown 28 November 2019 10:53 AM

Robert Brown
The other side of this survey is that 30.19% ( nearly a third) ARE considering selling up in the next year. That hardly shows overwhelming confidence and would be a disaster for the many decent tenants who won't be able to buy any of these properties that might come on the market. A very one sided article from the mob living off the deposit interest that used to go to landlords!

From: Robert Brown 25 November 2019 11:15 AM

Robert Brown
We all want rid of dodgy landlords who can undercut the majority of decent landlords. That is apart from the dodgy tenants who can't rent anywhere else as decent landlords want to give priority to decent tenants. Are Corbyn and McDonnell going to let out the many spare rooms in Nos 10 and 11, along with their current homes which will become vacant if they get elected? Fortunately we're very unlikely to see how this would pan out for real.

From: Robert Brown 25 November 2019 11:07 AM

Robert Brown
Just because we're sticking with it doesn't mean we have confidence in the Scottish PRS! It's just that we have realised that anti landlord legislation now in place in Scotland has helped rents to grow faster than ever before but "confident" is not what we are.

From: Robert Brown 25 November 2019 10:03 AM

Robert Brown
Like most suggestions from people in power with no experience, it won't work. However it might flag up to the new landlord that there are issues with how the tenant left the old property! Another anti-tenant policy like encouraging landlords to apply inflation increases every opportunity!

From: Robert Brown 25 November 2019 10:00 AM

Robert Brown
Presumably some tenants read this too? If so, hopefully the experience of some Scottish Landlords enjoying 30% greater rental incomes since the SNP "reformed" the Scottish PRS in December 2017 might make them think again. I really believe those English landlords with the courage and the means to stick it out will reap rewards no matter what any colour of government throws at them. The losers will be the most vulnerable, whether landlords or tenants.

From: Robert Brown 22 November 2019 11:41 AM

Robert Brown
We need 300,000 more homes per annum. Policies causing an 11% drop in btl acquisitions is hardly the way to provide more homes!

From: Robert Brown 21 November 2019 10:16 AM

Robert Brown
So if the tenants aren't out of pocket when moving rental properties, it stands to reason that the landlord will be out of pocket until the deposit is transferred. Otherwise landlords will be unable to hang on to deposits to check the condition in which the property has been left. Again this means that landlords are out of pocket in getting compensated for properties left in poor condition. A poorly thought out policy - again!

From: Robert Brown 21 November 2019 10:14 AM

Robert Brown
I wonder how much developers will be fined for building student residences with wooden frames and cardboard cladding? I bet £0 as they are apparently perfectly legal! I also bet they didn't tell the students or their parents about their building standards.

From: Robert Brown 18 November 2019 09:25 AM

Robert Brown
Interesting that the SNP anti landlord legislation has resulted in Scottish rents rising at nearly double the UK average. My own experience is that this is an underestimate as my rents have gone up by around a third since the December 2017 legislation removed the right of both landlords and tenants to agree to a fixed term lease fair to both parties. Anti landlord measures always end up being anti tenant measures too. The bright side for English landlords is that any moves against landlords will result in fewer rental properties and significantly higher rents for those who stick it out.

From: Robert Brown 15 November 2019 14:00 PM

Robert Brown
Interesting that the SNP anti landlord legislation has resulted in Scottish rents rising at nearly double the UK average. My own experience is that this is an underestimate as my rents have gone up by around a third since the December 2017 legislation removed the right of both landlords and tenants to agree to a fixed term lease fair to both parties. Anti landlord measures always end up being anti tenant measures too. The bright side for English landlords is that any moves against landlords will result in fewer rental properties and significantly higher rents for those who stick it out.

From: Robert Brown 15 November 2019 13:56 PM

Robert Brown
Tom is right. There has been an unwelcome move recently to missives not being exchanged promptly and increasingly being exchanged just before the entry date - so no longer a much better system than South of the Border.

From: Robert Brown 08 November 2019 23:12 PM

Robert Brown
I don't insure contents and have probably saved more than the replacement cost of my contents over the past 40 odd years that I have had house contents. I also have a £500 excess on my car insurance as I would never make a claim for a small loss. Insurance is good to avoid huge or life changing losses but too expensive to insulate against minor losses or inconveniences. Similarly most life insurance policies for older debt free property owners are a poor investment. Statistically it's a better bet to invest the premiums to provide the kind of pay out that such insurance policies might eventually pay out.

From: Robert Brown 08 November 2019 23:06 PM

Robert Brown
Paul Add to your adjectives "reckless, hopeless and poorly educated". In the 13 years I spent in primary, secondary and tertiary education I never encountered the word "gotten" following "has". It just goes to show that not all Russell Group Universities deserve that accolade. Affordability has many more sides than just purchase to income ratios. I built up a property portfolio in the teeth of 15% mortgage rates and rents remaining unchanged for around 15 years or more. However small investments in a vacuum flask for hot drinks, Tupperware for packed lunches, a cheap fourth hand car and a tent allowed me to service my loans and avoid starvation and enjoy healthy holidays. The Snowflakes could still do likewise but I doubt many will do so.

From: Robert Brown 08 November 2019 22:52 PM

Robert Brown
Guess what? Under the yoke of the SNP "government" Scotland already insists ALL landlords are registered. It's not that expensive per property but on checking the website, many properties are still rented out without the landlords being registered. It's very easy to check online, but does any Council or other official ever do so? I doubt it, but come any disaster involving an unregistered flat all decent landlords will be hit by more onerous legislation and rogue landlords will continue to flout the law.

From: Robert Brown 08 November 2019 22:38 PM

Robert Brown
What a great idea! But why aren't the tenants responsible for their own utility bills anyway?

From: Robert Brown 06 November 2019 17:01 PM

Robert Brown
I heard a radio programme recently saying this was the "next timeshare" and an investor rip off waiting to unfold due to the poor construction standards, potentially high ongoing maintenance costs and possible short life span of many of these developments. The investment expert warned private investors to stay clear and invest in traditional flats in University cities with a proven track record of student demand and a simple exit mechanism through resale to new buyers. Another programme suggested these buildings could still have Grenfell type cladding fitted quite legally as they are not classed as permanent dwellings.

From: Robert Brown 03 November 2019 14:02 PM

Robert Brown
Many "emergency calls" could be dealt with as routine maintenance if tenants reported issues promptly before they needed an "emergency call". I wonder how the number of tenant evacuations compares to owner occupier evacuations for the same period? I suspect tenant percentages will be much higher.

From: Robert Brown 03 November 2019 13:53 PM

Robert Brown
No deposit means no chance of renting any of my properties. Tenants need to get their priorities right and show landlords they can be financially responsible. Sacrificing 1 week's rent instead of saving up 4 to 6 weeks' rent as a refundable deposit is a mug's game and shows poor financial acumen.

From: Robert Brown 31 October 2019 21:39 PM

Robert Brown
This is NOT free! It's paid for out of the interest confiscated from landlords who used to be able to earn interest on the deposits held by them, which now get held by expensive quangos dreaming up ways to spend money which rightfully belongs to the landlords.

From: Robert Brown 31 October 2019 21:31 PM

Robert Brown
At the time of reading this, 100% of 778 readers back this move, but how many will contribute to the crowd funding appeal?

From: Robert Brown 28 October 2019 10:12 AM

Robert Brown
Airbnb should be ashamed of themselves. As well as conniving with fraudsters and other law breakers, destroying the peace and quiet of many residential neighbourhoods, they are putting innocent property owners at risk of bankruptcy if their insurers refused to pay out in the event of airbnb subtenants causing a fire etc. This tenant should be jailed and Airbnb fined several millions to make them take their responsibilities more seriously.

From: Robert Brown 28 October 2019 10:09 AM

Robert Brown
I agree. 8% yields achievable in good Glasgow West End properties. Another article in this group shows Scotland averaging 5.8% yields, ahead of the other three home nations, due principally to the SNP loony legislation which prevents fixed term tenancy agreements and makes it very difficult to get rid of nuisance tenants. Fewer properties to rent has pushed up rents significantly in Scotland over the last two years or so.

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2019 12:03 PM

Robert Brown
The message is clear. Generation rent should buy a vacuum flask for cheap coffees, avoid fancy holidays and pcp cars and they too can become better off, but they had also better buy a tool kit and learn some basic diy and other money saving skills - then they can join the grown ups!

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2019 11:54 AM

Robert Brown
These courses are not free. They are funded out of the interest on deposits which landlords used to be able to earn until the new totally unnecessary deposit schemes became law. Our lost deposits interest also funds a number of high salaries carrying out a totally unnecessary function which as this evidence shows has not eliminated disputes due to landlords trying to recoup the costs incurred when tenants leave properties needing substantial cleaning and refurbishment.

From: Robert Brown 15 October 2019 15:44 PM

Robert Brown
We have had this in Scotland since December 2017 and getting rid of tenants who cause problems is now a nightmare. Two avenues still open to landlords are that tenants must move out if the landlord wants to sell or undertake major refurbishment. The first means that the property is no longer available for rent and the latter means that the rent charged is much higher. The latter also means we now postpone refurbishment as a potential means of getting rid of undesirable tenants so good tenants don't get their homes routinely upgraded as we did before. BTW market rents are now much higher and availability of properties much more restricted than before. No good news here for tenants but does the loony SNP care?

From: Robert Brown 14 October 2019 10:28 AM

Robert Brown
This is the guy who is responsible for the draconian Scottish HMO legislation which demands expensive alterations and licensing costs before more than 2 unrelated adults can share a flat, irrespective of the number of bedrooms. Incidentally this legislation still doesn't apply to the flat where the two tenants died as it only applies for more than 2 tenants. This man has cost decent law abiding Scottish landlords and tenants a fortune whilst he continues to flout the law. He should have been jailed again!

From: Robert Brown 11 October 2019 11:00 AM

Robert Brown
Kenneth. I think your logic is back to front. Investors in btr properties are only interested in them as investment vehicles (probably among many other investments) whereas small private landlords are keen to keep good tenants happy and their properties in good repair as each represents a significant proportion of their income and net worth.

From: Robert Brown 11 October 2019 10:52 AM

Robert Brown
The real solution is more local authority housing so hard working private tenants paying their own way don't need to live alongside feckless benefit claimants and private landlords don't need to risk renting to them.

From: Robert Brown 11 October 2019 10:43 AM

Robert Brown
This is a non story. Much longer periods need analysed to get the real picture. Scottish rents seem to have gone down £6 in the last quarter, but this is after a 250% rise over the last six years due to SNP anti tenant legislation. Other areas may have similar short term corrections but the longer term trend is upwards.

From: Robert Brown 11 October 2019 10:40 AM

Robert Brown
A better headline would be that over 200 tenants can't be bothered to reclaim their deposits. These are securely held by a third party, not illegally retained by the landlord. I am often amazed how long some tenants take to reply to a simple email "agreeing" to my proposal to repay their deposit in full. If they are too feckless to ask for their own money back how can they be trusted to keep properties clean and tidy?

From: Robert Brown 11 October 2019 09:32 AM

Robert Brown
Lower demand from landlords means better deals for those who stick with it.

From: Robert Brown 20 September 2019 09:00 AM

Robert Brown
Fewer properties but not fewer tenants means higher demand means higher rents. Grateful thanks to SNP, Shelter etc. - the Landlords' friends.

From: Robert Brown 20 September 2019 08:58 AM

Robert Brown
Just another symptom of the SNP war on landlords adversely affecting tenants as more Edinburgh landlords focus solely on more lucrative less risky short term rentals. UK Government should learn from problems in Scotland and Ireland but they won't.

From: Robert Brown 20 September 2019 08:56 AM

Robert Brown
First time I've ever agreed with Generation Rent! Next step will be thinking Shelter helps the homeless! Nah.... That would be really stretching it.

From: Robert Brown 19 September 2019 09:18 AM

Robert Brown
Gosh! Who would have thought that some benefit claimers couldn't be trusted to manage their money properly? However it's still no DSS for me no matter what other "incentives or good news" accompanies them. Enough hard working tenants around to keep me happy thanks to the growing shortage rental properties.

From: Robert Brown 18 September 2019 09:04 AM

Robert Brown
I got so fed up with disputes over cleaning etc. that I then did it professionally and got the incoming tenants to confirm it had been done professionally and commit to use the same professional cleaners to bring the property back up to standard at their expense when they left. They know that the return of their deposit will at very least be delayed if they don't comply and I no longer have to do or pay for the cleaning.

From: Robert Brown 17 September 2019 10:00 AM

Robert Brown
Too much of a risk to encourage more loony policies. A lot of the potential loony supporters can't be bothered to vote but give them really loony policies and they just might get out of bed! Alex Salmond (currently awaiting criminal trial) managed to get a lot of Scottish loonies voting for the first time in 2014. Throughout the UK there are many such dormant loonies who shouldn't be woken up.

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2019 21:02 PM

Robert Brown
There are over 2 million private landlords but only a few hundred thousand labour party members and even fewer members of the other parties. We should all join ALL the parties and thus have a big say in who is elected to be leader, who is selected as candidates and by attending conference, influence the future manifestos. Think outside the (cardboard) box! After all, that's how Corbyn got elected leader. The Daily Telegraph even suggested their readers should join the Labour Party and vote for him, as they mistakenly thought he would cause the Labour vote to collapse at the last General Election.

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2019 15:33 PM

Robert Brown
Everyone should fill in this survey. It's geared to getting support for monthly online tax returns with tax deducted at source by banks or letting agents - very dangerous if unchallenged!

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2019 15:17 PM

Robert Brown
Why wait for two years? If we're bringing a sub standard property back into every day use we should get the same incentive.

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2019 15:12 PM

Robert Brown
I get really annoyed about how BTL landlords pay far higher CGT than any other investors who can take their tax free gains every year. We should be able to roll up the unclaimed annual CGT allowances and set them against any eventual longer term gain. Our tax system favours those who take a short term view of investment and penalises those providing long term homes for those who won't or can't afford to buy their own homes.

From: Robert Brown 11 September 2019 10:03 AM

Robert Brown
Your comments might apply where you are but they are not universal. Many local authorities apply much stricter rules but these drive up rents and discourage rogue landlords and tenants.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2019 15:00 PM

Robert Brown
Sorry Paul. Don't agree. Students usually make excellent tenants of relatively upmarket properties and as 4 unrelated sharers also avoid rtb issues. Only additional construction issues are fire doors as everything else like mains smoke alarms, annual PAT tests etc. make the property safer. Students renting down market properties are no worse than other down market tenants but such properties and tenants are best avoided.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2019 14:56 PM

Robert Brown
An HMO flat let to 4 students with 4 solvent guarantors on a joint and several liability basis is a much lower risk option than letting to a single household and gives much better yields with zero voids with properly planning. Regulations are mainly common sense safety things but tend to dissuade the rogues and those unable to understand some simple rules and fill in a couple of forms.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2019 12:36 PM

Robert Brown
Pity it's the council tax payer who will foot the bill and not the incompetent council pen pusher.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2019 08:57 AM

Robert Brown
Student HMO flats offer high yields and several solvent guarantors to spread the risk. I now focus entirely on this market.

From: Robert Brown 10 September 2019 08:54 AM

Robert Brown
The Councillors and Officials should have to pay all the associated legal costs of this debacle but of course they'll get off scot free, keep their jobs and leave the council tax payers to pick up the tab!

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2019 13:40 PM

Robert Brown
So there will be a boom in big cardboard boxes over 6.11 sq metres as the smaller rooms are deemed uninhabitable. Another loony idea to remove the availability of otherwise perfectly good rooms for occupation by those who can't afford anything better.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2019 13:37 PM

Robert Brown
PRS tenants should be even more worried than BTL landlords as they'll be made homeless. Who is going to lend these tenants the money to buy our properties, even if they're a "steal"? Like most loony leftie ideas, this will be totally counter productive, affecting every home owner ( as prices plummet due to the huge numbers of btl properties put up for sale). There will be NO winners if this crazy idea becomes a reality.

From: Robert Brown 09 September 2019 13:30 PM

Robert Brown
Presumably the lights will all go out unless it's windy when it's dark? They'll still need conventional or nuclear power stations to keep the lights on on dark calm nights, so this is just yet more virtue signalling hypocrisy.

From: Robert Brown 06 September 2019 10:58 AM

Robert Brown
Maybe they'll eventually turn them into the fatted calf? But that would mean planning ahead!

From: Robert Brown 05 September 2019 16:55 PM

Robert Brown
If keeping pets is renters' number 1 priority, no wonder they can't save for a deposit to buy their own homes! Get priorities right - no pets, no costa lot coffees, no fancy (leased) cars, no foreign holidays - then deposit funds will grow surprisingly quickly. Keep a self-indulgent indolent lifestyle and keep renting - simples!

From: Robert Brown 05 September 2019 09:34 AM

Robert Brown
This loony legislation has just recently led to a massive shortage of accommodation for Edinburgh Festival visitors as Student accommodation, usually available for the Festival, couldn't be advertised early enough as the sitting tenants now only need to give 4 weeks notice. The result is that Landlords need to recoup higher rents from the longer term tenants as the short term rentals couldn't be relied upon this summer. The SNP were warned about this but ignored it as they ignore all common sense financial arguments.

From: Robert Brown 28 August 2019 16:58 PM

Robert Brown
Life insurance might cost a 25 year old upwards of £10 per month. That's almost 4 costa lot coffees. No wonder the uptake is low among GR. After all, insuring their profligate lifestyles must come before insuring their lives!

From: Robert Brown 27 August 2019 09:50 AM

Robert Brown
A big thank you to the SNP for scaring off many prospective and previous landlords and thus reducing the competition and availability of rental properties. Market forces have therefore caused rents to soar for the best properties over the last 2 to 3 years, after staying almost static for the previous 15 years. Thanks Nicola - but I'll still never vote for you and your loony policies!

From: Robert Brown 27 August 2019 09:47 AM

Robert Brown
Posted twice in error but seems impossible to remove second post!

From: Robert Brown 27 August 2019 09:36 AM

Robert Brown
I agree with both posts. Decent landlords and tenants have always had good relationships as it's in both their interests. Both type of rogues ignore all the rules, so more regulation helps no one except the self interested "experts" who want to make self-management too complex for the average landlord.

From: Robert Brown 27 August 2019 09:32 AM

Robert Brown
Zero Deposit means Zero chance of renting my properties. Pay your way if you want to stay.

From: Robert Brown 23 August 2019 09:27 AM

Robert Brown
Yields if 8% are relatively easy to achieve in parts of Glasgow since the SNP prt legislation wounded some landlords and most decent tenants, potentially mortally in some cases. Corbyn will get better yields for surviving English landlords if he's ever voted in.

From: Robert Brown 21 August 2019 13:53 PM

Robert Brown
I keep the full £14400 and pay most ongoing costs monthly out of that month's rental income. Periodic refurbishment is budgeted for. That's the best way to maximise cash flow. Surprised any savvy landlords would fall for such expensive scams.

From: Robert Brown 21 August 2019 13:38 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland we are now limited to one rental increase per annum after 3 months ' notice, so I now definitely increase rents annually by as much as the market will bear, whereas before I tended to do so only at tenant change overs. Another case of SNP hurting decent tenants with their crazy legislation that helps no one except the rogues on both sides of the fence.

From: Robert Brown 16 August 2019 10:31 AM

Robert Brown
I agree but my main concern is that tenants who can't afford the deposit can't afford the rent. Alternatively they're not prepared to ensure that they take sufficient care of my property to justify full deposit return. Either way my response will be"next please".

From: Robert Brown 16 August 2019 10:23 AM

Robert Brown
So 17 out of 15000 landlords flouted the law, which is less than 0.1%, meaning over 99.9% met their obligations. I haven't yet dealt with 1000 tenants but I have certainly had more than 1 tenant acting irresponsibly and illegally. I wonder what % of tenants act equally responsibly in meeting their obligations?

From: Robert Brown 16 August 2019 10:12 AM

Robert Brown
Why force experienced landlords to attend an expensive course? We can read. Send us the course material and let us sit an online exam. If we pass, give us accreditation.BTW make the accreditation valid throughout the UK so we're not forced to pay over and over with different local authority schemes.

From: Robert Brown 15 August 2019 10:06 AM

Robert Brown
I'm sorry but I have had more issues with tenants introduced by LA's than with tenants that I have interviewed and spoken with their property-owning guarantors. The only solution is to jail rogue tenants for theft ( of rent ) and any criminal damage. I accept people can get into unexpected financial difficulties but if they refuse to leave once two months in arrears with no means or intention of paying future rental payments then that is theft - deliberately and permanently depriving the landlord of rent legally due. Shelter and Councils are also implicated in assisting an offender by advising rent defaulters to stay put until forcibly evicted.

From: Robert Brown 15 August 2019 10:00 AM

Robert Brown
Landlords would only contribute to homelessness if they deliberately kept their properties unoccupied, which is the direct opposite of what we want to do. We therefore contribute to reducing homelessness, unlike Shelter, BBC, politicians etc. However GR won't understand the simplicity of such logic.

From: Robert Brown 15 August 2019 09:11 AM

Robert Brown
More nanny state stuff! I have lost count of how many tenant change overs I have done and there has never been any need for the tenants to be stressed. If I could trust outgoing tenants more or if there were easily applied significant sanctions then I wouldn't need to be stressed either. Actually I'm no longer stressed or surprised on hand over day, just sometimes annoyed at the lack of maturity and consideration shown by a minority of outgoing tenants.

From: Robert Brown 14 August 2019 10:16 AM

Robert Brown
Are Landlords now going to be fined because Tenants won't mop up after showers, dry clothes outside and open the windows? Mould isn't spontaneous or inevitable. It needs damp conditions to thrive and can be easily avoided or eliminated. I can usually predict when I am going to have remedial work to do to eliminate mould by observing how tenants live, particularly whether they have the windows open whenever conditions permit. The same property can be handed back in totally different states depending on the tenants. Don't blame the Landlords!

From: Robert Brown 13 August 2019 15:25 PM

Robert Brown
Grown ups pay much more in stamp duty on every move. Renters are getting a bargain!

From: Robert Brown 13 August 2019 12:37 PM

Robert Brown
Highest yields are achieved when you don't pay a percentage to a third party.

From: Robert Brown 13 August 2019 12:35 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree. Banning us from stating this only wastes everyone's time. I always put "No Smokers" and that tends to be almost the same thing nowadays, so that is a possible work around.

From: Robert Brown 12 August 2019 19:28 PM

Robert Brown
Totally agree. In Glasgow I had to spend £4k on fire doors, alarms etc. so I could rent a. 4 bed flat to 4 people, and pay £1900 for a licence and £900 every 3 years thereafter. Crazy!

From: Robert Brown 08 August 2019 18:42 PM

Robert Brown
The SNP were warned of the consequences of not exempting student properties from the crazy prt legislation. This year many students had to take on new flats from 1st June because the final year students left on 31 May or earlier and landlords with nice properties could dictate the entry (but not leaving) dates. Many therefore were paying for two flats for 28 days in June if they hadn't given notice in time. Fixed lease terms are ideal for students and the prt "freedoms" do them no favours. Of course the SNP can't understand the economics of this or they wouldn't be advocating independence, which would be an even bigger economic disaster!

From: Robert Brown 08 August 2019 11:01 AM

Robert Brown
The SNP were warned of the consequences of not exempting student properties from the crazy prt legislation. This year many students had to take on new flats from 1st June because the final year students left on 31 May or earlier and landlords with nice properties could dictate the entry (but not leaving) dates. Many therefore were paying for two flats for 28 days in June if they hadn't given notice in time. Fixed lease terms are ideal for students and the prt "freedoms" do them no favours. Of course the SNP can't understand the economics of this or they wouldn't be advocating independence, which would be an even bigger economic disaster!

From: Robert Brown 08 August 2019 10:59 AM

Robert Brown
If the affordability ratio is 2.5, then even London at 3.3 is eminently affordable. Looks like time for all rents to rise or landlords will lose their reputations as those responsible for the continuing impoverishment of Generation Rent. Of course pcp car loans, costalot coffees and unaffordable lifestyles have nothing to do with affordability!

From: Robert Brown 08 August 2019 10:51 AM

Robert Brown
If the affordability ratio is 2.5, then even London at 3.3 is eminently affordable. Looks like time for all rents to rise or landlords will lose their reputations as those responsible for the continuing impoverishment of Generation Rent. Of course pcp car loans, costalot coffees and unaffordable lifestyles have nothing to do with affordability!

From: Robert Brown 08 August 2019 10:51 AM

Robert Brown
Manchester Council could get 3 or 4 properties for the £200k it's already got in fines and house 3 or 4 families.

From: Robert Brown 07 August 2019 11:18 AM

Robert Brown
What happened to using common sense? If you don't like the look (or smell) of a property then rent another one!

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2019 10:27 AM

Robert Brown
I don't agree with MP's claiming rent when they have another property within commuting distance of their place of "work" but quite happy for them to have btl income from further afield. After all, one of the biggest problems with MP's is general lack of real life experience in jobs, business, unemployment, homelessness etc. In fact, the only real life experience some have had is the inside of a prison cell!

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2019 10:23 AM

Robert Brown
Accreditation should be granted on passing a test. There should be no need to attend a council- run course to be accredited. Rogue landlords will still ignore this putting the law abiding majority at a further disadvantage.

From: Robert Brown 05 August 2019 10:06 AM

Robert Brown
Totally agree. When do rent defaulters who fraudulently claim housing benefit but don't pay their landlords get fined or jailed?

From: Robert Brown 05 August 2019 10:01 AM

Robert Brown
The question should include the cost of aro. Everyone would accept free advance rental payments but not at the exorbitant costs probably associated with such schemes. Given costs such as mortgage payments, factors' fees and ongoing maintenance costs don't get paid annually, it makes sense to match the frequency of incomings and outgoings to even out cash flow.

From: Robert Brown 05 August 2019 09:58 AM

Robert Brown
I agree. The only cost to decent tenants in lodging a deposit is the loss of interest. Once a tenant has moved 5 times he has lost the equivalent of the new 5 week deposit using these rip off schemes. I would never rent to someone who couldn't afford or get organised enough to save the normal deposit or who didn't intend to ensure they merited full deposit refund.

From: Robert Brown 02 August 2019 20:13 PM

Robert Brown
Nick Duncan. I get the point. Someone wants me to spend money on something neither I nor my tenants need. I too have over 20 years' experience as a LL, building up a £4 million portfolio from an initial £10k deposit on a £60k flat, rented out for £600 per month (which stayed the same for about 12 years but is now £1440 due to SNP anti tenant legislation). During this time I have developed a tenant arrival/departure check list backed up by photos and signed by both parties. No disputes, no arguments, properties are handed back in more or less the same condition or the tenants pay for cleaning, refurbishment, repairs etc. I would rather budget a couple of hundred to fix or restore things than give it to a third party to record things, counting spoons etc.

From: Robert Brown 01 August 2019 22:47 PM

Robert Brown
The condition of the property at the start and end of each tenancy is much more important than counting knives and plates. Landlords can easily do all of this themselves with a smart phone and email. No need to employ anyone at OUR expense.

From: Robert Brown 01 August 2019 11:36 AM

Robert Brown
The beauty of this is ALL landlords can put up rents, even if they don't have additional costs due to the abolition of tenant fees. Perhaps the Tories and SNP are actually on the Landlords' side after all? If so, imagine how much market rents would rise under Corbyn? On second thoughts.......

From: Robert Brown 01 August 2019 11:30 AM

Robert Brown
I'll lend you our SNP lot. They'll soon chase away many landlords and let you have a sellers' market. BTW the deal is that you keep them. It's a gift, not a loan!

From: Robert Brown 31 July 2019 13:19 PM

Robert Brown
Andrew I'm also not planning to sell up, but if I were, I might spend a lot on vintage wine and non vintage women and then squander the rest! 😃

From: Robert Brown 29 July 2019 22:30 PM

Robert Brown
These are probably the same people who think a broken clock is statistically more accurate than one running 5 minutes slow since it's totally accurate twice a day.

From: Robert Brown 29 July 2019 22:26 PM

Robert Brown
This article forgets about the loss of the £40000 lettings relief, which means an additional CGT bill of nearly £12k in addition to the loss of 9 months relief from April 2020. Another fact not mentioned is that the capital gain is added to income which puts any basic income tax payer with a gain of around £40k or less into the higher tax bracket. I wish these writers would give the complete picture and not miss out important chunks of the impact of this sly tax grab.

From: Robert Brown 26 July 2019 10:36 AM

Robert Brown
Lots of students move into their new pads in late August, which must distort the numbers massively.

From: Robert Brown 26 July 2019 10:24 AM

Robert Brown
At last! An article that recognises that Landlords need their interests protected too, otherwise there will be unintended consequences. No need for a crystal ball. Scottish Landlords have had their right to determine the length of tenancies removed for over 18 months now, resulting in shorter (not longer) tenancies, unexpected voids and higher LA costs, some landlords selling up and thus large hikes in rents for the best properties ( up by around 40% compared to pre 2017 levels).

From: Robert Brown 26 July 2019 10:21 AM

Robert Brown
Can't afford the deposit, can't afford the rent. Why forfeit one week's rent when you'll get back your full deposit if you behave yourself? Only someone with less sense than money would think this a good deal!

From: Robert Brown 23 July 2019 12:25 PM

Robert Brown
Since the SNP's crazy new PRS legislation in December 2017, which abolished tenant fees and allowed them to leave on 28 days notice at any time, we have seen much shorter tenancies and had to pay higher LA fees more often - so much for their stated aim of letting tenants feel more secure in a long term home! The only saving grace is that now we're using LA's more and having a higher turnover of tenants, our rents have gone up much more much faster as the LA's have kept an eye on what the market will bear. Like all SNP policies it has backfired on the tenants. The same will happen shortly in England.

From: Robert Brown 19 July 2019 10:54 AM

Robert Brown
The Darian Scheme was a very bad deal for Scotland and possibly caused much of the emigration which enriched the wider world and disadvantaged the remaining Scots. RBS is/was a global company which happened to have its brass plate in Scotland. This bail out was in the interests of banking world wide and of no direct subsidy to the Scottish people. The Barnett formula simply says that every part of the UK should be supported in proportion to its population, which I think is perfectly fair. Personally I would have preferred to see the four original nations cease to have any unique identity after the Acts of Union, like we no longer differentiate at the level of Mercia, Anglia, Wessex, Northumbria, Dalriada, Fife etc. which all used to be separate kingdoms. The French have the right approach where formerly independent regions are now simply Departments of France. Like them we should have one national government and one national team etc.

From: Robert Brown 18 July 2019 23:04 PM

Robert Brown
Clr Corkey thinks it's ok for tenant councillors to protect their interests but would ban landlord councillors from protecting landlord interests. Why should I be surprised?

From: Robert Brown 17 July 2019 11:31 AM

Robert Brown
I am no fan of the SNP but racist comments like this are fertile recruiting ammunition for them. Many Scots run British companies, pay English taxes and help improve the quality of the gene pool in England. The UK's richest man has made much of his fortune through Scottish based industries.

From: Robert Brown 17 July 2019 11:26 AM

Robert Brown
I would go along with a compulsory exam to ensure landlords knew what they need to do, but not having to sit in a room or undertake an online course that goes at the speed of the slowest on the uptake - been on too many of these when I was an employee!

From: Robert Brown 17 July 2019 11:21 AM

Robert Brown
This article explains when you need to make a payment by 31 July. This has been the case for as long as I can remember.

From: Robert Brown 17 July 2019 11:16 AM

Robert Brown
The only technology we need is Word ( to produce documents and check lists), Online banking and Excel to ensure we don't go bust (despite the Government's best efforts) and the Internet to keep our knowledge up to date. We don't need fancy apps or scam merchants selling high tech snake oil.

From: Robert Brown 17 July 2019 11:13 AM

Robert Brown
The biggest risk to tenants' health is their lifestyle. Smoking, poor diets, drying clothes indoors, not opening the windows and generally relatively inactive and indolent lifestyles. This is my experience over 20 plus years as a landlord.

From: Robert Brown 15 July 2019 09:22 AM

Robert Brown
Airbnb, here we come! Higher rents and no problem repossessions. No brainer unless the Governments get a grip!

From: Robert Brown 15 July 2019 09:17 AM

Robert Brown
Don't force landlords to attend useless courses. Give them a written test first and only attend a course if they fail.

From: Robert Brown 03 July 2019 15:37 PM

Robert Brown
Not surprised. This guy can't even count up to 4, claiming he had only two ovens when pictured in front of the four ovens in his kitchen. He must have taken pr advice from Ed Miliband. He'll be eating bacon rolls next!

From: Robert Brown 01 July 2019 22:08 PM

Robert Brown
The SNP war on landlords has led to massive increases in rents for the most sought after properties. UK Government should take note and English landlords take heart.

From: Robert Brown 01 July 2019 22:00 PM

Robert Brown
When I was young, suspended meant hung. While that might be too harsh, a suspended sentence for a £50k fraud is far too light. Make the fraudsters repay the cash with punitive interest, like the rest of us have to do if we break current lending rules with banks etc.

From: Robert Brown 01 July 2019 18:09 PM

Robert Brown
Mould and damp are usually caused by tenants' life styles, not mopping up after showers, drying clothes indoors, not opening windows or keeping properties adequately heated and ventilated. Faulty fire alarms should be reported, firstly to the landlords and if no luck then to council. Ignoring issues only makes them worse but many tenants do nothing other than moan and landlords get blamed for not fixing things that they know nothing about.

From: Robert Brown 27 June 2019 10:05 AM

Robert Brown
Why not get the applicants to bring their own up to date Experian and another Credit Reference Agency report with them on their first viewing? No report - no viewing. Simple, and no need for landlords to waste their time and money.

From: Robert Brown 27 June 2019 10:00 AM

Robert Brown
This is shocking but when will rogue tenants be fined for the misery they cause?

From: Robert Brown 27 June 2019 08:57 AM

Robert Brown
Shelter and Councils advise tenants to stay put and not pay rent until evicted currently.

From: Robert Brown 21 June 2019 10:07 AM

Robert Brown
So the police asked the landlord to take action! Unbelievable! Jail the scum for years!

From: Robert Brown 21 June 2019 09:17 AM

Robert Brown
I've often despaired at the amount of waste in builders' skips - nearly full pieces of plaster board, brand new insulation panels, lengths of wood etc. Instead of Councils banning us from taking stuff away from their tips, they should be encouraging us to put excess materials carefully in easily accessible parts of their facility for others to take as required. IKEA are quite good at this, along with some B&Q outlets.

From: Robert Brown 19 June 2019 10:27 AM

Robert Brown
Why didn't he let the property and make a tenant do it? I always make tenants responsible for keeping gardens tidy, windows clean and promptly reporting anything needing my attention. He can obviously afford the fine when he's turned away much more in potential rental income over the period. For once I'm on the. Council's side.

From: Robert Brown 19 June 2019 10:21 AM

Robert Brown
This will just drive more landlords into moving to short term rentals and take thousands of homes out of the market. Councils will then need to house the homeless in the newly expanded short term rental sector, with no long term security of tenure and much higher rents charged. Governments need to understand that it's no point controlling the cost of something if that action makes the thing unavailable. The SNP did this in Scotland by abolishing hospital car park charges. It's now impossible to get parked at hospitals after about 8.00 am as local workers are hogging the free spaces for 10 hours a day. Affordable market rates balance supply and demand. Anything else just distorts the market and adversely affects those who need the things being interfered with.

From: Robert Brown 19 June 2019 10:15 AM

Robert Brown
If wealth were evenly distributed, it would no longer be wealth. Look at the failure of Communism in the former Eastern bloc, Venezuela etc. The prospect of wealth drives hard work, enterprise and provides greater quality job opportunities. Equality can only be a race to the bottom.

From: Robert Brown 18 June 2019 15:07 PM

Robert Brown
The current SNP war on landlords is really hurting the good tenants, who were always welcome to stay as long as they liked. Availability of good properties has plummeted, rents up 30% for the best properties, with up to 17 viewers begging to get them The SNP's latest wheeze is to push for rent controls, which will push more landlords into the short term rental arena and further reduce the availability of long term rentals. What the SNP and their loony pals in Shelter, Labour, Greens etc. are actually doing is REDUCING the chances of decent tenants getting long term homes. Such legislation only helps the rogue tenants, but that has long been the only group who might need "help" from Shelter and need any form of compulsion in the property letting market.

From: Robert Brown 18 June 2019 15:02 PM

Robert Brown
Doesn't surprise me that the SNP government fails to recognise common sense when it sees it. However this still wouldn't persuade me to let to non working benefit scroungers.

From: Robert Brown 18 June 2019 10:04 AM

Robert Brown
So we can't save our poorest no hopers time by saying No DSS. If we say No Smokers that's nearly the same thing and also stops the few working smokers from wasting everyone's time as well. Result!

From: Robert Brown 12 June 2019 17:07 PM

Robert Brown
How can you legally avoid lodging Security Deposits with one of the designated organisations?

From: Robert Brown 12 June 2019 15:34 PM

Robert Brown
Paul You talk a lot of sense but you forget that the source of the rental surge in Scotland is due to the SNP having abolished AST, so the landlord has NO say in when the tenancy ends, only the tenant can decide (unless they breach the terms of the Scottish Government drafted private rental tenancy (PRT) agreement. That is why many landlords have sold up or moved to holiday rentals. Incidentally the normal holiday rental market has also been screwed up by this legislation as many student flats in Edinburgh, St Andrews, Aberdeen etc. were used as holiday rentals over the summer, but these can't be advertised until the landlord is certain that the current tenants are leaving, and they only need to give 28 days notice. Another feature is landlords are now insisting next academic session's tenants sign up from 1st June, so depriving tourist areas of much needed short term rental accommodation and forcing students to pay over the summer for properties they don't want to occupy. Indeed the only way the SNP could screw things up worse would be by persuading 50.0001% of the Scottish electorate to vote for independence and they only need around 200,000 voters from September 2014 to switch in order to do so. Perhaps the English Brexiteers will nudge them over the line? What a coup that would be, not sending £350m a week to the EU AND saving the £14 billion or so subsidy sent to Scotland as it doesn't have enough Income Tax Payers paying a marginal rate of up to 61% ( and many believe UK Income Tax doesn't go above 45% !). Perhaps Nigel and Nicola have more in common than they imagine? A marriage made in Heaven, probably with Corbyn as the Church Minister!

From: Robert Brown 11 June 2019 22:58 PM

Robert Brown
What a surprise? The SNP screw landlords by taking away their right to determine when a tenancy ends, landlords sell up, tenants can't find enough properties, rents go up due to market forces and greater risks borne by landlords - so what next? Rent controls make remaining landlords either sell up or move to short term holiday rentals. Thousands now clamour for the Council to home them. Huge shortage of temporary accommodation pushes up short term rental rates and former long term landlords offer their short term rentals to house the homeless, but at several times what they were getting for the same properties which used to be available for long term rentals. SNP should be careful what they wish for!

From: Robert Brown 11 June 2019 17:00 PM

Robert Brown
Surely this can be done by the tenant simply printing off his Experian report and letting the landlord seeit?

From: Robert Brown 10 June 2019 09:07 AM

Robert Brown
I agree. If a tenant can't or won't put his own money at risk to guarantee he will respect my properties ( and get all his money back) then I don't want him as a tenant.

From: Robert Brown 07 June 2019 14:05 PM

Robert Brown
Landlords might think about selling, but won't unload at crazy low prices unless in real trouble. We're not lemmings!

From: Robert Brown 05 June 2019 10:47 AM

Robert Brown
Why not do something really radical. Abolish Council Tax and charge every user 150% of the cost of the services provided, schools, bins, roads etc. The extra 50% would pay for those who genuinely couldn't afford the full 150% charge and every user could choose which School, which bin emptying company etc. to use. Council employees could compete with private sector managers for the jobs.

From: Robert Brown 05 June 2019 10:18 AM

Robert Brown
I think these statistics are misleading as a Glasgow flat costing around £200,000 would command a rent of around £800 per month, so taking over20 years to pay back. An entry level flat costing under £130000 would probably only rent for around £500 per month, again taking over 20 years. These two statistics don't apply to the same properties as the purchase price and rental averages are based on completely different samples. Another example of sloppy journalism here.

From: Robert Brown 04 June 2019 16:03 PM

Robert Brown
I can't understand why tenants would chose to lose one week's rent plus £26 per annum when the current deposit schemes cost them nothing, apart from a miniscule amount of lost interest. I would regard this as a potential black mark for any tenants wanting to use this scheme and veer towards tenants who are sufficiently organised to have a proper deposit and put this up as a guarantee that they will look after my properties properly in order to justify full return of their own money.

From: Robert Brown 03 June 2019 13:15 PM

Robert Brown
Fewer rental properties means higher rents for those landlords who stick it out. Maybe the Tories are still the Landlords' friend after all, while pretending to support the tenants? Perhaps they got together with their very good friends in the SNP to establish how to compensate us for the tax robbery instigated by six-jobs Osborne? Perhaps I'm losing my mind with all the recent landlord -friendly actions by all parties throughout the UK?

From: Robert Brown 31 May 2019 08:56 AM

Robert Brown
What a surprise! The final consumer (tenant) always ends up paying as no supplier is running a charity. If MP's had to have real jobs for 10 or 20 years before ruining ( not a typo) the country they might actually make a success of running it!

From: Robert Brown 30 May 2019 09:11 AM

Robert Brown
I wonder if the rent-free listed building she lives in is energy efficient, or given she doesn't pay the bills, she won't be too bothered. If it were a PRs property on the other hand.......

From: Robert Brown 29 May 2019 13:21 PM

Robert Brown
If Landlords providing homes are forced to pay more tax, why should the short term rental landlords be let off the hook, with £7500 tax free, no checks on fire safety, no "fit and proper" checks etc and potentially free from Council Tax if run as a separate small business.

From: Robert Brown 29 May 2019 09:36 AM

Robert Brown
Short term rentals are destroying some residential neighbourhoods and harming properly regulated and safe hospitality businesses. Instead of giving them tax free £7500 they should have additional commercial property taxes imposed to fund proper scrutiny of their safety and compliance with all appropriate rules, including paying the appropriate income tax , commercial mortgage , insurance and local authority rates, instead of masquerading as normal domestic dwellings.

From: Robert Brown 28 May 2019 09:09 AM

Robert Brown
If you can't afford a deposit - you can't afford the rent. If you won't risk your own money as assurance you'll respect my property - you won't be allowed to rent my property. Try the Council.

From: Robert Brown 28 May 2019 09:02 AM

Robert Brown
Licensing landlords could get rid of the rogues if properly policed and Proceeds of Crime legislation applied to unlicensed rogue landlords. One benefit of the Glasgow HMO 3 year licence is that rents have trebled in the last 12 years since this came into force, and licensed flats are definitely safer, with annual safety checks, fire doors etc.

From: Robert Brown 24 May 2019 20:39 PM

Robert Brown
Grateful thanks to the SNP for frightening away many landlords with their crazy December 2017 PRs legislation., allowing tenants to dictate when they leave. Market forces have since caused rents to soar with one flat now getting £2100 per month (about 10% yield) compared to £1500 just 2 years ago, others now getting £1500 compared to £900, again about 10% yield now, or 300% yield based on my original £6000 10% deposit about 20 years ago.

From: Robert Brown 24 May 2019 20:26 PM

Robert Brown
If a tenant can't afford the deposit, why believe they'll be able to afford the rent?

From: Robert Brown 24 May 2019 20:18 PM

Robert Brown
Property bonds - the new timeshare? You pay real money but don't actually own a real physical asset, although your investment yield will be reduced by maintenance costs over which you have no control.

From: Robert Brown 24 May 2019 20:17 PM

Robert Brown
John. If the Welsh Government follow the SNP lunatic letting legislation, you can look forward to rents trebling over the following 5 years, as I have found after 15 years of rental stagnation, although reasonable capital growth occurred then which has now stalled.

From: Robert Brown 22 May 2019 18:39 PM

Robert Brown
In total agreement with this post Paul. See what avoiding hyperbole and putting a cogent well reasoned argument can achieve? 😊

From: Robert Brown 22 May 2019 10:10 AM

Robert Brown
Paul How is asking property owners to use their equity to prevent the general tax payer funding their care robbery? Surely the robbery is this equity being left untouched to benefit their descendants, whilst the hapless tax payer gets nothing back for having looked after the inheritors' parents in their hours of need?

From: Robert Brown 21 May 2019 15:29 PM

Robert Brown
What about sentencing the rent defaulter to do enough unpaid work until he has worked off his debt? I trust the publicity of this case will prevent the rent dodger from defrauding more landlords.

From: Robert Brown 21 May 2019 15:10 PM

Robert Brown
Why should Benefit claimants be insulated from the financial realities? Most WORKING people can't afford £1100 per month rent so what makes those on benefits feel entitled to rent expensive properties? I can't afford to fly first class and accept I need to go economy. Do I feel second class? No because I feel self respect for living within my means, paying my own way and contributing to society. If I had to take hand outs then I might feel second class, but would I have any right to feel equal to those who were working hard and helping to keep me? I don't think so!

From: Robert Brown 21 May 2019 15:06 PM

Robert Brown
I totally agree but I am locked into the Scottish buy to let market with a huge CGT bill if I sold up. However the SNP war on landlords has hit tenants hard with one flat that 10 years ago got £700 per month now getting £2100 per month, with 17 groups viewing it recently. After about 15 years of reasonable capital growth but minimal rental increases, capital growth has stalled due to the huge LBTT (our stamp duty) bills but the shortage of rental properties has caused rents for the best properties to soar. I can't stand the SNP but love how well their loony policies have helped their most sworn enemies, the private landlords. I bet most of Generation Rent will still blindly vote for them oblivious to the real reasons why they can't get on the housing ladder.

From: Robert Brown 21 May 2019 14:54 PM

Robert Brown
Paul I agree that fracking should be encouraged and renewables subjected to rigorous scrutiny, but man made climate change is a proven fact. It's a pity that the Greens don't understand enough science to realise that nuclear power and fracked hydrocarbons are actually greener than current renewable technologies.

From: Robert Brown 21 May 2019 14:44 PM

Robert Brown
So if two chasing defines a shortage, how do you define 17 as I had recently?

From: Robert Brown 09 May 2019 09:44 AM

Robert Brown
So it's illegal for the landlord to enter his own properties without the tenants' permission. What about tenants staying on without landlords' permission and not paying rent?

From: Robert Brown 09 May 2019 09:40 AM

Robert Brown
This is illegal so the Council officials and Councillors should be jailed, like they threaten to do to landlords.

From: Robert Brown 09 May 2019 09:17 AM

Robert Brown
Whilst having no sympathy for rogue landlords or tenants, I think this guy is being treated very harshly as it could have been quite dangerous to get heavy with these criminal tenants. How about jailing tenants who continue to occupy properties they reuse to pay rent on?

From: Robert Brown 09 May 2019 09:13 AM

Robert Brown
It looks like different areas have different levels of availability or shortage of properties. In the SNP Socialist Republic of Scotland I recently had 17 groups chasing one flat and the rent is 250% of what is was between 5 and 20 years ago. I believe this is proof that screwing Landlords leads to hiked rents and shortage of rental properties.

From: Robert Brown 08 May 2019 13:16 PM

Robert Brown
Sincere thanks to the SNP loonies for causing Glasgow room rent rates to be second only to London. A flat I bought nearly 20 years ago for under £60000 with a £6000 deposit now generates £1500 per month, so a yield of 300% on my initial investment. For the first 15 years the rent stayed at £600 per month, but the SNP's war on both landlords and tenants has helped rents to soar in recent years.

From: Robert Brown 03 May 2019 18:17 PM

Robert Brown
Rents in Scotland have soared since the SNP war on landlords chased many out of the market causing a shortage in available properties and thus higher rents. However Landlords can no longer control how long tenants can stay or when they leave, with many student properties now empty from late May to early September as landlords can't insist on 12 months lease, hence rents have gone up as only 9 to 10 months rent to cover 12 months costs.

From: Robert Brown 02 May 2019 18:36 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland the SNP war on landlords has led to an upsurge on airbnb, so the SNP now plan to regulate it instead of recognising why this problem arose. Priceless!

From: Robert Brown 29 April 2019 09:33 AM

Robert Brown
This is done by big business which is what the Tories are comfortable with. No party supports the small landlords, so this growth, along with grey built student ghettos is no surprise.

From: Robert Brown 29 April 2019 09:25 AM

Robert Brown
This should be classed as criminal damage and the tenants prosecuted. Similarly rent arrears after 2 months should be theft. Perhaps Shelter will refund the landlord out of its resources collected in the pretence of providing homes?

From: Robert Brown 29 April 2019 09:21 AM

Robert Brown
Why on earth did Osborne give £7500 tax relief to airbnb resident landlords whilst removing mortgage tax relief from genuine landlords providing real homes? Airbnb also causes problems with neighbours and undercuts genuine hotels which need fire regulations etc and provide local jobs.

From: Robert Brown 25 April 2019 10:33 AM

Robert Brown
As I have said on previous articles, saying No DSS saves everyone time, hassle and embarrassment. Not being able to say so simply wastes everyone's time and puts even more pressure on benefits claimants as they will no longer have a quick and easy way to establish which properties they can rent.

From: Robert Brown 25 April 2019 10:28 AM

Robert Brown
I don't disagree with accreditation provided it can be achieved by passing a written exam and not require or be awarded for attending a mickey mouse, egg sucking, costly course.

From: Robert Brown 25 April 2019 10:18 AM

Robert Brown
Landlords shouldn't be afraid of licensing schemes but the most annoying thing is that councils don't go after the unlicensed rogues, even when they're reported to them. Rents do go up to reflect better properties but why should landlords fear that?

From: Robert Brown 24 April 2019 09:16 AM

Robert Brown
There are more tenants than landlords and landlords are unlikely to vote Corbyn so both parties will chase tenant votes and stuff landlords.

From: Robert Brown 16 April 2019 09:25 AM

Robert Brown
You might have noticed 55.3% of Scots who voted were against independence. Only around 1.6 million out of over 5 million Scots swallowed the SNP lies, unlike the 17 million duped into voting for the"easiest deal in history" promised by UKIP and the right wing tories.

From: Robert Brown 15 April 2019 18:28 PM

Robert Brown
Watch them soar once S21abolished. After the new PRS legislation came in Scotland in December 2017 rents soared due to shortage of rental properties. Now the loony lefties are calling for rent caps instead of admitting the real reasons for such rent increases.

From: Robert Brown 15 April 2019 18:17 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland the onus is on the Landlord to establish (and have a written declaration) that unrelated adults are in a relationship before more than 2 unrelated adults can share a non HMO property. All the arguments about right to privacy, presumption of innocence etc. have been tried and failed.

From: Robert Brown 03 April 2019 13:09 PM

Robert Brown
LLs don't need LAs to give outgoing tenants an incentive to find new tenants. I've often done this and tied the (modest) incentive in with the old tenant giving extensive notice, new tenant moving in on the day the other one moves out, leaving the flat ready for immediate occupation etc.

From: Robert Brown 03 April 2019 12:49 PM

Robert Brown
The wording of this survey question is stupid. Governments should do more to make homes energy efficient but NOT by simply passing the buck on to landlords. I agree with Paul that buyers are unlikely to consider the EPC ratings and neither do tenants in my experience.

From: Robert Brown 03 April 2019 12:42 PM

Robert Brown
If a tenant can't afford the deposit, it doesn't bode well for being able to pay the rent regularly without any problems.

From: Robert Brown 02 April 2019 10:26 AM

Robert Brown
I usually agree with your posts but cannot accept any denial of our responsibility for climate change. I don't however support the drives to renewables and demonising gas and diesel consumers. Nuclear power is the best way forward for sustainable controllable power generation and can't understand the greens' opposition to this zero emission power source.

From: Robert Brown 01 April 2019 19:05 PM

Robert Brown
I don't believe these figures. A&E would be even busier if they are anything like the figures claimed. Most problems are of the tenants' own making in not fixing minor issues and not adequately heating and ventilating properties.

From: Robert Brown 01 April 2019 17:45 PM

Robert Brown
Mop up after baths or showers. Don't dry clothes inside and keep properties well heated and ventilated - hey presto - no damp or mould!

From: Robert Brown 20 March 2019 10:36 AM

Robert Brown
In Glasgow, a 3 year HMO licence for 4 sharing costs over £1900 and over £900 every three years thereafter. Rents achieved for 4 bed HMO properties have risen from around £1500 per month to over £2000 in the last 2-3 years - thanks to the SNP's 2017 anti landlord legislation and the Council's high licensing charges. Tenants however still think these loony lefties are on their side!

From: Robert Brown 20 March 2019 10:35 AM

Robert Brown
I usually sand and varnish the floor boards. I also avoid families but sometimes nature takes its course, resulting in broken beds, stained walls and furniture. Perhaps single beds are the way ahead?

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2019 10:19 AM

Robert Brown
I started with 90% ltv mortgages and exploited gearing to grow my portfolio pretty quickly and now have about £1 million outstanding on a portfolio of £3 to £4 million. Using only cash would have been much less effective, especially with mortgage rates under 2% for much of the last 10 years and gross yields between 7 and 10%.

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2019 10:12 AM

Robert Brown
Short term rental landlords get much better income tax and council tax treatment than landlords providing homes. Crazy!

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2019 09:56 AM

Robert Brown
Only the most undesirable tenants would move into a property with existing problems. Most problems are caused by tenants' life styles. I have a clause in my leases about adequate heating and ventilation, which prevents damp and mould. Another clause is about promptly reporting problems for early resolution.

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2019 09:53 AM

Robert Brown
This is ridiculous. Much of employment law hinges on ludicrous technicalities and now it's spreading into property law.

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2019 09:45 AM

Robert Brown
The Wilsons would sell to sitting tenants if they wanted to buy at the market price. Surely the tenants should be thanking the Wilsons for letting them stay in a nice house that otherwise they couldn't afford. Perhaps Shelter could lend them the cash and avoid them needing to leave?

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2019 09:39 AM

Robert Brown
I agree. He let his arrogance take control and did a lot of harm to landlords who can't afford to sell up and retire. The SNP has ensured tenants now rule up here and Fergus has helped ensure our loony legislation will head south very soon. Typical BBC bias! The Channel 5 programme is much more balanced.

From: Robert Brown 19 March 2019 09:34 AM

Robert Brown
I don't think it has a good enough EPC rating so could only be owner occupied. I wonder if only eating beef makes any other insulation unnecessary?

From: Robert Brown 15 March 2019 12:10 PM

Robert Brown
Another loony lefty touchy feely load of nonsense. Agree totally with Andrew. Pay rent- get loved. Don't pay rent - get evicted. Simples.

From: Robert Brown 15 March 2019 10:38 AM

Robert Brown
We should all now book appointments to view any mansions advertised on Zoopla as they clearly don't believe affordability is a consideration in deciding where to live. I think there's a big house at the top of the Mall that's unoccupied quite a lot, and an even bigger one in Windsor - but not sure about the EPC's.

From: Robert Brown 15 March 2019 10:33 AM

Robert Brown
Totally agree. This ban only wastes everyone's time and will demoralise DSS tenants facing multiple rejections whereas before they knew what properties to avoid. Now they'll not know what decent properties might have been available to them. Like all loony lefty ideas this is another race to the bottom.

From: Robert Brown 15 March 2019 10:26 AM

Robert Brown
Insurers should trawl short let sites and charge huge additional premiums on this too lightly taxed group of landlords, especially since proper home-providing landlords are taxed into oblivion and charged higher insurance premiums and mortgage rates.

From: Robert Brown 14 March 2019 19:19 PM

Robert Brown
The problem with all such schemes is they add to the costs of decent landlords and thus tenants, but rogues will ignore them. Councils should be forced to use all the revenue to go after rogue landlords and fine them so licence fees can be kept very low. An unintended consequence of licenced properties is many btl mortgages are not available for any properties needing a licence from the LA.

From: Robert Brown 28 February 2019 10:31 AM

Robert Brown
This question is a bit like "Are you still beating up your wife?". The question should be " Should it be down to us etc.?" Not the "Is it...... "

From: Robert Brown 27 February 2019 11:31 AM

Robert Brown
I have grown a £12000 deposit on a £50000 flat to approaching £3 million equity in a £4 million portfolio over 20 years. In the early days I did this by continually remortgaging based on growing property values to get the deposit for a further property. Pensions can't possibly have the leverage effect that property offers, although with slower capital growths and reduced tax reliefs, highly leveraged portfolios are much riskier in the current anti prs environment.

From: Robert Brown 25 February 2019 11:31 AM

Robert Brown
A lot of cash sales are for properties which wouldn't get a mortgage and are heavily discounted, so skewing the statistics. It's a bit like highlighting the fact that more than half of all workers earn under the average wage, because some earn so much more thus skewing the figures.

From: Robert Brown 25 February 2019 10:52 AM

Robert Brown
By Scottish they mean Edinburgh where airbnb is a scourge in many residential areas. Glasgow has introduced licences for short term rentals in flats but not houses which is missing the point a bit. Insurance companies should be trawling online adverts and penalising clients who breach their policy terms. Osborne's idiotic £7500 rent a room tax break has also allowed short term landlords to evade tax as they will mostly claim they take in less than this. Many of these properties are also exempt from Council Tax whereas landlords providing homes are liable for paying this during void periods.

From: Robert Brown 25 February 2019 10:44 AM

Robert Brown
The Scottish Landlords' Association is also very helpful but sadly had no effect on the December 2017 legislation which removed the right to no fault eviction and fixed term leases from Scottish landlords. Now someone has set up a petition on 38 degrees calling for Scottish rent controls, completely missing the reasons why rents have soared due a shortage of rental properties with many landlords selling up.

From: Robert Brown 25 February 2019 10:31 AM

Robert Brown
Not when there is a shortage of good quality rental properties. Poor quality landlords might suffer but not those who have several prospective tenants after their properties.

From: Robert Brown 15 February 2019 11:28 AM

Robert Brown
Smoke and CO alarms are only required because tenants can't be trusted to act responsibly. Avoidance beats detection so: 1. Don't risk setting fire to my property by NOT smoking, making chips when drunk, lighting candles or anything else. 2. Ensure everything is switched off when not in use. 3. Remember you'll be homeless if you disregard 1 and 2.

From: Robert Brown 15 February 2019 09:01 AM

Robert Brown
No doubt we'll soon be inundated with messages of gratitude from GR for taking this risk off their shoulders.

From: Robert Brown 12 February 2019 12:15 PM

Robert Brown
Well, pulses, lentils and other budgie foods favoured by GR are cheap, although a major fire hazard during digestion!

From: Robert Brown 11 February 2019 14:25 PM

Robert Brown
Surely this article is disagreeing with the first article on how unaffordable London rents are claimed to be?

From: Robert Brown 11 February 2019 10:35 AM

Robert Brown
Whilst I hate rogue landlords, surely most sub standard properties are still better than cardboard boxes?

From: Robert Brown 11 February 2019 10:33 AM

Robert Brown
This article assumes only 1 wage earner per property. In my early renting days we lived (frugally) on my salary and saved my wife's entire salary towards the mandatory 10% deposit on our first home which was an hour's travel from work. With cheap 100% mortgages becoming more available, purchasing a property is not beyond those GR types who are paying high rents, but perhaps not in the bright lights whilst running leased cars and drinking £3 coffees. They can even get £7500 pa tax free from their spare room towards the mortgage.

From: Robert Brown 11 February 2019 10:29 AM

Robert Brown
I record everything on a spreadsheet as it happens so it's done by mid April and in mid January get the 8 or 10 numbers from it to copy directly into my online tax return. It's easy enough to work out what tax reliefs are available without paying an accountant. However this January the online system suggested my repairs etc were too high, so HMRC prefer us to pay more tax rather than keep our properties well maintained!

From: Robert Brown 08 February 2019 10:37 AM

Robert Brown
Paul. If you're using your real name, sharing your ideas on how you'll evade various laws and persuade tenants to comply could come back to bite you. A tenant with evidence of your law breaking could become a life long rent free boarder!

From: Robert Brown 08 February 2019 10:03 AM

Robert Brown
Or create a simple spreadsheet to do this and more, and save £24 every year.

From: Robert Brown 07 February 2019 22:31 PM

Robert Brown
Disgruntled neighbours can help authorities target those abusing the scheme and dodging taxes. Airbnb is a scourge, hurting the homeless, the proper hospitality industry, neighbours and tax paying landlords - and often putting the guests' safety at risk due to lack of adequate fire safety, hygiene training etc.

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 22:23 PM

Robert Brown
I would rather pay the £2k HMO licence and pocket the extra £600 per month that I can now get due to a shortage of HMO properties. I would also report anyone renting to 3 or more adults without an HMO licence and believe most local landlords would also do so to protect their exclusivity and livelihoods.

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 21:01 PM

Robert Brown
The one sane thing Glasgow City Council has done is to have mandatory licences for airbnb in city tenements, not that all airbnb landlords will comply! Why they get a £7500 tax free income is beyond me when those providing permanent homes get taxed on turnover.

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 15:14 PM

Robert Brown
Paul. Be careful! I argued that I couldn't pry to confirm if 4 tenants were actually 2 couples but was warned I (not they) risked criminal prosecution if they weren't able to prove to a court that they were couples. They would only be prosecuted if they committed perjury, not for duping me into thinking they were couples.

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 15:00 PM

Robert Brown
Paul The crazy thing is that allowing 3 unrelated adults to occupy any 3 room flat would allow around 20,000 students to occupy under 7000 flats instead of 10,000 - releasing over 3000 for occupation by others, including families. However the SNP "government" and local council are currently "consulting" on the "overprovision" of HMO properties when all the evidence is of underprovision!

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 14:49 PM

Robert Brown
Funnily enough, I am actually quite happy with the consequences of the SNP in that my rents on a 4 bed flat let to 4 students (with a mandatory HMO licence for 3 or more) having risen from £1500 to £2100 per month over the last 2 years, with £2250 in the pipeline for this June onwards. Lots of LLs have sold up, so I had 17 groups chasing 1 flat last June because of SNP policies. The major risk is tenants leaving in May when graduating but new tenants not wanting in until September. Having high quality well positioned properties mitigates against this but marginal properties could be in trouble come May this year.

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 13:04 PM

Robert Brown
I agree. I would never again try to sell a property without immediate vacant possession. I have since bought a property with tenants in situ and got it for about 85% of market value because the landlord was in danger of repossession. I was lucky and could wait until my value- reducing tenants could be got rid of at the end of the lease. I had offered them one of my other flats if they co-operated and were astonished that I didn't regard co-operating to include keeping the flat as a tip when viewings were scheduled!

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 12:52 PM

Robert Brown
Glasgow's various universities and colleges provide this service free to registered landlords. Possibly many other cities do likewise?

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 09:53 AM

Robert Brown
I have tried to sell with sitting tenants but they do nothing to help present the property well. After about 8 months of trying, I let the lease lapse and got a much higher offer within a week of presenting the property as it should have been presented all along. As always, tenants have only themselves to blame if landlords choose to sell with vacant possession to the widest market available.

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 09:50 AM

Robert Brown
I would say this is very late data rather than the latest data. Scottish landlords have known this for over a year, ever since the SNP's war on landlords removed our right to set fixed term tenancies and allowed tenants to leave any time on 4 weeks' notice. Larger properties can't be let to more than 2 unrelated adults unless a licence costing around £2000 for the first 3 years is obtained. This also needs costly alterations and annual checks, hence over 10% rises. If the rest of the UK wants evidence of the effects of loony anti landlord legislation, it's in this article.

From: Robert Brown 06 February 2019 09:43 AM

Robert Brown
I agree with everything said above, but as someone who spent 3 years of my early childhood with my parents living in one room as a sub tenant while on a council house waiting list I feel for the decent tenants denied homes hogged by rent dodgers defrauding the HB or UC systems. Why does Shelter not prioritise the decent homeless or over crowded over the feckless rent dodgers?

From: Robert Brown 04 February 2019 10:22 AM

Robert Brown
Great idea Paul! First people to contact are the parents of the SNP First Minister (current female one - not her predecessor now facing various sexual harassment charges). Her parents still reside in the ex Council house they bought at a discount while she lives in a multi million town house mansion courtesy of the tax payer and National Trust.

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 17:43 PM

Robert Brown
Another biased headline! It should read "Tenants might face inflation or cost based rent increases, but many won't as landlords decide to absorb these to keep good tenants" Somehow the truth makes less interesting headlines!

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 16:46 PM

Robert Brown
So far, 710 people have viewed this, 73% say they support this petition but only 58 people have actually signed it! Come on, if you support it, sign it!

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 11:34 AM

Robert Brown
If tenants can afford pets, they can afford to pay any necessary insurance against damage. Being a pet owner is not a disability, religion, race, sexual orientation etc - so discrimination against pet owners refusing to take full responsibility for them is not only legal but justified.

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 11:29 AM

Robert Brown
There was another article a few days ago stating landlords got over £17 billions in "tax relief". If 50% of landlords pay 20% tax and 50% pay 40% tax, this means landlords have incurred annual expenses of around £50 billions in non capital expenditure as well as around £1 trillion in capital investment, all to provide homes for those who can't or won't afford to buy.

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 11:23 AM

Robert Brown
In Scotland, 3 bedroom properties and bigger cannot be let to more than 2 unrelated adults unless the landlord gets an HMO licence which costs around £2000 for the first 3 years, along with expensive alterations etc. Allowing 3 adults to share any 3 bed property could reduce the cost per occupant by 33% and also save landlords thousands on unnecessary expense on licence fees.

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 11:08 AM

Robert Brown
The key point in this article is decent tenants get rewarded with stable rents and long term occupation of good properties. Why then does Shelter etc want to deny decent tenants such opportunities by preventing landlords from getting rid of rogue tenants so their properties can be made available for the decent majority of tenants?

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 11:00 AM

Robert Brown
Only recently there was an article on rents rising, which is my recent experience. The most telling point in this article is landlords want to keep decent tenants and so tend to keep rents the same. Why then does everyone want to deny decent tenants good properties by making it so difficult to get rid of rogue tenants? Shelter and the Corbunists are the biggest culprits in this crazy policy against decent tenants and landlords. .

From: Robert Brown 01 February 2019 10:55 AM

Robert Brown
Since the average tax rate was probably around 30%, another way of presenting this info was that landlord paid almost £60 billions in revenue expenditure in providing homes for those who couldn't or wouldn't buy their own. This figure is probably an underestimate, given the proportion of properties own outright and ignores the actual capital investment made by landlords, which probably exceeds £1 trillion.

From: Robert Brown 31 January 2019 16:23 PM

Robert Brown
Since the average tax rate was probably around 30%, another way of presenting this info was that landlord paid almost £60 billions in revenue expenditure in providing homes for those who couldn't or wouldn't buy their own. This figure is probably an underestimate, given the proportion of properties own outright and ignores the actual ca

From: Robert Brown 31 January 2019 16:21 PM

Robert Brown
I get the figures ready between April and June but only submit them and pay the tax due in mid January. Incidentally I noticed that the HMRC system queried the level of my outgoings this year, although they were well in line with previous years' figures. Perhaps HMRC would prefer us to not maintain our properties so that we would pay more tax?

From: Robert Brown 31 January 2019 16:12 PM

Robert Brown
Aren't you breaking the law by not depositing the deposit with a registered scheme? Not criticising, just interested in any legal way to avoid using these tenant-friendly schemes?

From: Robert Brown 31 January 2019 13:23 PM

Robert Brown
In many blocks it's the owner occupiers who refuse to pay for common repairs, not the private landlords who want to present properties as pristine as possible to maximise rent values.

From: Robert Brown 23 January 2019 18:52 PM

Robert Brown
About the only sensible thing the SNP have done in Scotland is to ban RTB so any remaining social housing cannot be sold to anyone, even at full market value. I suspect Thatcher's motivation was that Councils wouldn't evict strikers for rent arrears but banks wound for mortgage arrears.

From: Robert Brown 23 January 2019 18:47 PM

Robert Brown
High enough fines could make this self funding (like parking fines etc.) but it's an easy life for most council employees who blame "austerity and cut backs" every time they fail to do what we're paying them for.

From: Robert Brown 23 January 2019 12:53 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland the Council doesn't even remind you when your licence is due to expire and seems to do nothing to track down rogue landlords. I had an unlicensed landlord in the same block who refused to pay his share of common repairs but the council don't seem interested. However, if I forgot to renew my licence........Good landlords are like drivers - easy pickings, but the rogues still get away with it every time!

From: Robert Brown 23 January 2019 12:49 PM

Robert Brown
Reply to John: I have done well with property values growing strongly between 1998 and 2008, but minimal growth since. By contrast, rents remained pretty static until about 2014 but have grown by 50 to 70% since 2014. Both these things are largely due to the exodus of landlords who are afraid of weathering the storm created by the SNP which makes Osborne's attacks on the prs seem lightweight in comparison.

From: Robert Brown 11 January 2019 13:45 PM

Robert Brown
I don't disagree but shudder at the thought of any alternative government's potential treatment of landlords. Look at the harm the SNP have done to landlords and tenants in Scotland!

From: Robert Brown 09 January 2019 09:29 AM

Robert Brown
Northern England might be OK but beware of risking the wrath of the SNP by being a landlord in Scotland!

From: Robert Brown 08 January 2019 16:35 PM

Robert Brown
These schemes miss the main point. Good tenants get back every penny of their deposit. Why trust any tenant who prefers the certainty of losing this insurance premium to the responsibility of taking care of our properties and putting their own money at risk? Yes another misguided plan to molly coddle the feckless and prevent them from taking responsibility for their own actions.

From: Robert Brown 08 January 2019 14:57 PM

Robert Brown
Scottish prices seem to be holding up or even increasing in popular areas, despite SNP attempts to bankrupt the whole country with free University education for EU students, free prescriptions etc. Thank God for the Westminster subsidies under the Barnet formula!

From: Robert Brown 08 January 2019 14:50 PM

Robert Brown
Rents are going up faster than inflation because so many landlords have sold up due to SNP attacks on landlords even exceeding those by Westminster, including 4% penalty on stamp duty and 41% income tax on earrings over around £44k and 61% marginal tax rate on incomes just over £100k. No one mentions the years when rents didn't go up at, between around 1988 and 2012, despite property costs more than doubling during this period.

From: Robert Brown 08 January 2019 14:44 PM

Robert Brown
I'm sorry but I really don't know who or what David Price is blaming for homelessness. Please enlighten me.

From: Robert Brown 04 January 2019 22:36 PM

Robert Brown
I can't understand why Westminster targets landlords who provide homes, taxing them on "income" they haven't actually earned by withdrawing mortgage tax relief, yet giving airbnb landlords £7500 tax free income as a reward for harming residential areas, removing homes from the market and screwing up genuine hotel businesses who pay taxes and employ staff.

From: Robert Brown 04 January 2019 11:16 AM

Robert Brown
I would prefer taking all their money to providing free b&b. Wish this we're done more often.

From: Robert Brown 03 January 2019 17:53 PM

Robert Brown
I have grown a £12000 initial deposit on a £48000 flat which generated £600 per month gross rent 20 years ago into over £2 million equity in a £3 million portfolio generating over £20000 per month gross rent. I doubt many stock market investors could claim to have turned £12000 into £2 million over the last 20 years and have £20k per month dividends. As long as we can get gearing through cheap mortgages I believe btl will beat the stock market. My worst investment was an Equitable Life pension scheme, so I'm done with"balanced" portfolio planning!

From: Robert Brown 03 January 2019 17:43 PM

Robert Brown
Wow! Something done by Glasgow City Council that I approve of? I wish Edinburgh and Holyrood - and Westminster- would also act to control the scourge which removes quality homes from the market, gives £7500 tax free income to owner occupiers and free Council Tax relief to the rest, while normal landlords have to pay tax on earnings they haven't had!

From: Robert Brown 31 December 2018 18:18 PM

Robert Brown
The clear advantages to landlords are so clear they're invisible! I predict many student tenants will leave at the end of May as they only need to give 28 days notice and many flats will remain empty over the summer vacation whereas we used to be able to get 12 month leases but can no longer insist on any minimum term.

From: Robert Brown 28 December 2018 15:41 PM

Robert Brown
We saved our deposit by living on only one salary, not having Costa coffees, holidays and running a very old car. Come to think of it, that's also how we saved our first btl deposit whilst paying up to. 15% mortgage interest. IMHO property is no less affordable than it was in the 70's and 80's - just priorities and ambitions have changed with reluctance to make any sacrifices.

From: Robert Brown 28 December 2018 08:55 AM

Robert Brown
I do my accounts early but don't submit them until mid January and pay the tax during the same log on. No point in giving HMRC information too early and inviting an enquiry when they've nothing better to do with their time.

From: Robert Brown 24 December 2018 09:55 AM

Robert Brown
Why is it illegal for tenants to have smaller rooms than home owners? Does this mean small cardboard boxes can only be occupied by their owners? If so, does finders keepers imply full ownership, or can we look forward to many cardboard box evictions to comply with "tenant protection" legislation?

From: Robert Brown 24 December 2018 09:50 AM

Robert Brown
Does this illustrate the advantages of being able to call in either the IRA or UVF depending on your allegiance?

From: Robert Brown 19 December 2018 13:04 PM

Robert Brown
Ian. Your logic is impeccable - so Civil Servants will probably tell you that you can't do that!

From: Robert Brown 19 December 2018 12:59 PM

Robert Brown
So we should only discriminate when the Home Office tells us to? If we don't do it then we're breaking the law. If we do it at any other time then we're breaking the law. That's nice and clear then!

From: Robert Brown 19 December 2018 09:26 AM

Robert Brown
Happy to give safety advice - use your common sense and if you haven't any please move and burn down someone else's property!

From: Robert Brown 18 December 2018 09:19 AM

Robert Brown
Don't disagree with targeting rogue landlords but what about helping decent landlords go after rogue tenants just as easily?

From: Robert Brown 18 December 2018 09:14 AM

Robert Brown
Why did it take several years to get to this stage? Come to think of it, that's probably speed of light for a Council! For once I support a Council's actions but hope the money goes into the public purse and not repaid to tenants who willingly rented the properties. This article doesn't make this at all clear.

From: Robert Brown 17 December 2018 09:31 AM

Robert Brown
In Scotland an HMO licence is needed if more than 2 unrelated adults share any property. However there is a severe shortage of quality HMO properties, resulting 17 groups wanting the last one I had vacant and a 25% increase in market rent compared with 2 years earlier. HMO properties are also safer with fire doors, alarms etc and annual electrical as well as gas safety checks.

From: Robert Brown 14 December 2018 10:19 AM

Robert Brown
Terry. You made the same comment about Holyrood. Unfortunately in Scotland it's taken the title government and Westminster has given it carte blanche to screw everyone earning over £26k with a marginal effective tax rate of up to. 61%.

From: Robert Brown 13 December 2018 10:35 AM

Robert Brown
I'm already getting around 10% yield in Glasgow flats. This latest SNP attack on tenants will probably push this up as the availability of good rental properties continues to fall.

From: Robert Brown 13 December 2018 10:29 AM

Robert Brown
Many of these articles state the obvious but this one takes the biscuit!

From: Robert Brown 13 December 2018 10:25 AM

Robert Brown
I agree. In PRS land no good turn goes unpunished!

From: Robert Brown 12 December 2018 12:28 PM

Robert Brown
I agree but shudder at how much worse a loonier Corbyn government would make things!

From: Robert Brown 12 December 2018 12:25 PM

Robert Brown
Rents have risen much faster in Scotland, where the SNP "government" is hell bent on attacking landlords, having removed all rights of the landlord to determine the length of leases and limited rent rises to maximum of one every 12 months, so that means they will definitely go up every 12 months. If anyone wants proof of how interference back fires on tenants then look at the Scottish PRS over the last year.

From: Robert Brown 11 December 2018 20:22 PM

Robert Brown
Surprised, but heartened by this verdict. I wonder how much he would have been awarded if he hadn't wrecked their stuff? Maybe Shelter will start to advise rent dodgers to leave before this happens to them now?

From: Robert Brown 10 December 2018 12:01 PM

Robert Brown
I won't take tenants who would prefer an insurance scheme to putting up their own money as a deposit. If they're not confident about taking care of my property and thus getting their full deposit returned then someone else can risk renting their property to them.

From: Robert Brown 10 December 2018 11:57 AM

Robert Brown
It probably is and he's changed it to avoid the discrimination suffered by many white middle class males from all aspects of our public sector! Come to think of it, maybe that's why it was allowed to escalate to such a level?

From: Robert Brown 07 December 2018 10:56 AM

Robert Brown
When there is a shortage of homes, it's crazy to ban otherwise perfectly habitable properties from being rented out to tenants willing to take them and the associated higher energy costs.

From: Robert Brown 07 December 2018 10:51 AM

Robert Brown
Same in Glasgow. A gap of 1 to 2 months should be allowed to cover voids and refurbishment. I had an appeal disallowed because the Council claimed a trashed bathroom with no usable w.c. didn't mean the flat was "uninhabitable"!

From: Robert Brown 07 December 2018 10:47 AM

Robert Brown
Andrew. I usually agree with your comments but don't on this occasion. I have always used the leverage of high LTV mortgages to increase my portfolio as I pay around 2% interest on them but get up to 10% yield on renting them out. Over the last 20 plus years they have grown in value by 300 to 400%, so an initial investment of around £12000 on a £50000 flat in 1997 would have grown to equity of over £150000 on a £200000 flat yielding £25000 per annum gross rent. However, by remortgaging, that same £12000 of my money has been augmented by around £1 million of mortgage finance to build up equity of around £2 million in a £3 million portfolio, yielding close on £250000 gross rental income. I therefore believe it's better to use the money saved by the over cautious risk averse savers to multiply the return on my own more sensibly invested funds.

From: Robert Brown 07 December 2018 10:35 AM

Robert Brown
David. Join the real world and look at the evidence. Whilst there is a shortage of homes, rents will always rise to cover costs including taxes, so tenants end up worse off. The fact that 100% of respondents agree more homes need built proves most landlords are fair and decent. Many tenants live in rental properties they couldn't afford to buy, lease cars they couldn't afford to buy and spend all their spare cash on expensive holidays, coffees and nights out. They should thank God for sensible landlords subsidising their profligate lifestyles!

From: Robert Brown 07 December 2018 10:22 AM

Robert Brown
Proves my point in an earlier post. The rogue landlords are obvious. Leave the decent ones alone, cut bureaucracy and screw the rogues with the resources diverted from bureaucracy.

From: Robert Brown 06 December 2018 09:30 AM

Robert Brown
If he was so notorious, why was he not stopped much earlier. Councils should focus on scum like this instead of going after decent landlords who haven't been told a smoke alarm is broken or tenants have allowed mould to take hold.

From: Robert Brown 06 December 2018 09:27 AM

Robert Brown
So we can confidently expect a huge thank you from tenants, councils and government for taking such a huge risk in such uncertain times?

From: Robert Brown 06 December 2018 09:21 AM

Robert Brown
I totally agree. Pay monthly in advance direct to landlord, guarantee to cover any losses due to damage etc when tenants leave and make eviction easier and faster. - THEN we might consider helping out the Councils who can't do what they're already paid to do.

From: Robert Brown 04 December 2018 12:05 PM

Robert Brown
Or another way of putting this would be to say Landlords save Generation Rent, Councils and Government up to £1000 billions in investing in affordable housing by doing it for them - but that would be too much like giving Landlords due credit for doing a vital but thankless job!

From: Robert Brown 04 December 2018 11:56 AM

Robert Brown
Sincere thanks to the SNP whose anti landlord legislation has helped rents rocket for high demand properties.

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2018 12:37 PM

Robert Brown
Good landlords sometimes get landed with bad tenants. I think it's rare that a good tenant will end up stuck with a bad landlord though.

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2018 12:34 PM

Robert Brown
If mortgage rates go down, property prices go up and rents also go up. If mortgage rates go up, rents go up. If mortgage rates stay the same, rents go up with general inflation and market forces. I can't think of any scenario when rents would go down or when I would agree to a rent reduction.

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2018 12:30 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland it's now impossible for landlords to specify and end date for tenancies and tenants can leave after 28 days notice any time or stay for 28 years unless the landlord uses a limited number of reasons to evict. Too early to say what long term effects will be, but short term effect has been landlords selling up, shortage of good properties and rents rocketing - so no complaints so far!

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2018 12:19 PM

Robert Brown
Glasgow's west end can generate yields of well over 10% since rents started to rocket following the SNP' s anti landlord (and thus anti tenant) legislation in December 2017.

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2018 12:12 PM

Robert Brown
I didn't see anything about airbnb landlords spending some of their money on income tax. I suspect they are major players in the black economy, so they'll get on well with their construction contractors! It's time the Chancellor stopped stuffing landlords who provide homes and concentrated on those who are stuffing the regulated hotels and boarding houses.

From: Robert Brown 03 December 2018 12:07 PM

Robert Brown
Until they can buy their own properties they shouldn't expect all the privileges that come with ownership. Until I can afford to fly 1st class I accept that I don't get free champagne.

From: Robert Brown 28 November 2018 10:18 AM

Robert Brown
I tried to sell a property with tenants in situ. Disaster! Place never clean and tidy for viewing and only ludicrous offers. After the lease finished, we marketed the property as if we lived in it ourselves and sold it within 2 weeks at the top end of our expectations. I would never try to sell a property with tenants in situ, as any loss of rent is small compared to the difference in selling price achieved. I've also bought a property with sitting tenants and got a bargain then.

From: Robert Brown 27 November 2018 17:21 PM

Robert Brown
I will treat everyone who can afford my properties out of earned income equally and accept them as tenants. Equally I will reject everyone who can't afford to rent them out of their own earned income. Surely that's observing equality?

From: Robert Brown 27 November 2018 09:13 AM

Robert Brown
I do a lot of student lets and find the threat of a ccj concentrates the minds of relatively affluent parents in the rare occasions where they get stroppy. The only downside is having to go and change light bulbs, unblock loos and sinks, wash windows and weed gardens - but the higher rents and zero arrears compensate for any extra work. Also any damage tends to be due to irresponsibilty rather than malice.

From: Robert Brown 26 November 2018 10:39 AM

Robert Brown
So we have these cumbersome Government sponsored deposit schemes to deal with under 1% of tenancy deposit issues! Why not allow Landlords who have never abused it to retain the deposit (as we used to do) and put the interest earned on it to remedy the inevitable (usually minor) damage at the end of every tenancy.

From: Robert Brown 26 November 2018 10:21 AM

Robert Brown
I think this woman is despicable and one of the reasons Landlords are all vilified. However I take issue with the use of "forced" as these people were not locked in the premises and presumably preferred them to cardboard boxes?

From: Robert Brown 26 November 2018 10:16 AM

Robert Brown
The Council or Government could GUARANTEE that Landlords be fully covered for all losses for providing HOMES for people they themselves CAN'T or WON'T help. Perhaps SHELTER could set up a fund to compensate out of pocket Landlords instead of encouraging rent dodgers to stay put and deny homes to tenants who would pay their way?

From: Robert Brown 26 November 2018 10:06 AM

Robert Brown
I don't agree that this is landlord's behaviour can be defended or that this is just another case of landlord bashing. People like this landlord are the reason the rest of us who try our best are vilified.

From: Robert Brown 20 November 2018 19:47 PM

Robert Brown
The council should confiscate her properties and make them into Council houses and Council tenants.

From: Robert Brown 19 November 2018 18:22 PM

Robert Brown
Public sector officials and "representatives" should have to risk their OWN money and positions - like the hapless landlords - when they persecute the public they're supposed to serve. Only then will we have a level playing field. HMRC are also very guilty of this. If the council think tenants are"forced" to live in "sub standard" conditions they should build more homes. I've never seen a cardboard box that gives 8 square metres of floor space.

From: Robert Brown 19 November 2018 10:30 AM

Robert Brown
In Glasgow, using the gearing of a 75% mortgage at 2% quadruples the gross yield on my own 25%. My best flat gets £2100 per month with mortgage interest of around £300. Without using mortgages my portfolio and gross yields would be only about 25% of what I currently achieve.

From: Robert Brown 16 November 2018 09:22 AM

Robert Brown
Scotland already has this, which is the only potential benefit of last December's SNP legislation which obliterated almost all Landlords' rights over their own properties, but time will tell. The article talks of the rare times when landlords need court help but suggests tenants are often at the mercy of their landlords! My experience is only bad tenants need fear their landlords and even then poor practice is a rarity.

From: Robert Brown 14 November 2018 13:08 PM

Robert Brown
The landlord should have sought legal advice but the Council should step in to pay the Landlord directly in such circumstances - cheaper than putting 10 people up in B&B as no sensible landlord will take this family on now. The benefits system needs an injection of common sense to avoid penalising landlords where tenants have failed to follow the rules. No sense in taking away his licence and making 15 other families homeless as I doubt he'll make the same mistake again.

From: Robert Brown 13 November 2018 11:19 AM

Robert Brown
In Scotland, after the SNP's war on tenants (and therefore on tenants) a flat worth £250,000 can generate £2100 per month, so over 10% yield and zero voids due to supply and demand imbalances. If, like me you invest 25% and borrow 75% at around 2% interest only, then the gross yield on your own investment grows to over £21k pa on £63k invested, making around 33% before costs and taxes. Given my earliest properties were bought over 20 years ago for under £100k on 90% mortgages, these are delivering annual gross yields of over 200% on my initial deposits even before any capital growth is taken into account.

From: Robert Brown 13 November 2018 11:09 AM

Robert Brown
Totally agree with both the above comments. Let's have a Rogue Tenants register!

From: Robert Brown 12 November 2018 13:57 PM

Robert Brown
No doubt the Hungarian tenants knew enough English to claim all the benefits they feel"entitled" to? Did this £1000 get put towards the rent arrears? Today's BBC News reports that UC rent arrears are up by 260% in Council properties. Perhaps they'll now be a bit more sympathetic to Private Landlords? I think I already know the answers to both these questions!

From: Robert Brown 12 November 2018 13:50 PM

Robert Brown
Thanks for your support. The removal of fixed term leases in Scotland only helps bad tenants hog good properties and prevents good tenants from getting them. Good tenants can virtually always rely on being able to stay long term but the new legislation means good neighbours being lumbered with bad neighbours who can't be easily removed. Landlords also can't rely on good tenants staying long term so need to maximise rents and minimise expenditure on improvements. Only bad tenants win!

From: Robert Brown 07 November 2018 09:49 AM

Robert Brown
13.7% rise over 4 - 5 years is probably less than inflation over the same period. I would hope rents would outstrip inflation, especially with poor capital growth and punitive GGT imposed on any sales profit. Ironically Hammond's removal of Letting Relief will probably help retain properties in the rental market but reduce the availability for such properties to first time buyers and push up capital values.

From: Robert Brown 07 November 2018 09:40 AM

Robert Brown
Big surprise! People who can't afford to buy their own property are twice as likely to be in fuel poverty than owner occupiers! Previous articles have pointed out the nonsense of taking less fuel efficient properties out of the rental market. How fuel efficient are cardboard boxes or doorways? Until the general housing shortage is fixed, the government should be helping and not penalising the prs who are at least providing homes instead of cardboard boxes!

From: Robert Brown 07 November 2018 09:28 AM

Robert Brown
The SNP's war on private landlords has predictably backfired on tenants as landlords pull out of the market and those who are left ensure they reap the rewards of market forces whilst awaiting more draconian misconceived ideology driven measures. This article understates the rental increases in high demand properties, with rents for 4 bed student flats near Glasgow University growing from £1500 to £2100 per month over the last 18 months. Thanks Nicola. Keep your. "reforms" coming!

From: Robert Brown 06 November 2018 14:17 PM

Robert Brown
Eliminating "draughts" means eliminating natural ventilation which leads to increased condensation which leads to mould which then gets the landlord labelled as "rogue". Tenants rarely keep properties adequately heated and ventilated, usually insist on drying clothes indoors but won't take responsibility for any mould that results. The government's intervention is as usual missing the point and counter productive as the above two posts clearly demonstrate.

From: Robert Brown 06 November 2018 14:03 PM

Robert Brown
Good to see RLA doing something for a change!

From: Robert Brown 05 November 2018 13:26 PM

Robert Brown
Surprised only 60% of readers favour a clamp down on airbnb. This activity changes the character of many residential areas in tourist hotspots, threatening viability of properly regulated hotels etc and giving owners additional £7500 tax free incomes without observing safety measures required by professional hoteliers and landlords providing proper homes.

From: Robert Brown 02 November 2018 09:42 AM

Robert Brown
Oh dear! Join the real world! Owner occupiers have to source their own repairers AND pay for them, no matter when problems occur. In my experience, tenants often ignore warning signs or problems that could be nipped in the bud and repaired economically during normal working hours. They wait until it needs dealt with urgently. This service will only encourage this behaviour. Instead tenants need to learn responsibility if they ever hope to buy and maintain their own home.

From: Robert Brown 02 November 2018 09:30 AM

Robert Brown
Airbnb is a much bigger threat than prs as airbnb takes permanent homes out of the system, whereas prs provides long term homes to good tenants. Government needs to get a grip and understand the benefits prs brings to society.

From: Robert Brown 30 October 2018 13:32 PM

Robert Brown
Can't understand any landlord supporting a no deposit scheme. It's difficult enough to ensure tenants respect your property when they have a deposit to lose. If they leave my properties as found they get a prompt refund of the full deposit, so zero cost other than lost interest. These schemes add an unnecessary cost and raise questions over the tenants' commitment to look after my properties.

From: Robert Brown 19 October 2018 11:00 AM

Robert Brown
This is the inevitable outcome of the SNP policy of protecting tenants against landlords in all circumstances. The rest of the UK should follow the damage done to the prs in Scotland by these idiots and ensure they don't allow their loony party and charities to repeat this debacle.

From: Robert Brown 19 October 2018 10:53 AM

Robert Brown
If the Government regulations allowed in safe panels then private landlords should be compensated. If the suppliers fitted panels which were illegal then they should pay. As a backstop, building insurance should pay. To put the cost on already beleaugered landlords is unfair and will lead to even higher rents.

From: Robert Brown 19 October 2018 10:48 AM

Robert Brown
If the Government or local council wants us to let to DSS tenants then they should guarantee that the landlord won't be out of pocket, with full rent and all remedial work paid in full, no quibble, for the entire length of the tenancy. We can get such guarantees from normal renters' guarantors so why should we settle for something worse from DSS tenants?

From: Robert Brown 19 October 2018 10:39 AM

Robert Brown
So £1 million of deposits are "stolen" each year. What amount of unpaid rent or uncompensated damage is stolen from landlords each year?

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2018 19:29 PM

Robert Brown
Why rent to someone who doesn't expect to leave the property as he found it and therefore get the full deposit back, no quibble?

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2018 19:26 PM

Robert Brown
In Scotland the SNP have listened to idiots like this, ignored landlords and rents for the most popular properties are up 25 to 30%, with many chasing each property. This guy and his loony pals are ignoring the consequences because they are hell bent on pursuing their ideology whatever the real life outcomes.

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2018 19:21 PM

Robert Brown
Both above posts raise valid points but living near this house must have been a nightmare, and the neighbours were certainly forced to do so, even if the tenants weren't. I think the fine is ludicrously small and not even a criminal conviction, just a civil penalty like a parking ticket.

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2018 17:53 PM

Robert Brown
Can't understand why anyone thinks this is a bad idea, provided the info is genuine and verifiable. Now that the SNP "government" has taken away landlord's right to determine the length of the lease, some proof of stable rental history would be very useful information in Scotland especially.

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2018 17:47 PM

Robert Brown
What a shame! I do hope oligarchs who have recently bought in this market don't lose any of their freshly laundered cash!

From: Robert Brown 18 October 2018 17:39 PM

Robert Brown
Scotland's rents rising highest, even although our economy is lagging further and further behind the rest of the UK. Both factors due to SNP interference and incompetence. The big boys in the UK parliament should check out the harm done to Scottish tenants by meddling in the prs. My own rents for good high demand properties are up around 30% over their 2016 levels, with one 4 bed flat getting £2100 per month, compared to £1500 two years ago.

From: Robert Brown 14 October 2018 20:42 PM

Robert Brown
Your calling us "idiots" tends to suggest you have not yet matured! Having rented to students for over 20 years, raised 3 former student offspring and been one myself, my experience is that any credit you give them for common sense is usually unwarranted. Only once they learn to study at the University of Life do they usually merit being treated like adults. All political parties know this and so will try to bribe them, Labour by promises to abolsh tuition fees and write off loans, Tories by pretending to help them with cheaper rents and help to buy schemes. The Banks have also been conning them with freebies for years. I hope you'll soon be mature enough able to understand and absorb this valuable information.

From: Robert Brown 13 October 2018 16:26 PM

Robert Brown
I agree. Scottish landlords are the hardest hit by SNP meddling and our rents are up by 3 times the UK average at 5.6% annual increase, despite our economy lagging way behind - again due to SNP incompetence.

From: Robert Brown 13 October 2018 16:13 PM

Robert Brown
Big surprise! SNP screw private landlords with crazy new prs legislation and Scottish rents up by over 3 times UK average! This 5.6% increase actually downplays the situation for many areas in Scotland. For good high demand properties, rents are actually up about 30% over 2016 levels. Thanks SNP. Keep this up you might win over Scottish Tories yet!

From: Robert Brown 13 October 2018 16:03 PM

Robert Brown
All of these ideas are cr*p. Their only effect on me would be to ensure that I was always getting the maximum rent possible to mitigate against potential higher costs.

From: Robert Brown 13 October 2018 15:50 PM

Robert Brown
Vindicates what many have said in earlier posts. Screw the Landlord and win the tenants' vote. Only problem is many tenants don't bother to go on the voters' roll or drag themselves along to the polling station. Build more properties and everyone wins!

From: Robert Brown 11 October 2018 09:19 AM

Robert Brown
We should swamp this silly woman's email system demanding she backs up her assertions with evidence, or withdraws them and publicly apologises to our much maligned business community.

From: Robert Brown 10 October 2018 15:44 PM

Robert Brown
I agree. Many tenants also have new cars on pcp leases and several fancy holidays each year, both things I can't do because I'm more responsible with my money and budget to meet my obligations.

From: Robert Brown 10 October 2018 10:08 AM

Robert Brown
Tenants should read their lease and public domain information. There's nothing secret about their rights and obligations. Public money shouldn't be wasted on helping those who won't help themselves!

From: Robert Brown 10 October 2018 09:51 AM

Robert Brown
So good prospective tenants will be denied properties being hogged by less deserving sitting tenants. Every landlord will know tenants who have had to move out of their previous property will have been at fault. Another case of shooting in the foot!

From: Robert Brown 10 October 2018 09:46 AM

Robert Brown
I have just read this article again. Half the CGT relief is to go to the tenant. Who has taken the risk in investing in and maintaining a home for someone else? 100% the landlord! I really don't see why half the tax relief should go to the tenant or why a sitting tenant should get a better deal than anyone else who wants on the housing ladder. The £2000 scrappage deal put up the price of new cars. Help to Buy has made millions more for house builders. This would also put up prices. Governments might try but they can't defeat market forces.

From: Robert Brown 08 October 2018 10:50 AM

Robert Brown
I agree. This has already happened in Scotland. In fact if the UK Government wants to see how loony ideas backfire on tenants they only need to look up here where rents are up 25 to 30% over last two years in high demand areas - so landlords shouldn't be too concerned but tenants should be very careful what they wish for!

From: Robert Brown 08 October 2018 10:40 AM

Robert Brown
Everything seems to be focused on giving more rights to tenants. Good tenants can easily get long term tenancies. Why help bad tenants? Instead make it easier for landlords to get rid of bad tenants and then the good tenants can have greater choice with properties no longer hogged by bad tenants.

From: Robert Brown 08 October 2018 10:35 AM

Robert Brown
All great comments above. Dodging rent, whether on benefits or not should count as theft. Unrepaired damage beyond wear and tear should be criminal damage.

From: Robert Brown 02 October 2018 12:27 PM

Robert Brown
What this shows is that the vast majority of landlords do things correctly in all the areas surveyed above. The researchers should stress the positives and advise those tenants with bad landlords what remedies are open to them.

From: Robert Brown 02 October 2018 12:15 PM

Robert Brown
Basic market economics. Don't see any flavour of government changing this for the better ( tenant eye view) any time soon. As a landlord with no need or intention to bail out, I'm quite happy for the current situation to continue improving (landlord eye view).

From: Robert Brown 01 October 2018 14:04 PM

Robert Brown
I totally agree. If tenants paid £850 extra in a year, we would still be well out of pocket in removing all traces of their handywork once they have left. If they don't like the professionally decorated properties we supply, many more tenants are available who will be delighted with them.

From: Robert Brown 01 October 2018 13:57 PM

Robert Brown
The Tories are set to lurch to the left to attract moderate labour and angry lib dem voters. Don't expect any landlord - friendly policies any time soon. I also don't see how reducing CGT for landlords who want to bail out can help the availability of rental property. Come to think of it, that probably means it will happen!

From: Robert Brown 01 October 2018 13:49 PM

Robert Brown
In Glasgow, HMO licences have been needed for over 10 years whenever 3 or more unrelated adults live together, this applying to most student flats. It's largely been a good thing for reputable landlords with well maintained properties and has driven out most rogue landlords. During these 10 years I have seen rents in a 4 bed HMO flat grow from around £750 to £2100 per month - so basically good news for landlords with high quality in demand properties.

From: Robert Brown 01 October 2018 13:43 PM

Robert Brown
My Glasgow properties have seen rents rise by around 30% since early 2016, mainly due to SNP jealousy on top of Tory madness driving cautious landlords out of the market. My sincere thanks to both parties!

From: Robert Brown 28 September 2018 17:25 PM

Robert Brown
I agree. The Tories are not going to give Corbyn the opportunity of calling them the Landlords' friend and hoover up every Generation Rent vote. Aa the son of a miner who has nevertheless built up a nice property portfolio, I don't really like voting Tory, but I like the current alternatives even less!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2018 19:43 PM

Robert Brown
I rent to groups of 4 students, but only with joint and several liability guarantees from all 4 sets of parents. It's amazing how effective the other 3 sets of parents can be in dealing with one dodgy flatmate when their pocket and credit rating is threatened!

From: Robert Brown 27 September 2018 19:33 PM

Robert Brown
Join the real world! Of course landlords want to keep good tenants, but also want to get rid of the dross as quickly, painlessly and cheaply as possible. As Andrew said above, if they get rid of no fault eviction, then every evicted tenant will have proven faulty and no decent landlord will want to touch them. This is already a reality in the SNP Republic of Scotland and has backfired on decent tenants with rents up 25% over last year.

From: Robert Brown 26 September 2018 18:31 PM

Robert Brown
Please explain how a smart meter is an energy saving measure?

From: Robert Brown 25 September 2018 19:13 PM

Robert Brown
I tried to sell a flat with a sitting tenant, but they wouldn't co-operate with keeping it tidy, being there to show buyers round or being out so agent could show buyers round. I got offered £20k less because it was a tip. Luckily I persuaded them to move to another property just vacated, spruced it up and got £30k more. I then didn't renew the lease on my other property to which they had moved, spruced it up and got £200 per month more from new better tenants! Sweet revenge! However our SNP lefty loonies are trying to stop Scottish landlords doing what they want with their own properties, so my timing was perhaps fortuitous. Bottom line? Take the hit on the lost rent. You'll get a much better price if you stay in control of its presentation rather than trust scruffy tenants.

From: Robert Brown 25 September 2018 19:07 PM

Robert Brown
Landlords who stick it out will benefit from the faint hearted who bail out due to more tenants chasing fewer properties, resulting in higher rents. It's already happened in Scotland where we have a choice of two loony parties vying to outloon each other in our toy parliament.

From: Robert Brown 25 September 2018 14:08 PM

Robert Brown
SNP have outawed fix term leases up here as part of recent legislation but still plenty of ways to ditch dodgy tenants, like major refurbishment required, property needed for own or family use, to be sold etc. Basically the most predictable effect will be fewer properties chased by more potential tenants and this higher rents.

From: Robert Brown 25 September 2018 14:00 PM

Robert Brown
Look at Scotland's btl market, following SNP's new prs legislation last December which abolished fixed term leases, limited rent increases to once per year. Result is fewer properties to let and rents up 25% for the most desirable properties. English landlords should relax if their properties are in demand as this plan will backfire on tenants as it has in Scotland.

From: Robert Brown 25 September 2018 13:55 PM

Robert Brown
Vote for Corbyn and his pals. After the cautious btl investors have sold up, rents will shoot up like they have in Scotland after the SNP's attempts to screw landlords have helped rents grow by 25 to 30% on new leases.

From: Robert Brown 23 September 2018 18:54 PM

Robert Brown
Agreed. No need to force longer term leases as the norm. Good tenants can stay as long as they like. It's the dross we want out ASAP. Since in Scotland most dross vote SNP their heroes have tried (and failed) to remove our rights to get shot of them, but have helped us to increase rents by over 25% due to fewer decent properties available for rent. Sincere thanks Nicola and cronies!

From: Robert Brown 23 September 2018 18:48 PM

Robert Brown
This understates the rent increases in Scotland on new rents following the SNP's crazy new PRS legislation last December. I now get £2100 per month for a. 4 bed student flat, which was £1650 last year and £1500 for several years earlier. SNP - sincere thanks! Just drop your crazy separist dreams and continue to find ways to help beleaguered landlords, then I might vote for you.

From: Robert Brown 23 September 2018 18:40 PM

Robert Brown
Why not go the whole hog and suggest rent free properties? Wait a minute..... With housing benefits and not criminalalising rent dodging, rent free properties are already a reality in modern Britain!

From: Robert Brown 19 September 2018 16:32 PM

Robert Brown
Or the tenant can simply ring or email the landlord or agent. In my experience many problems go unreported and then slow down the change over process when I finally discover them after the tenants have left.

From: Robert Brown 12 September 2018 17:30 PM

Robert Brown
I like, but not sure this is legal nowadays?

From: Robert Brown 12 September 2018 11:10 AM

Robert Brown
Best to budget for more blocked loos with these tenants?

From: Robert Brown 12 September 2018 10:56 AM

Robert Brown
As long as the younger generation like expensive coffees, cars on pcp lease deals and clothes bought with store cards, they'll need to keep on renting as they don't think far enough ahead to raise the deposit needed to buy. BTL's future as a secure long term investment is safe in their hands!

From: Robert Brown 12 September 2018 10:52 AM

Robert Brown
Last year I replaced some kitchens and bathrooms and incurred a lot of legal fees in remortgaging. Result? A tax loss. Response from tax man? An investigation - and lots of hassle! Lesson learned? Don't do anything that's not essential to improve your properties as the tax man would rather you spent less on maintenance and paid more tax!

From: Robert Brown 12 September 2018 10:20 AM

Robert Brown
Councils and SNP need to realise that the more unattractive they try to make the prs, the higher will be their bills for the homeless and the higher the rents for the flats still available for rent! Rent control has never worked and never will. Stop meddling with people's lives, both landlords' and tenants'.

From: Robert Brown 12 September 2018 10:07 AM

Robert Brown
In Glasgow, where the SNP "government" has added additional problems in removing all certainty in lease duration with its crazy new PRS legislation, rents for decent flats have gone up by 25% over the last 18 months. Heartfelt thanks to the SNP! Glad I'm a landlord and not a tenant!

From: Robert Brown 12 September 2018 10:00 AM

Robert Brown
I like it but not sure it's legal to avoid the statutory deposit schemes?

From: Robert Brown 06 September 2018 20:19 PM

Robert Brown
There are plenty of areas where too many tenants are chasing too few properties and this rents can go up to accommodate increased landlord costs. Why stick with areas where you have to subsidise tenants?

From: Robert Brown 06 September 2018 09:47 AM

Robert Brown
Typically, landlords are very happy for good tenants to stay long term. Only a government as idiotic as the SNP one would risk forcing landlords to suffer bad tenants indefinitely or bail out of btl, causing a supply crisis and a huge increase in rents. Glad the UK government has shown more common sense - although I'm grateful to SNP for my recent 25% rise in my rents in Glasgow!

From: Robert Brown 06 September 2018 09:41 AM

Robert Brown
Students make excellent tenants if parents sign joint and several liability guarantees as parents are usually solvent and sensible. Flats in Edinburgh and St Andrews can also be let as holiday lets in vacation times, although the SNP's recent removal of the landlord's right to determine lease periods threatens this opportunity which will lead to higher rents and reduced availability for these students. However, 4 bed student flats can now command £2100 per month, yielding 8 to 10% gross.

From: Robert Brown 15 August 2018 22:43 PM

Robert Brown
Throughout our society, the "good" subsidise the bad. Much more use should be made of giving those who are "bad" or even rent defaulters etc. unpaid labour - picking up litter, painting public buildings etc to at least get some payback and act as a disincentive to the lazy and feckless and a possible way into paid work for the unfortunate or misled potentially "good" among them.

From: Robert Brown 15 August 2018 10:00 AM

Robert Brown
I agree that's a real danger, which is why I'm putting my rents up as much as I can while I still can do so. Every attempt to control a market through legislation always backfires on the most vulnerable that the loony left claim they want to protect.

From: Robert Brown 14 August 2018 11:36 AM

Robert Brown
This is already proving a disaster in Scotland. Tenants are moving in and then giving 4 weeks notice because they are only needing a short term let while on a short term contract. This along with the huge numbers of landlords selling up actually works against availability of long term let's. My letting agent advised me to ask for an extra 20% on properties recently vacated and I got it from the first viewers. My heartfelt thanks to the SNP and their fellow loony lefties in Holyrood.

From: Robert Brown 14 August 2018 09:21 AM

Robert Brown
As I said in an earlier similar article, I wouldn't want to rent to tenants who aren't confident they will hand my properties back as they found them. As the article says, deposits are refundable. Insurance premiums aren't. These insurance schemes are the next generation ppi scams.

From: Robert Brown 14 August 2018 09:11 AM

Robert Brown
My computer breaks. Do I blame computer engineers for not making better computers? No. I'm just happy they're available to fix it at high (if market) costs. My fancy new phone makes a huge profit for the world's richest company. Do I resent this? No. I'm actually perversely pleased to show other geeks I can afford this type of rip off. I need somewhere to live locally. Do I thank Landlords for providing high quality local accommodation at market rents? Anyone see the disconnected thinking here? BTW - the I here is not me but unfortunately is not just a figment of my imagination!

From: Robert Brown 07 August 2018 14:02 PM

Robert Brown
All rogues - landlords or tenants - should be prosecuted. Pity it always seems to be one sided. A register of both lots would help both decent landlords and tenants.

From: Robert Brown 07 August 2018 10:55 AM

Robert Brown
Sticks and stones! I know I'm a good landlord. More importantly my tenants know it too. Even more importantly I am now a rich landlord mainly due to market forces brought about by shortage of rental properties exacerbated by the lefties and gutter press. To both groups my heartfelt thanks. Keep it up!

From: Robert Brown 07 August 2018 10:48 AM

Robert Brown
The directors should be held personally liable for all such things, especially the over paid plc directors of companies such as RBS, BHS, Carillion etc.

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2018 16:43 PM

Robert Brown
If tenants aspire to be property owners they will surely welcome such a taster of the real world and being treated like actual owners! Next step is to make them pay for any repairs or replacement inventory items needed. After all that's what being a grown up property owner entails. Perhaps they'll have to cut back on new car pcp payments, fancy holidays and overpriced coffees. These things seem to be the priority spending for many tenants.

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2018 16:26 PM

Robert Brown
There are still plenty of profitable btl opportunities around. In Glasgow a flat costing £80k can get over £6k in annual rent, yielding 7.5% gross. If fully mortgaged at around 2% Apr that still yields over 5%. Larger properties costing under £300k can get £25k annual rent or a gross yield of 8 to 9% and 10 or more groups chasing every such available rental opportunity. I don't like what Osborne has done but the squeeze on over extended landlords has helped my annual rental income grow by over 20% over the last 3 years without having to make any further Capital investment. More pain can mean more gain for those who can bear it.

From: Robert Brown 06 August 2018 16:17 PM

Robert Brown
I have just paid £900 to a specialist letting agent in Glasgow for tenant find, but they are getting me £2100 per month for a 4 bedroom flat that I had only been getting £1500 per month for - so money well spent this time. Next time? We'll see what the benefit is then. Moral? If agents add value then I'm happy to use them, but not otherwise.

From: Robert Brown 05 August 2018 09:45 AM

Robert Brown
If it were made a criminal offence and offenders properly prosecuted then it might deter some of them and at least the landlord would have the satisfaction of knowing that they hadn't got off scot free as currently happens.

From: Robert Brown 03 August 2018 17:26 PM

Robert Brown
I tried to reply to the reply about Tory leeches. I'm not a great fan of them but they're infinitely preferable to the SNP zealots up here in Scotland and Corbyn's Loony Leftists. I think the base rate hike is due and will have a neglible effect on the prs, much less than the damage done by Osborne.

From: Robert Brown 03 August 2018 17:15 PM

Robert Brown
This was done by the independent Bank of England and expected for long enough to get a longer term fix to avoid it. The Government is no friend of btl landlords but this is not their doing.

From: Robert Brown 03 August 2018 09:29 AM

Robert Brown
Next story is about a rogue landlord being fined £15k - probably quite justifiably- but why are rogue tenants not fined for malicious damage? Why is continuing to live in a property with no intention of paying the rent not fraud or theft? Incidentally the charity shelter and student representative bodies also recommend staying put until the bailiffs come. The bailiffs should have the right to arrest those who have failed to comply with court orders and charge their fees to them and not the landlord victims.

From: Robert Brown 02 August 2018 12:25 PM

Robert Brown
I don't know why someone would give up earning £4600 from a spare room just because they had to pay tax on the last £100 of that. The rent a room allowance has been hijacked by air BNB landlords avoiding tax and normal landlords providing homes are making up the shortfalls.

From: Robert Brown 01 August 2018 19:42 PM

Robert Brown
This article is missing the real point which is that this relief was fair at around £4500 when landlords got tax relief on mortgage interest. It should have been withdrawn when the landlord tax relief was withdrawn and if kept should only apply where a room is let as a long term home, not as a holiday let. It's also crazy that all furnished holiday lets qualify for better mortgage tax and CGT relief than long term lets providing long term affordable homes.

From: Robert Brown 01 August 2018 11:23 AM

Robert Brown
I don't agree that we need "independent" or professionally produced inventories, just accurate ones mutually agreed by landlord and tenants. This mob are just wanting to feather their own nests by pushing for yet another unnecessary cost to be borne by tenants (because they always pay in the end). What both landlords and tenants need is less bureaucracy, less unnecessary expense and more understanding of how vital the prs is in providing affordable homes to those with no other option.

From: Robert Brown 01 August 2018 11:09 AM

Robert Brown
Effectively tenants are being charged a non returnable 1 week's extra rent because they don't think they can take sufficient care of other people's properly to ensure getting their full deposit back! Sorry but I prefer tenants who expect to take proper care of my flats and contents. So far, over 20 years and around 200 tenancies, while flats aren't handed back pristine, it's never seemed worth the effort in disputing refunding the deposit. Giving a good reference seems to be a better incentive than deductions from the deposits.

From: Robert Brown 28 July 2018 10:40 AM

Robert Brown
The Association of Mouse Trap Suppliers, Purple Towel Washers and Yellow Bucket Purveyors have statistics to prove these items are essential in every flat. People die every day in flats with no clean purple towels! Why has Landlord Today not highlighted this indisputable fact? PS: I still have stocks of all such essentials at ludicrously high prices. Buy now before your local Council forces you to get them or evict your tenants if stocks run out!

From: Robert Brown 28 July 2018 10:25 AM

Robert Brown
That probably makes all 3 of you happy as I doubt either would be keen to rent to you either! I wonder if the Ashford councillors would accept personal liability for such fines if their subsidised council tenants' boilers weren't fixed in 4 days.

From: Robert Brown 20 July 2018 10:04 AM

Robert Brown
More potential tenants than available properties means market forces will allow rents to increase, even if landlords are unaffected by any of the increases cited above. Tenants might need to cut back on expensive coffees, holidays and pcp cars as finding money for a home has to come first. Tenants can forego a Crunchie or Morning Star some days if cash is short but rent needs paid for every day they live in a property. Happy Days!

From: Robert Brown 16 May 2018 09:41 AM

Robert Brown
If tenants spent less on coffees, booze, eating out, holidays and leasing cars they would save up the purchase deposits much faster.

From: Robert Brown 27 April 2018 11:57 AM

Robert Brown
So tenants are now having to submit sealed bids? Welcome to the real world! Landlords have had to do this for the best properties for decades.

From: Robert Brown 27 April 2018 11:19 AM

Robert Brown
Surely the answer is to compel tenants to spend £15 or so on a CO alarm of their own? Teach them a bit of self sufficiency and to take some responsibility for their own lives instead of nicking the batteries out of the alarms that most landlords always fit?

From: Robert Brown 18 April 2018 16:02 PM

Robert Brown
No need for us to lose heart as long as we can pass increased costs on to tenants. Only a drop in demand will stop this possibility and that's hardly likely given the millenial generation's preference for fancy cars and holidays, eating out and expensive coffee bars instead of saving for deposits.

From: Robert Brown 18 April 2018 15:56 PM

Robert Brown
Things are a lot different than when Mary Barbour was alive. If she were a Glasgow councillor now she'd probably have a portfolio of her own to keep her until she got a safe seat in Holyrood beside Leonard and his out of date cronies.

From: Robert Brown 18 April 2018 15:48 PM

Robert Brown
Lenders boycotting pensioners should realise that pensions are the safest from of income. High salaries stop when jobs are lost. Pensioners also tend to have more time and cash to keep properties maintained and tenants happy, further reducing the risk on rent losses due to voids.

From: Robert Brown 18 April 2018 15:40 PM

Robert Brown
This man has cost decent Glasgow landlords (and therefore their tenants) thousands through Glasgow Council's over- reaction to that tragedy - and yet they have allowed him to continue his evil practices for the last 14 years! He should be jailed and Council officials fired.

From: Robert Brown 05 April 2018 09:03 AM

Robert Brown
Many dampness issues are due to tenants failing to adequately heat or ventilate properties. Are landlords to be fined for tenants' indolence in such circumstances?

From: Robert Brown 24 January 2018 10:38 AM

Robert Brown
Glad to hear of a landlord getting justice for a change. I hope this waster pays up and gets a real job actually working for a living, although I for one wouldn't employ him in any capacity however menial.

From: Robert Brown 16 January 2018 11:42 AM

Robert Brown
Fined £1000 for not replacing light bulb and for not replacing a kitchen bin! Totally over the top. In any case surely Tenants should do these things themselves!

From: Robert Brown 10 January 2018 09:18 AM

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