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Andrew townshend

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I have been known to evict tenants the illegal way in the 90s, needs must sometimes, these days I am very careful who I rent to, and going forward I think it is going to have to be a suitable guarantor or no tenancy with this '' breathing space'' law coming in May

From: Andrew townshend 17 January 2021 13:58 PM

James B, goings forward I think all new lets will have to be supported by a cast iron guarantor, no suitable guarantor no tenancy

From: Andrew townshend 16 January 2021 22:29 PM

What use is cash George, sitting in a bank account earning 0.01%, give me assets and an income from them any day, my Properties are in and around Norwich, never have a problem renting them, in fact when they come available there is normally 3 or 4 people all wanting them.

From: Andrew townshend 16 January 2021 12:36 PM

James B, up to a point I agree, but is sec 21 a vote winner for the tories ? how many tenants would vote tory with or without sec 21 ?

From: Andrew townshend 16 January 2021 09:12 AM

@ Robert Brown, didn't you just do the right thing, life isn't all about money and certainly not being a high flyer that really is a mugs game, not that I was ever going to be a high flyer, B stream at the local Secondary Modern in the 60s, hated school, started work 3 days after my 15th birthday apprentice HGV fitter, self employed since 23 and a landlord for the past 30 yrs, 3 children and 3 grand children, 16 properties, all bought and paid for and more income than I need, no regrets, you can keep the high flyer life styles

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 19:28 PM

Well yes Michael that's my point the yield back then would likely have been around 6-7% similarly if we look at at the value of that property to day the yield would likely be the same

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 17:09 PM

Mark W , it would seem as normal you are the odd one out on here, but then with your uni degree and letters after your name you must know best ??

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 10:33 AM

Some of mine are retired and they all pay in full, maybe I haven't always fully increased the rent when I could have done so, but with good long term tenants like these so what.

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 10:28 AM

And it's not really a loan is it ? 90% of them will never pay it off.

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 10:20 AM

Depends how you work out the yield, if it's on purchase price then most of mine are through the roof, even my latest purchase is 6.3%, where else would I get a return like on £80k, my top yield is 40%, but I did buy that property more than 25 yrs ago for peanuts.

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 10:16 AM

I have tenants in this bracket, they're great, keep the property and gardens nice, long term and no bother, plus as I'm 67 myself we get on great.

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 10:04 AM

Not interested.

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 10:00 AM

As I have pointed out before I had enough of renting to students in the 90 so don't do so now, however uni students are generally over 18, so in the eyes of the law, and no doubt their eyes as well, are adults, so welcome to the big, wide open and often unfair world snowflakes, put your big boy pants on and man up.

From: Andrew townshend 15 January 2021 09:58 AM

Yes James this is the way forward for most of us now, rogue tenants can go to hell, and we will know who they are, the government, shelter, generation rent etc have brought this on, looks like they have shot themselves in the foot

From: Andrew townshend 14 January 2021 21:21 PM

I've not received or been offered any grants, are we missing something here ?

From: Andrew townshend 14 January 2021 19:24 PM

The insurance scheme might work for good tenants, but what happens when a tenant has a record of claims, insurance works on risk, so will they increase cost for these tenants or maybe refuse to cover them, then they really will be homeless.

From: Andrew townshend 14 January 2021 13:55 PM

I doubt it will affect us oldies too much, but it's sure going to hurt the under 50s and as for the snowflakes, so glad I'm not young in this present day world.

From: Andrew townshend 14 January 2021 10:50 AM

@ Paul Hart, agreed, I have 2 quotes tonight for the same roof overhaul, one at £8400+ vat the other for £4200+vat, some one trying to take me for a c*** ??

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 22:39 PM

Robert, I have been having that problem also , carpenter died ,but he was 94, solicitor and plumber retired, all 3 I had used for the past 30 yrs +, that's the problem of getting old everyone else does as well.

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 17:29 PM

And I also don't have either, give me sensible, mature, working tenants any day of the week.

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 15:52 PM

The courts work at one speed, dead slow, and you will never change that.

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 15:41 PM

A tenant receiving LHA then not paying his rent must be guilty of either fraud or theft, or even both, I fail to see how they cannot be, best way is to avoid tenants on LHA.

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 15:33 PM

There will always be those out there that will rip their customers off, I have been using the same electrician for 10 yrs now and trust him 100% in return I pay him the same day that I receive his invoice

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 15:24 PM

I'm sure you are correct about London Michael, you have just explained perfectly why I have zero intention of coming anywhere near London far less investing there , I think a lot of areas outside London are holding their own and will continue to do so.

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 10:03 AM

The guy was given the chance to correct matters, so why didn't he, I expect our laws don't apply to him ?

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 08:48 AM

I've been steadily working through mine and am down to 3 to be done by April, so should be there okay

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 08:44 AM

Lack of supply maybe ?

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 08:40 AM

I wouldn't say that rents are booming in Norwich but they would certainly seem to be increasing rather than decreasing .

From: Andrew townshend 13 January 2021 08:39 AM

Agreed, however, the law states they they are adult at 18, but how many students could you truly describe as adult ??

From: Andrew townshend 12 January 2021 17:21 PM

I had a commercial tenant who's business stopped at first lock down, the lady had been an excellent tenant for the previous 24 yrs so we went rent free expecting her to restart in August , by November it hadn't happen, put it up to rent not expecting to get much interest , 4 people fighting over it, I now have a good honest hard working tenant on a 5 yr lease, so it's not all doom and gloom out there , oh and no problems thus far with residential tenants either.

From: Andrew townshend 12 January 2021 15:17 PM

Total common sense Tricia, but this is why us landlords, and the self employed generally succeed in business, where as those with the Eton education really haven't got a clue in a crisis .

From: Andrew townshend 12 January 2021 12:48 PM

Spot on Michael.

From: Andrew townshend 12 January 2021 12:40 PM

I wouldn't put it quite so harshly David, but other than that I agree with you

From: Andrew townshend 12 January 2021 12:38 PM

So we are in January and students leave expecting not to pay any further rent, that property remains empty until September with the landlord picking up all the costs, turn it back into a family let , bit less rent , but better long term tenants, has to make sense doesn't it ?

From: Andrew townshend 12 January 2021 10:43 AM

So if I was to lease a car, then lose my licence could I stop paying the lease payments until my driving ban was over ? same thing applies.

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 15:04 PM

It's a big hard world out there, and one day even snowflakes will have to wake up to that one.

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 12:09 PM

Not a very clever post Mark, I thought you were supposed to be an intelligent man, but then as I have always said intelligence and common sense rarely go together.

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 10:21 AM

Kicking the can down the road, at some point, maybe this year, maybe next year the non payers will lose their homes, very few landlords will want to rent to them then, better an empty property than one with a rogue tenant in it.

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 09:19 AM

I got choked off students in the 90s, don't want them as tenants, they might pay a little more but they really aren't worth the bother, leave them to the universities to house, their problem

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 09:13 AM

Perhaps we should add a term to our advertising ''no vulnerable tenants''.

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 09:07 AM

What about the landlords mental health while he has a non paying tenant wrecking his property ?

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 09:03 AM

So the rent guarantee lasts 12 or 24 months, then what, a tenant that is likely to stop paying and a long drawn out court process to get them out, don't trust councils or their employees no further than i can spit, sounds like a big con to me to get rogue tenants housed.

From: Andrew townshend 11 January 2021 09:01 AM

My guess would be little and no chance, sorry but that's the likely hood at present.

From: Andrew townshend 10 January 2021 14:27 PM

And we all know printing money = inflation, which in tern = increased rents

From: Andrew townshend 10 January 2021 14:23 PM

The government and councils are going to have one hell of a problem with mass homelessness, at present they are just kicking that can down the road, but it's going to happen, prospective tenants that cannot tick all the boxes will be out in the cold, very few landlords will be taking any risks with dodgy tenants now, and responsibility lays firmly at the door of number ten.

From: Andrew townshend 10 January 2021 14:20 PM

In an ideal world Lia, but I've not found one of those yet.

From: Andrew townshend 10 January 2021 13:21 PM

Seb,'' kettle pot black'' I think.

From: Andrew townshend 09 January 2021 20:35 PM

I have no worries, but then I have no borrowings and the rental market in and around Norwich is strong, when ever I have a property become available I have a choice of tenants, I also have an excellent local independent agent working for me.

From: Andrew townshend 09 January 2021 20:33 PM

I'm not a member of the NRLA and have no intention of joining, they seem like a total waste of time, I am however a member of Eastern Landlords Assoc since the early 90s , okay they don't have much clout against government, but they are never more than a phone call away and very helpful, we need something powerful to represent us, but what and who ?

From: Andrew townshend 09 January 2021 20:20 PM

But at some point, maybe in a years time, they will be evicted, I would hope that for the sake of around just £60 that any landlord with a tenant like this will issue a money claim online, then these '' basterds'' will have get a CCJ flag up every time that they are checked out for the next 6 yrs, and we will all know not to touch them with a barge pole.

From: Andrew townshend 09 January 2021 19:17 PM

A very good question Lia, I would lay money on the latter .

From: Andrew townshend 09 January 2021 19:10 PM

Come on George, this sad guy cannot even post under his real name, what does that tell you about him, or even her?

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 21:30 PM

Come on Leics Landlord, lets be having your real name so we can check you out, why do you need to hide?

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 21:26 PM

Leics Landlord, are you really a landlord ? I doubt it, what is your real name? why are you hiding behind ''Leics Landlord'' real people put their real name, feel free to check me out, my real name and I live in Norfolk.

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 21:19 PM

Some sort of a Pratt sums him / her up.

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 20:22 PM

@Daniela, I do miss Paul Barrett's comments on here , they did go on a bit but were generally spot on.

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 20:21 PM

John you have reported Rajeev to the council and police for what exactly ?? I expect that they will laugh at you, as the rest of us are.

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 18:46 PM

I was, I did a couple of months ago, and I told them why, but would likely vote for them in the future as we cannot allow Labour anywhere near power

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 14:43 PM

My wife takes charge of the TV remote , she hates the BBC so very rarely watch it.

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 14:29 PM

Seb, I don't think I ever said an eviction could be done in less than a month, it would be good if we could though, the last one that I did, 3-4 yrs ago now, I put the paper work into the court just after Christmas and the tenant left just before the High Court Bailiff was due to turn up at the end March, so 12 wks.

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 14:22 PM

Agreed Seb, I insure my cars with Aviva, might try them for a quote on my properties. always pays to use a proper insurance company because they normally pay out in the event of a claim, Micky mouse insurance companies try to wriggle out of paying

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 11:52 AM

Planning departments, in Breckland (norfolk) it's not about what you want to do, it's all about who you are, I pointed that FACT out to them in a planning meeting once, it didn't go down too well.

From: Andrew townshend 08 January 2021 10:22 AM

Jackie, where the under 30s live really isn't our problem, and why would it be? but generally its the younger tenants that give us the most problems, a lot of car insurance companies don't want young drivers, it's all about risk, and keeping that risk to a minimum, that's good business sense.

From: Andrew townshend 07 January 2021 17:36 PM

I hope you have issued a ''money claim online'' at least then when you do evict her the CCJ will come up every time she applies to rent, apply for a credit card , bank account or loan, you may or may not get your money but revenge is sweet.

From: Andrew townshend 07 January 2021 15:13 PM

Renting to students is a nightmare, and their stuck up snob parents are worse, I stopped renting to students in the early 90s give me good working tenants 25+ any day.

From: Andrew townshend 07 January 2021 09:09 AM

Trouble is Bill they just won't listen, or don't want to, I had the same problem with my daughter in a 70s bungalow, now got two ladies in their 30s in there and no mould or damp problems, this is one of the reasons why I prefer tenants 30 +

From: Andrew townshend 06 January 2021 10:14 AM

Sounds like it will be very expensive.

From: Andrew townshend 06 January 2021 10:07 AM

All about heating and ventilating correctly, same property, different tenants , one set of tenants experience mould, the others do not, how often does that happen.

From: Andrew townshend 06 January 2021 08:46 AM

A cool and hassle free way of life has a cost attached to it, each to their own.

From: Andrew townshend 06 January 2021 08:38 AM

I think we have to learn to live with the pressures of those unjust regs, they are there and they ain't going away, as the saying goes '' it ain't over until the fat lady sings''.

From: Andrew townshend 05 January 2021 19:08 PM

I'm still optimistic, but then I'm not in London and not mortgaged .

From: Andrew townshend 05 January 2021 06:43 AM

Maybe they need to up the money.

From: Andrew townshend 05 January 2021 06:39 AM

No matter what these people say there is no such thing as a '' no fault eviction'' most evictions take place because of non payment of rent, I can see no good reason to wait 2 months before serving eviction notices, I would have thought 2 weeks would be more than fair.

From: Andrew townshend 05 January 2021 06:35 AM

They want to run before they can walk and expect expect expect, if they won't help themselves then why should anyone else help them ?

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 18:18 PM

Jahan, agreed, I've lived in 3 houses since I moved out of mum and dads house, the first 2 were total renovations (no bathrooms or kitchens) and lived in caravans on site, the last one was a near total rebuild and lived 2 yrs onsite in 2 very old mobile homes linked together with a 4 yr old and a new born, I not a builder by trade, but I not afraid to roll up my sleeves and do what I can, not complaining, I loved it all, the whining ''entitled'' generation really P me off big time

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 15:50 PM

I was thinking just the same Tricia, the abuser is very likely to come round, break in and wreck our property, asking for trouble, leave these problems to the council, their responsibility and their problem.

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 14:18 PM

I agree with you on that one Matthew, I've not had any problems with my residential tenants, nor have any other landlords that I speak to locally (Norfolk) I have sadly lost a commercial tenant (of 24 yrs) but re advertised the property and had 4 people all wanting it, so where are these 1000s of landlords ?

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 14:12 PM

£60 per wk, my word Michael you were earning well, I was a HGV fitter in those days, the most I was earning then was £40 per wk, £32 take home, yes and I still managed to save.

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 11:22 AM

I'm all for naming and shaming , we often have articles in our local paper about fly tipping, but they are never named.

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 11:06 AM

Landlords don't want cash hand outs, just the rent paid, in full and on time.

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 10:42 AM

Well Mark I clicked on the last one above, they should stand on their own two feet just as us baby boomers did when we were young, if the young of today want to get on the property ladder they need to adjust their excessive life styles, work harder and save.

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 10:39 AM

So what do you do for a living Mr Williamson ? or do you just sponge off the tax payer ?

From: Andrew townshend 04 January 2021 10:32 AM

No more risk taking with tenants now, if they don't check out or even the gut feeling isn't right then the answer has to be no.

From: Andrew townshend 01 January 2021 09:39 AM

Cannot answer that one, I don't know whether any of my tenants are furloughed , I do know that they have all been paying in full and on time all through so far, the only tenant I've lost is a commercial tenant of 24 yrs sadly, however I have re let that property, and had 4 people fighting over it, all the landlords I speak to here in Norwich aren't having any problems either, so it's not all bad news, well so far anyway.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 21:03 PM

@ Robert, 22, great times, that was the long hot summer of 1976 for we, a white XJ6 and a BSA Super Rocket, and no shortage of ladies, we were all young once.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 17:44 PM

Exactly David, the freehold owners of Grenfell are the council, the landlord was the council and the building control officer who inspected and signed off the works as safe was the same council's employee, yet no arrests, no prosecution and no jail, just think of the poor private owner / landlord in a similar situation, stinks, one law for them, another for us.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 13:41 PM

All those are too far distant for me, however I did buy a property in Lowestoft a few yrs ago, a regeneration area around 30 miles from me, sitting tenant having lived there since 1958, nice terraced house, close to a modern collage and big leisure centre , little old lady, every one's favorite granny type, rent always paid, even in lock down when her grandson went into the town center once a month to pay it. Lowestoft was lovely in the 50s and 60s and it could be again.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 09:49 AM

Well personally I don't do HMOs, however yes I can see the theory behind all this but everything comes with a cost attached to it, bedsits with en suite bathrooms = much increased rents which means they are un affordable to the very kind of tenants that live in HMOs.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 09:32 AM

Well George these people are all fresh out of uni, wet behind the ears and think they know the lot, where as they know F all.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 09:23 AM

The strong will survive, yes all kinds of rules and red tape being forced upon us, but for me it's the best use for my cash, being a landlord is all about experience in the real world, along the way I've made mistakes, been there and got the tee shirt, but in life we learn from our mistakes which makes us wise the next time, hence only working tenants and no single mums, having had my fingers burnt over the yrs those are my rules now.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 09:19 AM

The first few properties that I purchased came tenanted from an elderly landlord, it all started one day when my landlord came to see me to negotiate a rent increase on a small workshop that I rented from him, I asked him to sell it to me, over the next few yrs I bought 4 further properties from him, that was the mid to late 80s, and so the rest is history. I can see many landlord deals going forward as cash rich landlords buy stock from landlords having to reduce their debt .

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 09:07 AM

David, I had another single mum who announced one Sept that she couldn't pay her rent because she had to buy her 4 yr old's school uniform, she went also, they consider themselves the entitled, these days I avoid single mums, leave them to the council to home.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2020 08:55 AM

A single mum once told me she could not pay her rent because her daughter's Christmas was more important, by Easter she was out.

From: Andrew townshend 30 December 2020 17:01 PM

It's up to people how they chose to live and work.

From: Andrew townshend 30 December 2020 08:38 AM

There will be very few Victorian houses that will get up to a 'c' we might be able to get an exemption as I have on a 'F' , If not they will all be going into property auctions, that we will just have to wait and see.

From: Andrew townshend 29 December 2020 15:55 PM

Sounds to me our friend Sed is some what the worse for drink

From: Andrew townshend 28 December 2020 22:17 PM

Sad sad man Seb.

From: Andrew townshend 28 December 2020 20:12 PM

You're a sad man Seb , you have my symperthy .

From: Andrew townshend 28 December 2020 20:10 PM

I agree, they were never going to consider 14 days.

From: Andrew townshend 26 December 2020 09:55 AM

Never had much to do with ''the smoke'' and have no wish to visit, I'm just a simple Norfolk boy at heart, I started in BTL more than 30 yrs ago, as a pension scheme, it's been my maim sourse of income for the past 13 yrs, I do my owm repairs, clean ups and decorating, I enjoy what I do and I earn more money out of it than I need, will London ways spread up to Norfolk, I hope not, but I expect you are right they will over time.

From: Andrew townshend 25 December 2020 09:57 AM

Merry Christmas to all, p s anyone know what's happend to Paul Barrett, I am missing his long posts

From: Andrew townshend 24 December 2020 14:43 PM

Norwich City Council have also lost millions on mad cap schemes, but those responcible are still in their £100k + jobs, left wing council ofcourse, sorry David W but that is a fact.

From: Andrew townshend 24 December 2020 13:26 PM

I agree David, we won't get any grant money, the money will come from tenants by means of increased rent, ''the end user always pays''.

From: Andrew townshend 24 December 2020 09:48 AM

So Vincent, you are one of these that think landlords sit on their backsides just watching the money flow into their bank accounts ? I wounder what sort of work that you do, or do you watch daytime TV watching the UC flow into your bank account.

From: Andrew townshend 24 December 2020 09:36 AM

I have one old property that just managed an F , I had a MEES report done and it was decided that it would cost £14k to bring it up to an E, I now have an exsemption on it, I paid £13.5 k for it over 25 yrs ago and have had that money back many times over, what will happen in 2025 ? if I can nolonger rent it will simply go into auction and take what ever it makes.

From: Andrew townshend 24 December 2020 09:31 AM

I have written to my MP , George Freeman, sympathy, empty promisses and bull s***.

From: Andrew townshend 23 December 2020 19:20 PM

I wouldn't pay anything like that, but then I don't own property in London

From: Andrew townshend 23 December 2020 10:04 AM

I don't think there is any doubt about it sec 21 is going we may as well get used to that one, but we need something fair to both landlord and tenant to replace it.

From: Andrew townshend 23 December 2020 10:01 AM

It amazes me the people (and not just tenants) that sign contracts without reading and understanding them first.

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 16:27 PM

@ Yonnette, I use sec 21 to evict non payers, I could use sec 8, but sec 21 is quicker and cheaper, we know we will be losing sec 21, so new tenant selection now has to be very selective, no risk taking from here on in, no one under 25, no one on benefits, and no single mums, because from 30 yrs experience these are normally the problem areas.

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 15:13 PM

@ Yannette, careful what you wish for, in my area the largest landlord is Norwich City Council, good luck trying to get any repairs done with them, and the standard of their housing stock is dreadful , most of my properties are now managed by a good local independent agent, however all tenants have my phone number and email address, they are welcome to contact me directly 24 / 7

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 15:03 PM

I do agree with you there David, bad and unnecessary headline .

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 09:24 AM

In 30 yrs the only tenants I've evicted have been the non payers.

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 09:20 AM

Some yrs ago a friend of mine changed the locks on a flat, the police turned up and gave him 1 hr to change them back or face arrest , I've changed locks on commercial properties in the past with the relevant notice in the window, one tenant did call the police, they laughed at him and told him I was within my rights to do so.

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 09:16 AM

Increased costs = increased rent, market forces as in any other business

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 09:07 AM

Tenants have rights now and are perfectly able to stand up for them

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 09:03 AM

I've lost a commercial tenant of 25 yrs through this covid, however I did last week re let the property, other than that everyone has been paying, I don't rent to anyone under 25 and prefer over 30s, youngsters are generally a nightmare.

From: Andrew townshend 22 December 2020 09:00 AM

Another bright idea that will end up as a complete failure just like help to buy and shared ownership, laughable

From: Andrew townshend 21 December 2020 20:41 PM

You're a funny man Mark, keep it up, a laugh a day, merry Christmas mate.

From: Andrew townshend 21 December 2020 09:40 AM

Fine so we cannot put NO DSS or similar statements in adds, still will not be renting to them without a cast iron home owning guarantor, we may be the scum of the earth in some peoples eyes, I can live with that, but don't take us for mugs .

From: Andrew townshend 21 December 2020 09:02 AM

Robert, I hope you would invite Mr T , there's still life in this old dog yet

From: Andrew townshend 19 December 2020 20:03 PM

I think you will find most if not all on here pay their tax properly and honestly David.

From: Andrew townshend 18 December 2020 17:25 PM

Well hopefully it will happen at some point in the next 12 months, then he will have that record of an S8, personally I would also go the money claim online route as well, not expensive and dead easy to do, then he'll have a CCJ which will screw his self employed business up , no landlord is going to want to touch him in the future

From: Andrew townshend 18 December 2020 17:19 PM

Commercial properties are totally different, I still have a couple however I will not rent to a LTD company I will only rent to named individuals, The government can write off debts owed to it's self but not to others they would need to get a law passed to do that, it would never get through parliament.

From: Andrew townshend 18 December 2020 09:22 AM

As in all trades some might, all rents that I receive are recorded, as are all costs, my accountant checks them, then files them with HMRC on my behalf, it pays to use a good established firm of accountants that are trusted by HMRC , I also have tax investigation insurance, £60 per yr each for my wife and myself, not had to claim on it yet, however a friend of mine did a couple of yrs ago and it was invaluable.

From: Andrew townshend 18 December 2020 09:13 AM

Cannot be done, the debt is owed to private landlords, not to the government, I have a tax bill coming due at the end of Jan, will the government be telling HMRC to write that off ?

From: Andrew townshend 18 December 2020 08:33 AM

That's just too much like common sense for today's world

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2020 19:25 PM

I used to get that problem from students when I rented to them in the 90s, ''the heating is too expensive to switch on'' but they could go out nights and get P****ed, haven't rented to students since and my mental health is much better for it.

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2020 16:26 PM

I have an old house that had suffered damp, present tenants been there 5 yrs now and no damp issues, come rain or shine, summer and winter bedroom windows are open in day time

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2020 14:24 PM

Well David I am one of very few landlords in my area that will ''consider'' tenants with pets, I have in fact picked up some very good long term tenants with pets because other landlords have a blanket ban on them, it used to be that I asked for an extra deposit but as I can no longer do that it now has to be a bit extra on the rent

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2020 14:14 PM

@ David Price, you're not wrong there mate, we have 2 looney left parties now

From: Andrew townshend 16 December 2020 15:59 PM

David W , we don't have to give a reason for turning down a tenant, when I have a property become available I normally have 3 or 4 people apply, I'm always going to pick the one that I think can afford the rent, will pay the rent, and will be the leased trouble, if I have some one apply who is on benefits I ask for a guarantor, normally they cannot offer one, so that is the end of that.

From: Andrew townshend 16 December 2020 13:20 PM

Rather than fining landlords with poor quality housing councils could carry out the improvements themselves then bankrupt the landlords if they don't pay up and taking ownership of the property if needed.

From: Andrew townshend 16 December 2020 13:10 PM

Agree totally, I would just add that landlords also have the final say on who lives in their properties so those with poor credit histories will be homeless, we simply cannot take any risks now when it comes to selecting a new tenant, better an empty property than one with a rogue tenant in it.

From: Andrew townshend 16 December 2020 11:42 AM

I agree David, landlords that break the law should face court action, and so should tenants.

From: Andrew townshend 16 December 2020 09:56 AM

Section 21 is the accelerated eviction process, 99% of cases are due to non payment of rent.

From: Andrew townshend 16 December 2020 05:38 AM

@ Daniela, my tenants love me as well, we get on very well, but you see past experience has taught me to steer clear of the lowlife tenants, what ever the sob story they spin , being a landlord has toughened me up a lot over the years having been taken advantage of and stabbed in the back many a time.

From: Andrew townshend 15 December 2020 19:14 PM

Don't get me started on religion Robert, no time for it or the people.

From: Andrew townshend 15 December 2020 17:41 PM

What happens after 3 months , they stop paying, we have to give them 6 months notice, it then takes a further 6 months going through the courts, then add to that the court and bailiffs fees, it's one thing being charitable, it's quite another being a complete mug.

From: Andrew townshend 15 December 2020 08:06 AM

Boris has to go, if not we will have a labour government in 4 yrs time.

From: Andrew townshend 14 December 2020 10:18 AM

I've used the same independent agent for 20yrs there are a few about a little cheaper but I'm not changing they look after my residential and commercial properties we work well together.

From: Andrew townshend 11 December 2020 19:38 PM

So any LL that doesn't use this app is automatically a rogue LL ? stupid comment sir.

From: Andrew townshend 11 December 2020 08:41 AM

I was VAT registered for 30yrs until I sold that business 13yrs ago, what a relief it was to get out of VAT, i am told it is worse still now.

From: Andrew townshend 11 December 2020 08:38 AM

Ha, yes Simon, just spotted it, well good for a laugh anyway.

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 16:52 PM

Very little if anything at all

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 16:45 PM

Are Mike, common sense, very rare to day, we can thank Mr Blair for that one sending all those idiots to tin pot universities.

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 11:26 AM

With the exception of maybe David Wurth I doubt any of us on here would pay any attention to what the likes of the Guardian prints.

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 10:54 AM

Nothing poor about me boy !

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 10:37 AM

Nice idea Luke but there would be a vast number of tenants that insurance companies wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 10:15 AM

I have one property with a protected tenant I am allowed to apply for a new rent to be registered every 2 yrs, so every 2 yrs I apply to increase that rent

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 08:55 AM

My tenants are free to phone, text, or email either me or the agent at anytime, why do I need an app ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 08:49 AM

2033, is the yr that I will celibate my 80th birthday, if I'm still here, don't think I'll be too much bothered by then, that'll be a problem for the next generation of landlords

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 08:44 AM

Our laws don't apply to this gentleman ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 December 2020 08:37 AM

In your world Sarah maybe, not in mine though.

From: Andrew townshend 09 December 2020 15:58 PM

David W I disagree, once a wrong'n always a wrong'n, too many gullible do gooders out there.

From: Andrew townshend 09 December 2020 11:22 AM

Landlord insurance to cover non payment of rent, very few tenants would qualify for this cover, insurance companies aren't silly there is only so much risk that they will cover.

From: Andrew townshend 09 December 2020 11:11 AM

As I've said before I've never got involved with HMOs, they are not the sort of tenants I want, however housing benefit for single under 35s is only paid at the single room rate, so without these HMOs where would these people find a roof over their heads, I think the term is '' horses for courses''

From: Andrew townshend 09 December 2020 09:20 AM

It's tenants that need the support to ensure their rent is paid, that way they won't be evicted in 6 months time, but of course any financial support they do receive for rent must be paid direct to their landlord because there are always those tenants that will use the money for things other than rent

From: Andrew townshend 09 December 2020 09:10 AM

Mr Blair is a war criminal with the blood of thousands on his hands

From: Andrew townshend 08 December 2020 15:13 PM

Matthew, we are only allowed to increase rent once per year for an excising tenant, the only other way we can increase rent is to agree and sign a new tenancy agreement, personally I access all the increased costs over the past yr than increase the rent to cover, I thought we all done this.

From: Andrew townshend 08 December 2020 14:36 PM

Where a tenant is paid housing benefit then uses it other than paying their rent then this must be fraud surely .

From: Andrew townshend 08 December 2020 12:22 PM

Matthew, don't all businesses increase their charges when costs increase ?

From: Andrew townshend 08 December 2020 12:09 PM

These government grants are a waste of time, always have been and so is this one.

From: Andrew townshend 08 December 2020 08:18 AM

Tell it as it is David, there's no other way is there ??

From: Andrew townshend 07 December 2020 14:02 PM

Agreed, but isn't this true of most charities these days, very little gets to the genuine cause .

From: Andrew townshend 07 December 2020 11:03 AM

This kind of benefit fraud is wide spread, and the miss use of motability vehicles, councils and DWP know about it yet in most cases chose to do nothing .

From: Andrew townshend 07 December 2020 09:09 AM

It would depend on tenant demand in the area, might work in London, wouldn't work in Norwich at the present time.

From: Andrew townshend 07 December 2020 08:49 AM

Conversion of shops to residential has been going on for a long time, I'm down to just 2 commercial properties now the rest have all been converted to residential, the high street was all but dead before covid, this has just killed it off for good now.

From: Andrew townshend 07 December 2020 08:39 AM

@Lia, at present all my residential tenants are paying, however in the 90s I had been known to take matters into my own hands, if the need arises I will do so again, and so will many other landlords.

From: Andrew townshend 06 December 2020 22:18 PM

Never have been a member of the NRLA , however I have been a member of Eastern Landlords Assoc since the early 90s , used to attend all their meetings, and learn't a lot from them, they are local to me and very helpful, however not a lot of use when it comes to representing us in government, I have often emailed my local MP George Freeman, needless to say I just get fobbed off with empty promises and bull sh*t.

From: Andrew townshend 05 December 2020 19:28 PM

A single mum with one brat is bad enough, let alone with six of them.

From: Andrew townshend 04 December 2020 16:55 PM

Yes and that means GCEs and A levels obtained this year won't be worth Jack sh*t

From: Andrew townshend 04 December 2020 09:48 AM

''As in other European countries'' so would that also make non payment of rent a criminal offence as in other European countries or will they be cherry picking just the bits that they want ??

From: Andrew townshend 04 December 2020 09:42 AM

@ Retired Agent, Oh I can remember interest rates at 15% old boy, let's just wait and see what's around the corner shall we, recessions have always worked well for me, it's the ''flash with no cash'' that will suffer, those that live excessive life styles based on debt.

From: Andrew townshend 03 December 2020 14:46 PM

We are looking at the biggest recession of our lives coming up of course lenders are going to be careful with lending .

From: Andrew townshend 03 December 2020 07:07 AM

There should be a loan scheme for tenants to pay their rent at present, it is irreverent whether a tenant , won't pay or cannot pay both are going to earn themselves a big black mark on their credit history that will follow them around for at least the next 6 yrs.

From: Andrew townshend 03 December 2020 07:04 AM

Every one to their own, I last rented to students in the 90s, these days I rent unfurnished to working tenants.

From: Andrew townshend 03 December 2020 06:57 AM

I have to agree with you on that one David I cannot see it happening either, but there is a down side here for tenants as well because we aren't going to be taking any risks when it comes to selecting new tenants.

From: Andrew townshend 02 December 2020 11:49 AM

Paul Cunningham, I know that name from somewhere, are you a member of Eastern Landlords Assoc ?

From: Andrew townshend 01 December 2020 20:45 PM

David W, we are landlords, not social workers, carers, or wet nurses , this is down to the local council to sort out.

From: Andrew townshend 01 December 2020 10:21 AM

Every time I read something like this it just makes me more careful who I rent to.

From: Andrew townshend 01 December 2020 08:50 AM

We are not told here why the landlord is evicting her ? could it be non payment of rent ? as that is the normal reason.

From: Andrew townshend 01 December 2020 08:40 AM

Over the past 30 yrs the only advice I have ever needed is my gut feeling, the so called experts with letters after their names normally get it totally wrong.

From: Andrew townshend 30 November 2020 10:41 AM

Does it matter if house prices do drop, it's only a loss on paper, stick with them and keep drawing that rent, and if they do drop buy some more.

From: Andrew townshend 30 November 2020 09:41 AM

No council or government will tell me who I have to rent to, the property will sit empty first.

From: Andrew townshend 30 November 2020 09:37 AM

Don't want sympathy, just want tenants that pay, and a quick way of getting rid of those that don't.

From: Andrew townshend 30 November 2020 09:29 AM

Why ? only if he has too much debt, I got into BTL for the same reasons, had every spiv in a suit trying to sell me private pensions, there're a scam, a total rip off, I was the guy in the auction room that bought the worst property of the day, for cash, then got into them renovating, let them out , then back to the auction room for the next one, never looked back, and certainly no regrets.

From: Andrew townshend 30 November 2020 09:26 AM

Of course lenders are going to be careful lending money just as we are going to be careful who we rent to, hard times ahead with mass unemployment and bankruptcies.

From: Andrew townshend 30 November 2020 09:14 AM

I'm working through mine, I booked one day a month with an electrician, now just got 3 more to go, mine are in good condition so faults / up grades are minimal .

From: Andrew townshend 28 November 2020 09:47 AM

Where ever does your daughter live ? £1500 per month-- wish I could get that for a small 3 bed house, I would be very lucky to get half that here in Norwich , not everyone on benefits are skivers, but a very large percentage are.

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 19:56 PM

Andrew W you would be happy to see non payers evicted in 2 months, so would every landlord, if we could do that we may well be prepared to take a risk with some tenants, however this is not the case, and never will be in this country , so I'm very sorry but for me and most other landlords this a risk we are not going to take, don't blame us, blame the system.

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 19:48 PM

I've had big problems with single mums on benefits in the past so am very reluctant to rent to them now, I would at least need a cast iron guarantor before i even considered renting to one.

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 17:17 PM

Has he been banned from ever letting property out again ? sounds like he should be.

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 08:58 AM

Personally I have never got involved with HNOs , I probably would not like to live next door to one, but we can all suffer a bad neighbor even in an area of million pound + houses.

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 08:53 AM

Why is it a shock? I get on well with all my tenants (16 at present) first name terms, I have in the past had tenants that didn't much like me, generally the ones that I told to leave because they were not paying their rent

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 08:46 AM

What makes you think that mummy and daddy helped any of us buy our first houses? most of us on here are of a generation that worked hard, stood on our own 2 feet from an early age and saved, we are not from the ''entitled'' generation.

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 08:40 AM

Sorry Andrew our properties we chose who lives in them just as a builder would chose who he works for, as I said before we have had so much trouble getting the rent paid from people on benefits in the past, and also now it can take us a year + to evict a non payer we are not prepared to take that risk.

From: Andrew townshend 27 November 2020 08:34 AM

Yes the Mustard shop is still here but the old Colman's factory is going, expect houses will be built there .

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2020 16:51 PM

Mostly Victorian terraced houses, couple of shops with flats over (no leasehold flats) a 1950s ex council house, and a couple of Bungalows, 16 in total slowly purchased over the past 30 yrs, Norwich area is very different to London.

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2020 16:38 PM

@ Echis there is good reason for most of us not to rent to benefit claimants, past experience has proved that it is very hard to get them to pay their rent and that the housing benefit payments do not cover the full rent, we are not operating a charity , it is the local council's responsibility to home homeless people in their area , so people on benefits are best left to the local council to home.

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2020 16:28 PM

I do very nicely renting property in and around Norwich, where are your properties David

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2020 16:14 PM

Haven't noticed any drop in Norwich, even though most of the office blocks are empty .

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2020 07:33 AM

More reason to refuse tenants on benefits.

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2020 07:30 AM

I do my own call outs where ever possible, I did try boiler cover on one property a couple of yrs ago, that was a total waste of time and money.

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2020 07:27 AM

Agreed, no hand outs needed, just tenants that pay their rent in full and on time

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2020 22:12 PM

Not just any old guarantor either, one with a perfect credit history, a well paid job and a home owner, the dross are going to find life very hard.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2020 15:43 PM

I don't trust these kind of outfits, it's as simple as that.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2020 09:38 AM

At 80 he really should be handing control over to younger family members.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2020 09:35 AM

Bad landlord yes, but what ever sort of tenants are they living like that, vulnerable ? leave those kinds to the council to home, more trouble than they are worth.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2020 09:31 AM

From what I'm being told most tenants are still paying, I've lost a commercial tenant of 24 yrs who has now lost her business through no fault of here own, but have a new tenant taking over next month, life goes on, help from government, or council ? forget it, dreaming.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2020 09:26 AM

Longer leases, fine, most of my tenants stay longer than 3 yrs, but there has to be a trade off here, a quick and easy way of evicting non payers.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2020 09:18 AM

Yes sometimes we have no choice other than to swallow hard and move on, I think it has happen to all of us at some point

From: Andrew townshend 24 November 2020 20:41 PM

Mr Wirth a landlord.... LOL !

From: Andrew townshend 24 November 2020 18:28 PM

I don't have any HMOs so I don't have that problem, I have had tenants change the locks , but no deposit returned without first having the keys, I have however had to drill a jammed lock out once, it took a little while and a few drill bits but got there in the end.

From: Andrew townshend 24 November 2020 18:16 PM

If a lock needs changing I do so my self, it's not rocket science, dead easy, and all available from screwfix or toolstation.

From: Andrew townshend 24 November 2020 08:35 AM

The main fact that I would like to know here is the Lady up to date with her rent payments ??

From: Andrew townshend 23 November 2020 11:14 AM

I wouldn't trust outfits like this no further than I can spit.

From: Andrew townshend 23 November 2020 11:05 AM

Surely it's the local councils responsibility to provide for the vulnerable , personally I would not take a vulnerable person as a tenant , that would just be asking for trouble.

From: Andrew townshend 23 November 2020 09:36 AM

For you Ruan that is a very sensible comment, but I won't be finding that out because I like most others on here will not be signing up to this scheme.

From: Andrew townshend 21 November 2020 13:31 PM

I think that's very reasonable, but you could take over the management yourself then you would not have to pay any fees

From: Andrew townshend 21 November 2020 13:28 PM

I don't do developer new builds either, all but 2 of my properties were built in the late 1800s, I have 1 ex council house built 1953 and a bungalow built 1976 by a respected local builder.

From: Andrew townshend 20 November 2020 10:17 AM

My letting agent charges 10% + vat and for that I get an excellent service and the rent paid into my bank account the same day that they receive it, there even some letting agents around here charging just 8%, but I'm very happy with the one I have and have used them for the past 20 yrs

From: Andrew townshend 20 November 2020 10:09 AM

And the monthly rent for these places will be...?

From: Andrew townshend 20 November 2020 07:59 AM

18% + vat ? NO THANKS.

From: Andrew townshend 20 November 2020 07:50 AM

David, I simply pointed out that I am a landlord and as such was I was sure they would understand why

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 20:02 PM

Funny thing here is I have just now received an email asking me why my membership payment to the Conservative party was not paid this month, I have politely replied as to why after 45 yrs I can no longer support them.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 19:28 PM

The government can hit us all they like, what they forget is just like any other business all costs are passed onto the end user, it really should be made law that all MPs have run a business at some point during their lives then they might just grasp this.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 19:15 PM

The simple answer, buy for long term income, not to get rich quick.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 16:09 PM

John, just P off there's a good boy.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 15:05 PM

Funnily John my tenants all think so, we all get along just fine, including the guy I termed '' as rough as old boots'' he would likely agree with me, call a spade a spade, there's nothing wrong in that.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 11:04 AM

You mention ventilation, I have a house in Norwich which over the years I have had many tenants complain about damp, I tell them to heat and ventilate it, but of course they don't, the present tenant, been there 4 - 5 yrs now, he's as rough as old boots, I know he sub lets, but he always pays and no damp issues since he's been there, why? because when ever I drive past in day time, whether summer or winter the upstairs bedroom windows are open, 99 times out of 100 damp issues are down to the person living there.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 10:11 AM

Do you contribute to labour by any chance David, just asking.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 09:40 AM

Rents and demand seem to be holding up in Norfolk, don't know about other areas.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 08:37 AM

It would seem the Landlord was given time to carry out these works, he didn't carry them out so he only has himself to blame, I would very much like to see a council take similar action against sub letting tenants, doubt that will ever happen.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 08:34 AM

No different to the developers telling their buyers which solicitor to use for the purchase of their properties, I believe this to be common practice, and sometimes insisted on.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 08:27 AM

Complete waste of time.

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 08:21 AM

Differing ways of looking at this, firstly there are certain areas of London that have some very poor rented properties and often illegal, checking up in this manor with the carrot of large rent rebates to the tenant seems to be the wrong way of going about it, if one of these tenants drop their landlord in the s*** , the council comes along and places a closing order on the property all the tenants will be homeless, I very much doubt these tenants will be able to find a good landlord with good properties to take them on. might be a case of '' horses for courses'' ?

From: Andrew townshend 19 November 2020 08:17 AM

Generally most of my tenants are long term, I'm just such a nice guy and a good landlord !

From: Andrew townshend 18 November 2020 08:16 AM

18 Months is a short period of time in a life time of renting, so what all landlords need to do now is serve a money claim online to every tenant that gets to 2 months in arrears, that way for the following 6 yrs every time that non paying tenant tried to rent another property their CCJ would show up on their credit history, what landlord would take on a new tenant with a CCJ now ?

From: Andrew townshend 18 November 2020 08:04 AM

That's what a lot of us '' boomers'' done, I've lived in caravans on site with wife and young children in tow, if you want things in life you need to work for them and go with luxuries .

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 19:47 PM

The problem with new builds, just like new cars, is they are over priced because they are ''new'', try buying one a year old and save a lot of cash

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 19:41 PM

I agree Phil, however there is nothing stopping you doing a ''money claim online'' just as that builder would do to a non payer .

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 19:34 PM

David, you misread my comment, this offence was in Thetford, 30 miles from Norwich, I don't have properties in Thetford, it was the London over spill town of the 60s and a dreadful area. The offence in Norwich we all know who is responsible and so does Norwich city council, but knowing and proving are 2 very different things. Further more I do agree the fine is not anywhere near enough, neither has the guilty party been named.

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 10:07 AM

A letter requesting ? well that's not law, so why would bailiffs take any notice of it ?

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 09:42 AM

Even before I left school I was saving part of my wages from my paper rounds, my first house was a wreck that I paid £5k for cash, then spent a year renovating it, today's young live for today and spend spend spend, small wounder that they cannot buy property.

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 09:38 AM

If the landlord wasn't guilty of the offence why would he have admitted it ? There is an old sofa laying on the path outside one of my properties in Norwich, it's not mine, and my tenant says it isn't his, I reported it a month ago, it still lays there, we all know who does the fly tipping in that area but nothing done about it.

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 09:31 AM

Simple, don't sell, just keep taking the income.

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 09:21 AM

The government and councils are going to regret this, once these non payers are removed what landlord is going to touch them ever again, tenants with poor credit histories, no job, or an insecure job are going to struggle to find any landlord to take them on, still good news for the B&Bs that councils use to home the homeless, better an empty property than one with a feckless tenant in it

From: Andrew townshend 17 November 2020 09:18 AM

Jay, I'm not complaining at all, becoming a landlord 30 yrs ago was the best move I ever made, I'm hands on and love it, what I don't do however is the workshy scroungers that take the P***, and in my 30 yrs experience this mainly applies to single mums breeding to avoid work and live off the tax payer, truth hurts, but that's the way it is, FACT !!

From: Andrew townshend 16 November 2020 21:59 PM

Thank you Daniela, and well said, I very much doubt Ms Jay Spence is truly a landlord at all, more likely a plant from GR or Shelter.

From: Andrew townshend 16 November 2020 20:51 PM

Clearly many would disagree with you, maybe you haven't experienced these types, I and many others have, so you rent to your single mums, but don't expect me to.

From: Andrew townshend 16 November 2020 15:31 PM

For too many women now children = a free ride, I saw this a few yrs ago with a tenant, her daughter came of school age then the job centre started chasing her to apply for jobs and attend interviews, she disappeared off to Spain for the summer and came back pregnant , it's called '' working the system '' now it's no to single mums for me.

From: Andrew townshend 16 November 2020 10:17 AM

Of course it won't work, and the lady calls her self an expert after just 11 yrs.

From: Andrew townshend 16 November 2020 09:19 AM

@ David Wirth, aren't 99% of charities corrupt ?

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2020 21:44 PM

£15m in tax payers money, I would very much like to see a breakdown as to where that money, our money, is spent, I suspect most of it goes in over generous wages within shelter, just like most other '' charities ?'' , crowd funding ? count me in, I truly think most other landlords would chip in as well.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2020 21:41 PM

These grants are a total waste of time.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2020 17:38 PM

I'm a member of eastern landlords assoc , they are local and helpful, but no use where fighting the government are concerned, we do need someone with some balls to fight our side.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2020 17:16 PM

IHT isn't my problem, my children will have to sort that out, and after all even after IHT is paid they are still getting something for nothing.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2020 17:10 PM

They have us by the short and curlies for now but that will change when more and more landlords refuse to rent to the dregs, then who's going to house them ?

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2020 13:48 PM

They pay their staff and management big bucks though, I wounder if Mr Wirth is on the pay roll.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2020 12:50 PM

Yes Micheal that's what I did in the 90s 15 minutes between viewings all afternoon, face to face, If I say myself I'm a good judge of people, give me the guy that came straight from work, not the ponce in a suit.

From: Andrew townshend 11 November 2020 21:26 PM

No Robert I like the lights on, I need to be seeing what I doing and who I'm doing it with.

From: Andrew townshend 11 November 2020 21:17 PM

Thing here Fredy is that we have to make damn sure we don't rent to this kind of scum in the first place, these kind of tenants are best left to the local council to house, I've had properties left in a discussing state, but so far I have never had one wrecked.

From: Andrew townshend 11 November 2020 21:13 PM

Yes Fredy, speaks volumes doesn't it about England, hang your head in shame Boris.

From: Andrew townshend 11 November 2020 21:05 PM

As with landlords and tenants there are good and bad agents, I have used a small independent agent in Norwich for more than 15 years, no problems, we get on well.

From: Andrew townshend 11 November 2020 12:47 PM

Even in places such as Liverpool where property prices are low few of the young will be buying, 15 - 20% deposits now becoming the norm and the average younger person more interested in ''living the life style'' than saving.

From: Andrew townshend 11 November 2020 08:28 AM

As it has now been made very difficult for us to evict non payers it's a case of being very careful the tenants we take on, I rejected a guy that worked in hospitality, just too risky, but I did have 3 other working tenants wanting the same property, defiantly a case now of '' better an empty property than one with a none paying tenant in it''.

From: Andrew townshend 11 November 2020 08:19 AM

Well John I have several properties that won't make the 'C' status, they all owe me peanuts, mainly purchased in the 90s, I will be 68 next year, so if I cannot rent them after 2025 I will put them in auction and take what ever I get for them, after all at that point in time I will be 72 so likely won't want the bother of them then.

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2020 17:02 PM

Years ago I had a car repair garage, if someone didn't pay me they got a CCJ on princible, generally I did get my money even if it was only £10 a month as an attachment to earnings

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2020 16:50 PM

@ m d Of course you are correct , however I cannot see many tenants voting tory what ever this government gives them.

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2020 16:32 PM

Hold off until 2021 / 2 property making too much in the auction room at present.

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2020 06:34 AM

Don't know about London, we're doing alright in Norfolk, I've got a property coming empty next month, already got 4 working tenants wanting it, one works in hospitality though so I'm giving him a miss.

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2020 06:32 AM

Wait until next year, then buy for cash, the future is not looking good for anyone with excessive debt, cash is king again.

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2020 06:27 AM

It won't just be the over indebted landlord properties, there will be plenty of over mortgaged owner occupier properties being reprocessed as jobs go and relationships break up, bargains to be had in the auction rooms over the next couple of years.

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2020 06:23 AM

Come on David we all know it would be a total waste of time.

From: Andrew townshend 09 November 2020 10:12 AM

Shelter, like most charities, are in it for themselves, highly paid staff who do very little.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2020 16:55 PM

Maybe, but I bet it is well over 100K or even more than 200k, charities stink !

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2020 20:28 PM

Exactly, this is the thing about these so called charities, and not just shelter, it's obscene, and why I am very careful which charities ? I give to, seems to me 90% of charities are just out for what their employees can get out of it , one big big scam which needs sorting out.

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2020 20:25 PM

I don't know what that will achieve David, an agent is just an agent whether nationalized or not, the choice of tenant is still the landlords decision.

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2020 15:12 PM

Boris & co are not conservatives, we no longer have a conservative party.

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2020 11:05 AM

Seems strange that he is on remand for criminal damage, I would have thought he would have got bail for that.

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2020 09:31 AM

You have children then it is the local councils responsibility to house you, I'm surprised that your landlord hasn't already issued you with eviction notices, all he / she has to do is date them 6 months forward from now. Also as you have children U C should be more than enough to live on and pay at least some of your rent.

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2020 09:27 AM

I don't have a problem with this national register of landlords, just so long as we can have one for tenants as well.

From: Andrew townshend 06 November 2020 21:41 PM

Yes David they are well worth their fee and they are back at work now.

From: Andrew townshend 06 November 2020 16:38 PM

Gambling of any kind isn't for me.

From: Andrew townshend 06 November 2020 15:46 PM

Voids are very useful for repairs and up grades especially now, any new tenants taken on now need to be very carefully checked and with guarantors where necessary.

From: Andrew townshend 06 November 2020 14:48 PM

Ruan, you are getting to be a bore now, I'm not going to bother reading any more of your posts

From: Andrew townshend 06 November 2020 07:44 AM

@Robert, if the police will not act take a trip to the main police station in your area and make an official complaint, I've done it, they hate it, and yes it gets results, we pay for the service, we expect it.

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 21:31 PM

I've not received any rent from a commercial tenant since March because she is unable to trade, the lady has been a perfect tenant for the past 24 yrs, thankfully non of my residential tenants have been affected and all are paying in full, you are right Alison non of us want to lose GOOD tenants at this time.

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 20:31 PM

An accountant is nothing special, neither is a professor these days, as I have said before all these qualifications have been drastically devalued.

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 19:35 PM

Ruan, squatters are not evicted, they are arrested as criminals , there is the difference

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 19:10 PM

Interesting theory Ruan, where are all these vacant houses? Squatting in a residential property has been a criminal offence for a few years now , some how I don't see your theory becoming practice.

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 17:08 PM

I expect unofficial evictions will be making a come back as well, what do you think ?

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 15:56 PM

Some years ago I illegally evicted some tenants, mostly I got away with it, one guy went to citizens advice and got himself a solicitor on legal aid, we agreed on £1000 compensation, far cheaper and quicker than doing it the legal way, I suspect these times will be returning, if they haven't already.

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 15:47 PM

I have some older renters as well, sold their properties and using the money to enjoy themselves while they still can, all makes perfect sense, their money and their's to do with as they wish, spend it before it's all taken in care home fees.

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2020 15:32 PM

I don't agree Ruan, BTL is likely dead for landlords with high debt, but it's still good for landlords that own their properties and are prepared to work hard at it hands on, pick tenants very carefully, no DSS, no single mums, no one under 25, and no all day curry eaters, you won't go far wrong

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 19:42 PM

Correction Fred, he's probably paid it, I doubt he truly earns it.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 19:33 PM

I was the guy in the auction room in the 90s that bought the worst property of the day, cracked walls, no problem to me, 10 yrs ago I bought a property that had been traded in to a well known national developer, no one wanted it, black carpets and a kitchen hand painted purple, other than that there really wasn't much wrong with it, odd what people turn their noises up at.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 19:29 PM

These people are squatters then, squatting in a residential property is a criminal offence, insist the police take action now, and be firm with the police, don't take no for an answer because the police will try to fob you off, any problems make an official complaint to the police, trust me that really works, I've done so in the past, they don't like it.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 19:17 PM

Qualifications have been devalued, it would seem any old Tom, Dick or Harry can become a professor these days

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 17:01 PM

95% mortgages are a thing of the past, far too risky

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 16:45 PM

@ Mark Wilson, I don't think you fully understood my comment, FTB are unlikely to be buying the properties landlords sell both for the reasons you quote and my reasoning as well.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 09:49 AM

A good local independent letting agent are worth their fees, most of my properties are now let that way, I'm still hands on in so much as I do my own repairs, clean ups and decorating, all my tenants know me and are welcome to contact me direct when ever they want to, it works.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 09:01 AM

Better an empty property than one with a feckless tenant in it living for free, if we cannot evict then we aren't going to be taking risks on these types of tenants

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 06:08 AM

I cannot see how this is going to work, where is the money coming from. In the past I've come unstuck here, house shares don't understand the meaning of the '' joint and several '' clause, the times I've gone after the rent for one house mate to say '' here's my share mate, you'll have to see Fred about his share''.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 06:03 AM

The way I see things is that this government wants to bring back home ownership, by forcing landlords to selling, all these properties will be bought by first time buyers, least ways that would seem to be the theory. 50 Years ago the young left school at 15, very few went on to university, most went to learn a trade, apprenticeships, one day a week at a local college, most of us, boys and girls, started saving from day one, that isn't how the young behave today, it's all about living life to the full payed for by debt, flash cars on the drip, and credit cards . Very few snowflakes will ever own their own homes unless someone gives them one.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 05:50 AM

Taking on formally homeless tenants would be financial suicide for landlords.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2020 05:33 AM

Philip mate, while I agree, I have to point out that you have it all wrong, shelter use their money collected to actually house people ? no no no , the money they collect is to pay the excessive wages of their staff, noises in troughs.

From: Andrew townshend 03 November 2020 20:36 PM

We might be a bit sheltered here in sleepy Norfolk but I don't know of anymore than normal landlords with problem tenants, there will of course be a back log of non paying tenants being evicted next spring / summer.

From: Andrew townshend 03 November 2020 09:41 AM

As per normal, academic = zero common sense .

From: Andrew townshend 03 November 2020 08:49 AM

Fine let's do that David, but who do you think is going to pay that £500 fee ? as with any business it is always the end user that pays, might just be a case of shot in foot there old boy.

From: Andrew townshend 02 November 2020 22:15 PM

@ DAVID EDMUNDS, if you sign a contract that says no pets then if you bring a pet into that property you have broken the terms of that contract, I am one of very few landlords that will consider pets, it used to be that I held an extra deposit from pet owners, but I cannot do that now, so it has to be an extra rent, I have dogs and many dogs and their owners are well behaved , but that the fact remains that many are not, hence the fact that most tenancy agreements state no pets, if you don't agree that term then don't sign that contract.

From: Andrew townshend 02 November 2020 21:41 PM

When a council says it wants to help landlords smell a rat, it doesn't happen, it's a con , be very careful.

From: Andrew townshend 02 November 2020 20:54 PM

Drive around these council estates and see how many flash new cars there are, buy the property at a massive discount, re mortgage , then go out to play, there is a reason people live in council houses, they are financially illiterate .

From: Andrew townshend 02 November 2020 19:08 PM

Depends where in GB your are, still strong demand in and around Norwich

From: Andrew townshend 02 November 2020 17:21 PM

Those of us that remain will have a larger group of tenants to choose from, tenants with poor histories and those on benefits will be finding it very hard to secure a roof over their heads.

From: Andrew townshend 02 November 2020 08:00 AM

What will happen on the 2 Dec ? same as in April, the lock down will be extended, as we go into winter will this lock down be extended right through to spring ? I think this is very likely .

From: Andrew townshend 02 November 2020 07:56 AM

Don't bet on it mate, desperate times mean desperate measures, Landlord income was never easy income, you would know that if you were a landlord, easy income is for the public sector and the benefit cheats.

From: Andrew townshend 31 October 2020 20:15 PM

Well you see John, Sue and her likes think all those tenants will over night become home owners, really quite a joke aren't they ?

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 20:43 PM

You have my sympathy Sue, clearly you are a woman with one big big problem

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 19:23 PM

They got me some money back from a previous commercial tenant a couple of yrs back that I wasn't expecting to get.

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 15:43 PM

I've never had a problem escalating up to the high court

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 15:40 PM

I think the term is '' heads in sand ''

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 11:02 AM

Court bailiffs are a waste of time, pay the extra to use the high court bailiffs

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 10:49 AM

I'm not against that, what I am concerned about is the cost, trucks have to have an MOT every year, the operators pass that on in their chargers to their customers, so it'll be yet another cost that will be passed onto tenants.

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 09:36 AM

Fill your car up at a petrol station and drive off without paying is theft, live in a property without paying and that is considered okay in this country, but not in many others.

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2020 09:28 AM

That's just it Echis, most on here, myself included do their own repairs, call outs, upgrades, decorating and clean ups, if we just called other people in to do these things we would be losing money , I was crawling around in a loft looking for a leak today, don't get me wrong I'm not complaining here I love what I do, hands on.

From: Andrew townshend 29 October 2020 19:11 PM

Its never been easy income.

From: Andrew townshend 29 October 2020 17:22 PM

@ Echis, so landlords don't work then, we just sit in an arm chair on our laptops watching the cash roll into our bank accounts ? You have no idea do you?

From: Andrew townshend 29 October 2020 17:20 PM

Don't have a problem with the licencing, it's the cost, but then as in any business these costs will over time filter through to the end user, the tenant.

From: Andrew townshend 29 October 2020 09:52 AM

Over the last 30 yrs I have had 3 evictions and all have gone before the bailiffs have had to turn up.

From: Andrew townshend 28 October 2020 21:52 PM

I expect in your eyes anyone in business is classed as greedy from the corner shop to the garage down the road, we are all in it to make a profit, other wise there would be no point.

From: Andrew townshend 28 October 2020 16:32 PM

In the long run they just make life worse for the very people that they are supposed to be representing , but I expect most of their staff are fresh out of university, zero common sense

From: Andrew townshend 27 October 2020 20:36 PM

Most tenancy agreements state no smoking within the property, now it's one thing stating this in the agreement, it is quite another enforcing it, HMOs I would say attract more of the types that are likely to be smokers and more of the types that would not adhere to the rules, so this increases the fire risk, I don't do HMOs because of the types of tenants they attract, we are all out to maximize profits but at what cost.

From: Andrew townshend 27 October 2020 19:22 PM

You have been very lucky lady, there might be the odd exception but they are few and far between, experience proves this to be true, we landlords are not charities, leave the vulnerable to the council is the best advice.

From: Andrew townshend 27 October 2020 11:25 AM

I had damp issues with an old house, however new tenants 4 yrs ago, 2 middle aged men, when ever I drive past, come rain or shine, summer or winter the bedroom windows are always open during the day, result ? no damp issues for the past 4 yrs.

From: Andrew townshend 27 October 2020 11:18 AM

The above is all very well and good in theory, but not always in practice, while there are tenants that would honor their side of such agreements their are many that would not and just take advantage .

From: Andrew townshend 27 October 2020 08:08 AM

I assume the property was okay when they moved in, if not then why did they take a tenancy there, so the property has become damp since they moved in which sounds like it's caused by the way they live, no mention of if they are up to date with their rent, probably a lot more to this than they are letting on.

From: Andrew townshend 27 October 2020 08:01 AM

The leader of Norwich City Council ( wage well in excess of £100k ) lives in a council house on a subsidized rent, stinks doesn't it, I also understand that the leader of one of the top unions also lives in a subsidized council house because he doesn't believe in home ownership, so thereby blocking homes to those families that need them, that's labour for you.

From: Andrew townshend 26 October 2020 19:34 PM

@ David Wirth, trust me I will never be in those kind of dire straits as you put it David.

From: Andrew townshend 26 October 2020 15:51 PM

''Vulnerable'' tenants are not worth the bother, leave them to the local council to house .

From: Andrew townshend 26 October 2020 07:08 AM

I don't know about others on here but I wouldn't touch a homeless person referred by a council, that's the local council's problem not mine, maybe shelter could house them ??

From: Andrew townshend 26 October 2020 06:58 AM

Echis I doubt you have any idea what you are talking about, landlords big and small need to evict non paying tenants, and that includes social housing landlords

From: Andrew townshend 25 October 2020 08:24 AM

@ Gerrad Timms, I take and agree with every thing you say about London, but wild horses would never drag me there , I 'm a Norfolk boy, while there is money to be earn't in London cost of living is high, that way of life may suit many, it certainly would not suit me .

From: Andrew townshend 22 October 2020 21:28 PM

It's an age thing Paul, so do I.

From: Andrew townshend 22 October 2020 20:14 PM

Andrew or Andy is just fine Paul, but please not Anthony

From: Andrew townshend 22 October 2020 17:41 PM

Bankrupt sandwich shops, I've got one of those, well the lady's on the verge of bankruptcy, she has been a good tenant of mine for more than 24 yrs, I've not charged her any rent since March in the hope that she could get going again, but it is really not looking good.

From: Andrew townshend 22 October 2020 16:40 PM

It is exactly these kind of landlords that give the rest of us a bad name, ban them and take the properties away from them. What will happen to their tenants though, I doubt very much that they would be the kind of tenants any of us would consider at any money, still that's the council's problem to home them.

From: Andrew townshend 22 October 2020 13:39 PM

@Echis R , you think property values would drop low enough for homeless families to become home owners ? sir you are dreaming.

From: Andrew townshend 21 October 2020 16:51 PM

The only flats that I own are ones where I own the freehold of the property, and all brick built, never done leasehold, looked at some over the years, until I read the lease terms, then walked away swiftly

From: Andrew townshend 21 October 2020 09:38 AM

I expect London will take a kicking, people moving out and who can blame them.

From: Andrew townshend 21 October 2020 09:31 AM

As Paul says keep sec 21 for a fast track way of evicting non payers, that's all I've ever used it for, then no one can call it a no fault eviction, problem solved.

From: Andrew townshend 21 October 2020 09:18 AM

Mediation doesn't work, it a tenant isn't paying there is only one thing to do, evict ASAP.

From: Andrew townshend 20 October 2020 14:02 PM

There will always be that element out there that consider our laws don't apply to them, or that they are above the law.

From: Andrew townshend 20 October 2020 13:56 PM

Agreed, vulnerable / benefits tenants are best left to councils and housing associations to home.

From: Andrew townshend 20 October 2020 08:08 AM

Yes Paul but the landlords that will be bankrupted will be those that borrowed too much, those that tried to run before they could walk , said it before, and I will say it again, the saying in the motor trade was '' flash with no cash'' cash will be king again.

From: Andrew townshend 19 October 2020 21:45 PM

What turns around will come around Paul, it always does in the fullness of time .

From: Andrew townshend 19 October 2020 21:32 PM

@ Paul, agreed, you, me, and many others on here are old school, and were bought up properly with proper values, not the way it is now, now we have the entitled generation who want and expect it all now, new flash cars on the drip, 3 x holidays per year, nights out, designer clothing and all those coffees, then they have the nerve to whinge that they cannot afford to pay their rent, and far less buy a property, it is however this very generation who will have the miserable skint retirement, that is is if they can ever retire, sympathy ? none, zero, self inflected, and well deserved.

From: Andrew townshend 19 October 2020 20:31 PM

Guaranteed rent for a yr, so what happens after that? Norwich tried it once, a farce .

From: Andrew townshend 19 October 2020 08:32 AM

I suspect there are many landlords within the labour party, certainly Mr Blair has been for yrs.

From: Andrew townshend 19 October 2020 08:28 AM

Spot on Paul, would seem Lou Valdini doesn't know what he is talking about, clearly not a landlord.

From: Andrew townshend 18 October 2020 17:19 PM

We can however ask the tenant to supply their own referencing from a suitable source, that way the tenant wastes their own money .

From: Andrew townshend 15 October 2020 09:17 AM

These properties belong to landlords, so landlords will decide who lives in them, we don't have to give a reason for refusing a tenancy, it'll still be NO DSS, but not in those words.

From: Andrew townshend 15 October 2020 09:09 AM

Don't do gambling, a total mugs game.

From: Andrew townshend 14 October 2020 21:59 PM

@ Paul, yes you could be right, most of us so far obey the rules, but we are all only human, push anyone too far and what happens ? well I don't need to spell that one out do I ?

From: Andrew townshend 12 October 2020 21:59 PM

I also have a very good independent local agent who I have used for more than 20 yrs now, money goes into my bank account the same day that they receive it.

From: Andrew townshend 12 October 2020 08:11 AM

The courts and bailiffs will be very busy come March next year, it will likely take them a year to get through the back log, but it will happen, those that don't pay will be out, we'll know who they are so who will be housing them ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 October 2020 13:37 PM

I stopped renting to students back in the 90s, give me decent, down to earth, hard working people any day.

From: Andrew townshend 09 October 2020 08:25 AM

Without the loans their credit score will be trashed, section 8 evictions and money claim online for monies owed .

From: Andrew townshend 08 October 2020 16:43 PM

I feel really sorry for Mark'

From: Andrew townshend 08 October 2020 09:47 AM

David, would it be any different to all the student loans that are handed out each year, how many of these will ever be paid off ?

From: Andrew townshend 08 October 2020 09:46 AM

I could never vote labour' but I'm also a Conservative party member who at this moment in time could not vote for the conservative party as they stand, I even voted for Boris to be leader, in hind sight wasn't that a big mistake .

From: Andrew townshend 08 October 2020 09:37 AM

As with Robert and many other landlords I was the guy in the auction room which bought the properties than no one else wanted then rolled up my sleeves, got very dirty, and renovated them, I'm the one that clears up after tenants leave, carry out repairs, up grades, and re decorates, don't get me wrong here I'm not having a whinge , I love what I do and have never been afraid of hard work, it's all to easy for people on the outside to think that other people's job is easy.

From: Andrew townshend 08 October 2020 09:31 AM

I''ii second that !

From: Andrew townshend 07 October 2020 19:21 PM

I have many long term tenants, one retired couple, been my tenants nearly 10 yrs, transformed the garden, hard and soft landscaping , new kitchen unit fronts, new work tops, decorated to a very high standard and even installed a wet room, all at no cost to me.

From: Andrew townshend 07 October 2020 16:11 PM

Who would have thought it, we voted conservative and got labour.

From: Andrew townshend 07 October 2020 08:59 AM

Poor quality properties do need to be brought up to a decent standard, but there is a trade off here, once these poor quality properties are improved they will be suitable for a better quality tenant, so what then happens to the low life feckless tenants that had been living in them,'' horses for courses ''

From: Andrew townshend 07 October 2020 08:57 AM

He's got a daytime TV show, now that sums the sad little man up perfectly, not a clue about the real world out there.

From: Andrew townshend 07 October 2020 08:48 AM

@ Mark, just go away boy.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 21:51 PM

@ Philip, surely the same must apply to landlord details then ? with tenants if I am asked for a reference I will give a good one if deserved , if not I will simply say that I am unable to give a reference in this instance, which should mean don't touch them !

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 21:46 PM

When a council comes out with the words '' we want to work with landlords '' alarm bell should ring loud and clear, walk away.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 20:19 PM

And they wounder why us landlords don't want anything to do with them, house them on some low life council estate, there's no shortage of them are there ?

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 19:57 PM

It's not the licencing, I'm sure most if not all on here would be okay there, it's the cost which will be passed on , if not all at once certainly over a period of time. There are still some rogue landlords out there and I suspect most of them are in certain parts of London.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 16:48 PM

90% of the time landlords and tenants get on just fine, first name terms, trouble starts when we get a tenant that thinks it's okay not to pay.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 14:09 PM

Simon, look on a map and check train time tables, Norfolk is only an hour from London, I know many locally that do it.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 09:57 AM

Londoners fleeing the city, nice properties in Norfolk are selling like hot cakes, often for over asking prices.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 08:24 AM

And didn't he get off light, no justice there.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 08:21 AM

Norwich City Council tried something like this a few yrs ago, total non starter, waste of time, not the sort of tenants I want in my properties.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 08:18 AM

I've said it before and I'll say it again, whatever the business costs are always passed down to the end user, so up go rents yet again, everyone needs somewhere to live, few can afford to buy , councils and housing associations cannot cope with demand.

From: Andrew townshend 06 October 2020 08:13 AM

I've also been quite lucky, I've had problem tenants in the past but always been able to get rid quite easily, these days I don't take any risks where new tenants are concerned, I'll wait for the right ones to come along, and they always do.

From: Andrew townshend 05 October 2020 23:00 PM

Well Paul they can play the race card as much as they like, telling the truth as it really is, is not racism .

From: Andrew townshend 05 October 2020 16:13 PM

Rents in the Norwich area are holding up and a strong demand, not surprised to see London dropping though.

From: Andrew townshend 05 October 2020 08:16 AM

About time these scum type landlords were dealt with, clearly they consider our laws don't apply to them, they are so arrogant to consider them selves above our laws, they give us decent landlords a bad name

From: Andrew townshend 03 October 2020 20:24 PM

Well from what I have been told around £15k to install and very expensive to run.

From: Andrew townshend 01 October 2020 19:08 PM

I have read the conditions of the ''green homes grant'' and just like the green deal a complete waste of time, another non starter.

From: Andrew townshend 01 October 2020 07:46 AM

How are going to get the average Victorian terraced house up to band c ? even if we could the cost would be massive, and what happens to costs ? oh that's right as with any business they get passed onto the end user.

From: Andrew townshend 01 October 2020 07:43 AM

@ Lydia, there are exceptions, but they are very few and far between, as for us baby boomers having it easy when we were your age, you couldn't be more wrong.

From: Andrew townshend 30 September 2020 19:21 PM

Good luck Marc and thank you.

From: Andrew townshend 30 September 2020 08:14 AM

It would seem to me that most of the young only have themselves to blame here, mostly by their indulgent life styles , the i'm entitled attitude, and not wanting to get there hands dirty helping themselves. Also the high loan to value mortgage is a thing of the past, just as us landlords now need to be more and more careful who we rent to, banks are having to be very careful who they lend to.

From: Andrew townshend 30 September 2020 08:12 AM

@ Robert , well nail on head there, I wouldn't want a Rolls Royce, and have never owned one, I was in the motor trade for 30 yrs, had and enjoyed the flash (secondhand) cars when I was younger, been there, got the tee shirt, cars do a job these days for me, reliability comes first now followed with sensible servicing costs, run them into the ground before going to the car auction to buy a replacement , max investment, £10k

From: Andrew townshend 29 September 2020 20:36 PM

Yes Robert, is it a case of the truth hurts ??

From: Andrew townshend 29 September 2020 19:15 PM

Why Mark, I cannot afford a new Rolls Royce , perhaps they should lower their prices ??

From: Andrew townshend 29 September 2020 19:10 PM

@Algarve Investor, your 50,000 sounds a lot, but as a percentage of the population of GB which I believe is around 65 million it's really very few. @ Seb, well who would believe, this is a rare occasion I agree with you 100%

From: Andrew townshend 29 September 2020 18:18 PM

@ Retired Agent, High Court bailiff do now have to give 14 days notice , but still much quicker than court bailiffs and well worth the extra money.

From: Andrew townshend 29 September 2020 17:15 PM

Totally agree David, and in the past I have done just this, a CCJ is for money owed and as such a court has to allow it, normally around £60 money claim online dead easy to do, no need for a solicitor , often people that don't pay can pay at a later date, then they suck their cheeks in when the bailiff comes knocking 2 - 3 years down the road, revenge is sweet.

From: Andrew townshend 29 September 2020 17:08 PM

My wife will not let me watch it, I get angry and shout at the TV, and this is the guy that people that know me say if I were any more laid back I would be asleep, these slags are just red rag to a bull to me .

From: Andrew townshend 28 September 2020 19:11 PM

@ Robert, the wind is a blowing here in Norfolk this Sunday afternoon, I'm alright Jack, I'm sat here in front of a log fire nice and toasty warm being amused by Seb's idiot replies to your posts, you will never win with the likes of Seb and Mark they will always come back with a daft reply, funny though.

From: Andrew townshend 27 September 2020 16:06 PM

As luck would have it all my residential tenants are so far paying in full, however this has all been a warning shot, no more risky tenants, all will be checked out very very carefully, better an empty property than one with a feckless tenant in it.

From: Andrew townshend 26 September 2020 18:42 PM

Mark, can I ask you, what do you do for a living ?

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 19:26 PM

Who's going to the government with a begging bowl ? businesses set their prices to cover exspences plus a profit, that's how businesses work , that could be car sales, house sales, or rents, the more costs that we are saddled with the more rents will increase, we want our rents paid, if they are not paid at some point in time those non paying tenants will find them selves out on the streets, and all landlords will know who they are.

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 19:24 PM

In the long run the end user will pay, rents will rise but not all at once, there is still a strong demand in Norwich, I exspect London may well be differant.

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 19:14 PM

It's the end user that pays, always.

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 16:46 PM

I agree, other than the giving up part, decent properties with decent tenants and increased rent, leave the feckless to the dodgy landlords and the councils, they are not our problem and we don't want them.

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 14:15 PM

Build costs ?? has anyone thought of this? the end product will be too exspensive to buy, and too exspensive to rent, then we have to ask the question will these properties still be standing in 50 yrs time, doubtfull isn't it with the developer build quallity these days.

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 12:58 PM

Aren't people fleeing London, they may have a lot of empity properties on their hands.

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 12:50 PM

We should assume that monies owed to us are paid in full, just as any other business would assume. I do agree however those that have borrowed too much may be finding the next year difficult, and that is the risk they took when they borrowing too much.

From: Andrew townshend 25 September 2020 12:42 PM

In the 90s I used to put a small add in the local paper and the phone never stopped ringing, all changed now, but still a strong demand in Norwich, only differance is I am very much more carefull who I rent to.

From: Andrew townshend 24 September 2020 20:38 PM

@ Laura B, I agree, but a word of advice on here, just ignore Seb, trust me he isn't worth the effort.

From: Andrew townshend 24 September 2020 20:14 PM

Lee, it's not us landlords that need help, it is the tenants that need the help to pay their rent, that's all we want is our rent paid in full, problem here is that many tenants would take this help but not use it to pay their rent, that is why this help with rent must be paid direct to landlords, as for your example of your friend she will have been refused for a good reason, maybe in the past she has not paid her rent, we landlords and agents do talk to each other, now more than ever before landlords are going to be very carefull who they rent to, and for good reason.

From: Andrew townshend 24 September 2020 19:14 PM

Agreed, but the cost to landlords needs to be fair.

From: Andrew townshend 24 September 2020 16:11 PM

I suspect most of those tenants that are trapped in poor quality properties are the kind of tenants that landlords with good properties wouldn't want at any money, hence why they are trapped.

From: Andrew townshend 24 September 2020 15:11 PM

That's just it David, social housing providers are a law upon themselves, a case of do as I say not as I do.

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2020 17:38 PM

The elliment we are talking about generally have no intension of finding work.

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2020 08:53 AM

Are councils going to police themselves then ? some of the worst conditions in Norfolk can be found in social housing .

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2020 08:48 AM

And those that are on benefits can have part of their hand outs stopped for a few yrs, now that would hurt them would't it

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2020 08:42 AM

@ Robert, non of us understand seb's comments, he thinks he is a very intelegent person, he shows himself to be no more than a fool, his comments are not worth reading, I simply delete them.

From: Andrew townshend 22 September 2020 22:42 PM

In Norwich there are many properties stting empty long term, mostly owned by Norwich City Council, I've even tryed to buy some of them, they say they don't own them, but land registry says other wise,

From: Andrew townshend 22 September 2020 19:41 PM

There likly will not be a spike in evictiond short term, but all this government is doing is kicking the can further down the road, 6 months notice + the time involved to get the evictions through the courts and then get the bailiffs in = mass homeless winter of 2022, now we have all learned a lot here, no more risk taking with new tenants, check them out well, if in any doubt don't rent to them, better an empty property than one with a feckless tenant sitting in it.

From: Andrew townshend 22 September 2020 19:34 PM

If they are still paying you don't really have a problem, maybe serve a section 21 when the tenancy comes to an end just to cover your back, if they do come back to uk you can always cancel the section 21

From: Andrew townshend 21 September 2020 19:17 PM

Nice people (do gooders) need to get out more, then they might just notice that there are a lot of very nasty and voilent people out there .

From: Andrew townshend 21 September 2020 15:13 PM

I too can see things getting nasty, there is only so much that landlords can or will take.

From: Andrew townshend 19 September 2020 12:58 PM

Some yrs ago I had a guy and 2 girls in a house, totally unbeknown to me they moved out and 3 differant girls moved in, the first I knew about it was when they paid their rent into my bank account I didn't reconise the names, I've even had agents ask me for a referance for people that have never been tenants of mine, the things some people get up to and they think it's okay.

From: Andrew townshend 19 September 2020 11:52 AM

The ''certain groups'' you refer to could have part of their generious benefits stopped until the loan is repaid, or would that be against their human rights.

From: Andrew townshend 19 September 2020 10:32 AM

I take your point on s24, but if rent isn't coming in there is less to be taxed on.

From: Andrew townshend 19 September 2020 09:13 AM

We can only be taxed on profits, no or low profits = no tax income for HMRC

From: Andrew townshend 18 September 2020 22:53 PM

If you have made every effort to have the gas safe inspection carried out but been unable to do so because of the tenants then you as a landlord have done nothing wrong.

From: Andrew townshend 18 September 2020 22:47 PM

I agree with you George, they are intent on pushing good landlords out which will take us back to the old rogue landlord days of the heavies collecting the rent and caring out the evictions after dark, can't happen in the 21th century ? just watch this space !

From: Andrew townshend 18 September 2020 19:06 PM

Let them view and waste their time then, landlords chose who lives in their properties, we don't have to give a reason to those that are unsuccessful.

From: Andrew townshend 18 September 2020 08:55 AM

@ Robert & David, we all need to get our heads together on this one, it is the only way that we are going to get our point across, non payment of rent is theft, a CCJ for anyone and everyone that is overdue in their rent, courts have no choice on this one it is a debt, no ifs, no buts or maybes, every time these thieves try to obtain a new tenancy will this flag up, just think of all those homeless bums queuing up outside town halls , we can win this one, £60 a time money claim online , how much money do you spend at a night out down the pub ? more than £60 of that I am sure.

From: Andrew townshend 17 September 2020 21:23 PM

Come on David I think we have all worked out this Mr Wilson, don't rise to his bate.

From: Andrew townshend 17 September 2020 21:04 PM

I wouldn't trust them, we all know what these tin pot insurances companies are like when it comes to paying out on a claim

From: Andrew townshend 17 September 2020 08:21 AM

@ Paul, I have a friend, we go back to early school days, a hands on farmer, no range rovers or crap like that, a very happy guy, at 67 I'm a bit to long in the tooth to retrain as a farmer.

From: Andrew townshend 16 September 2020 21:01 PM

Agreed I too renovated and built my own homes from the late 70s onwards, no hand outs and living in a caravan in the back garden, I even done much the same with most of my investment properties, sad the way things have changed, and certainly not for the better.

From: Andrew townshend 16 September 2020 20:54 PM

Not rude, just ignorant.

From: Andrew townshend 16 September 2020 17:44 PM

Paul sec 8 is expensive and a great deal of trouble, money claim online is around £60, depending on how much is claimed , and dead easy, I spent 30 yrs in the garage business, if someone did not pay they got a CCJ on princible , non payers what ever the business must not be allowed to get away with it.

From: Andrew townshend 15 September 2020 19:13 PM

There is a real danger that this is not going to end well.

From: Andrew townshend 15 September 2020 09:16 AM

Come on Hugh spill the beans did he go ? we all need some good news mate.

From: Andrew townshend 14 September 2020 20:02 PM

Money claim online cost me £60 last time I done it, tax deductible, I don't care if I don't get the money that I am owed, the fact that I have screwed that non paying tenant's credit history and that CCJ will come up every time a landlord or agent checks them out is all I need, we all need to be doing this to protect each other.

From: Andrew townshend 14 September 2020 18:04 PM

Very few landlords would stoop that low.

From: Andrew townshend 14 September 2020 10:21 AM

Hardship rent loans for tenants makes total sense, just so long as they are paid direct to landlords

From: Andrew townshend 14 September 2020 09:01 AM

From: Andrew townshend 12 September 2020 17:05 PM

I stand corrected there then 30 days not 14, a straight forward letter to that effect would be acceptable ?

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2020 19:37 PM

Yes it's certainly getting a lot harder which is why we all need to be very much more selective of tenants, it will not be good for homelessness though will it ?

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2020 14:31 PM

That's how I last understood things Paul, but yes these things do change.

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2020 12:27 PM

@ Mark Wilson, it's not other peoples misfortunes, tenants sign a contract to pay their rent, if they cannot pay their rent they should move out, I don't fill my car up with fuel if I don't have the means to pay for it, same thing surely .

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2020 12:12 PM

I think a reasonable period is normally 14 days, a simple letter is all that is needed quoting the amount do and that court action will be taken if debt is not payed in full within those 14 days.

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2020 11:59 AM

The last time I done one it cost me £60, dead easy, done it on princible didn't expect to get any money back, couple of yrs later the guy's photo was in the local paper, he had taken a pub over, I got the Sheriffs Office out there, They got a grand out of him, after costs I got £400, not a lot but a bonus any way, we all need to be doing this now to force the issue, feckless tenants need to be held to account and not allowed to get away with it.

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2020 10:59 AM

Lower rents in the London area very possibly, not in the Norwich area though.

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2020 10:15 AM

Just as landlords are having to be very careful who we rent to now, banks are also having to be very careful who they lend to, and who can blame them ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 September 2020 08:20 AM

If a property becomes empty it might be wise not to relet it until this eviction ban ends, better an empty property than one with a feckless tenant in it at the present time.

From: Andrew townshend 10 September 2020 08:15 AM

Mark, you are an idiot !

From: Andrew townshend 09 September 2020 19:42 PM

How many tenants are likely to vote Tory ? that is if they vote at all.

From: Andrew townshend 09 September 2020 14:30 PM

@ Jo Jo who ever you maybe, We are not asking to be '' bailed out '' as you put it, we simply need tenants to pay their rent or move out.

From: Andrew townshend 09 September 2020 14:26 PM

They are your properties your decision.

From: Andrew townshend 08 September 2020 19:24 PM

@ T L who ever you might be, I think you question has been answered , don't you ?

From: Andrew townshend 08 September 2020 19:11 PM

Experience of single mums over the past 30 yrs means I don't rent to them now, leave them to the local council, their problem not mine.

From: Andrew townshend 08 September 2020 18:02 PM

We cannot take a 3 months rent deposit, however what we can do is take a 5 week deposit and 3 months rent up front so long as that is used as rent, we can also insist that rent is paid 3 monthly in advance. Further more we decide who is going to live in our properties, that decision is ours and ours alone .

From: Andrew townshend 08 September 2020 13:37 PM

Paul you are using the wrong word, there is a calculated RISK in business, a gamble is what sad pricks do in betting shops, lottery , and scratch cards etc, there is one very big difference between the two, and the two kinds of people, common sense. But have you and others noticed today ? NO SEB, I do hope the chap is not unwell today.

From: Andrew townshend 07 September 2020 20:14 PM

I'm at a point now where I delete all comments from Seb without reading then, think I might just do the same with Mark

From: Andrew townshend 04 September 2020 15:26 PM

I'm beginning to think Seb and Mark are one and the same person

From: Andrew townshend 04 September 2020 15:21 PM

I would go along with much of that, but what about the landlord that is faced with the tenant that will not pay, there needs to be change there as well.

From: Andrew townshend 04 September 2020 07:41 AM

What makes them think all these tenants are ''vulnerable'' many will be perfectly able to pay their way but will take advantage to be housed for free, until that is they are evicted with a CCJ to their name and find it very hard to find a decent landlord to take them on.

From: Andrew townshend 04 September 2020 07:36 AM

Our friend Seb is certainly on fire today !

From: Andrew townshend 03 September 2020 14:44 PM

They will not accept my email either, so I won't bother

From: Andrew townshend 03 September 2020 14:32 PM

From: Andrew townshend 03 September 2020 10:10 AM

@ Seb, thankfully I have not needed to go down that route since the start covid, but I see no reason for a money claim on line not to be successful, the law is saying we cannot evict it does not say we cannot go after money owed a court would have no option if the money is owed would it ?

From: Andrew townshend 03 September 2020 09:17 AM

I would go after the pilot that owes you £2500 I think that would be worthwhile .

From: Andrew townshend 03 September 2020 09:09 AM

Don't agree this time Paul mate, there is a lot more to this than just money, A CCJ may well not get you your money, but revenge is sweet and this scum must not be allowed to get away with it.

From: Andrew townshend 02 September 2020 22:22 PM

Sadly Sandra you've got what you have got, we have all been there , what you must not do is let this scum wear you down, they are not worth it, you will be rid at some point and you will be very careful next time you let, most tenants are as good as gold, make sure you get a CCJ against them before they go , trust me revenge is sweet.

From: Andrew townshend 02 September 2020 22:18 PM

It's not so much support for landlords that is need it's support for tenants that cannot pay their rent but the payments must go direct to the landlord.

From: Andrew townshend 01 September 2020 08:32 AM

Echis, we only need take a look in their wheelie bins to see where the money is going

From: Andrew townshend 28 August 2020 22:32 PM

Government and councils are the root cause of high rents, increase our costs and the end user pays, that is true whatever the business.

From: Andrew townshend 28 August 2020 22:28 PM

It's not all about the money Seb, £60 money claim online, a CCJ to follow that non paying tenant around for at least 6 yrs, worth every penny, revenge is sweet ! 3

From: Andrew townshend 28 August 2020 15:07 PM

That's going to be the way forward now, who's going to rent to those that cannot provide a suitable guarantor ? it will be a big problem for government and councils next year when the wholesale evictions kick off.

From: Andrew townshend 28 August 2020 10:22 AM

It would seem most tenants are paying, those that won't pay may well have a free ride for now, but at some point they will be evicted complete with a CCJ to their name, at that point no decent landlord with decent properties will touch them, then they will whinge about how unfair the system is.

From: Andrew townshend 28 August 2020 09:10 AM

You can sell Amy with the tenant still there , the new landlord may not be as nice as you.

From: Andrew townshend 28 August 2020 08:13 AM

Why can't they all be evicted Steven ? better an empty property than one with a non paying tenant in it.

From: Andrew townshend 28 August 2020 08:08 AM

Have to agree there John

From: Andrew townshend 27 August 2020 10:08 AM

I agree with Robert, rubbish developer built properties will possible last 50 yrs max, I own many Victorian properties 140 years old, 2 world wars and still standing, people love them, I love them, and they will still be standing in another 140 yrs.

From: Andrew townshend 26 August 2020 22:30 PM

Well gents that's enough for tonight I'm now going to have a nice large Irish.

From: Andrew townshend 26 August 2020 20:23 PM

Seb, will the government ever acknowledge that there were mistakes in the past, no it will be the same old waste of everyone's time yet again

From: Andrew townshend 26 August 2020 19:56 PM

Paul below is correct, If landlords could get rid of non paying tenants then life would be very much easier for good honest paying tenants, and then we might even start to consider tenants on benefits

From: Andrew townshend 26 August 2020 19:52 PM

Sorry Seb but you are wrong, the law relating to mortgage re procession and that of landlord re procession is very very different .

From: Andrew townshend 26 August 2020 19:19 PM

I don't want help from the government, the government should be paying the rent of those that cannot pay direct to the landlords, we should be able to evict the tenants that are able to pay their rent but chose not to.

From: Andrew townshend 26 August 2020 13:39 PM

Past green deal grants have been a total waste of time, will this one be any different ? I won't be holding my breath.

From: Andrew townshend 26 August 2020 09:04 AM

But Michael we can hold our heads up high, we paid our way and earn't every thing we have now.

From: Andrew townshend 25 August 2020 22:19 PM

Our generation saved, done over time at work, had a day job and an evening / week end job, bought a run down property rolled our sleeves up and renovated it, lived in a caravan in the back garden while renovating, that's why '' we're alright Jack ''!

From: Andrew townshend 25 August 2020 19:37 PM

Keeping voters happy ?? how many tenants vote tory ?

From: Andrew townshend 25 August 2020 13:45 PM

A parasite is a person that does not pay their way and expects others to give to them.

From: Andrew townshend 25 August 2020 10:49 AM

Yes David agreed, but it's the local councils responsibility to house these people who cannot, or will not pay, private landlords do not have charity status .

From: Andrew townshend 25 August 2020 10:46 AM

Yes they should, and that would be the sensible approach, we don't want to be evicting tenants, but at some point that will happen to those that don't pay, we will all know who they are so finding a new landlord to take them on could be difficult. I don't think the problem is as bad as being made out, all mine are paying, so far, and I don't know of a local landlord having a problem, as yet.

From: Andrew townshend 25 August 2020 10:41 AM

80% LTV isn't that asking for trouble ?

From: Andrew townshend 25 August 2020 10:06 AM

Me too, years ago I had a small car repair workshop, I was on first name terms at the local county court, I didn't mess around if some one didn't pay me they got a CCJ , word soon got about not to mess with me.

From: Andrew townshend 24 August 2020 15:28 PM

David, yes they can have 12 months free rent, but at the end of that time they should have earn't themselves a CCJ for non payment, how many landlords are going to be taking on a tenant with a CCJ now

From: Andrew townshend 24 August 2020 15:14 PM

@Simon D , Seb is a wind up merchant just ignore him the rest of us do.

From: Andrew townshend 24 August 2020 14:58 PM

Tenants need landlords, that's simple, few tenants will ever be FTB , they'll never save enough for a deposit or be accepted for a mortgage , so big increase in homelessness .

From: Andrew townshend 24 August 2020 12:19 PM

Other than one commercial tenant who cannot trade at present all are paying me and none have asked for a reduction or a rent holiday.

From: Andrew townshend 24 August 2020 12:12 PM

Shelter long term are hurting the very people they are supposed to be helping, how many of us are going to take a risk on a new tenant ? Only tenants with a good past record and secure work will be considered, so what happens to the rest ?

From: Andrew townshend 24 August 2020 10:14 AM

Many of my properties were purchased in the 90s for peanuts, I cannot sell them even if I wanted to because I'm sure as hell not giving the government all that CGT for them to hand out to low life spongers .

From: Andrew townshend 23 August 2020 09:31 AM

Yes Paul there are many landlords out there with 40+ properties all mortgaged up to the hilt, who could all have 10 properties all bought and paid for and be much better off. I have 16 properties that have purchased for cash slowly over the yrs, just think how many properties I could have if I had mortgaged them all up to the hilt, If I get a bad tenant it's not going to bankrupt me, I'm fine as I am, no worries, and I sleep at nights.

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 20:54 PM

Yes spot on Paul

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 20:02 PM

Yes Paul this is the end of the mortgaged landlords, cash is king again

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 19:51 PM

Agreed Seb, keep away from London, I will add though when a lender reprocesses a property they are able to get the tenants out immediately, no waiting about there, I don't think many people know that

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 19:34 PM

Totally agree Seb mate, keep well away from London.

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 19:27 PM

Lot of money to be made in times like this, cash is king again, the flash with no cash will fall by the road side making the rest of us wealthy, just like the 90s, if you can remember that far back

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 19:25 PM

My insurance has insisted on it for a long time now.

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 19:21 PM

That does seem likely

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 11:20 AM

Yes agreed Andrew and business is all about risk, but what makes you think we all sit here with flash cars in the drive and a holiday villa in Spain ?

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 09:33 AM

Easy, pay their rent for them, just make sure it goes direct to the landlord.

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2020 08:58 AM

Those tenants that take advantage of the system will be the losers in the long run.

From: Andrew townshend 19 August 2020 10:30 AM

There maybe opportunities later in the year or next year, but they will be for cash buyers only, would be foolish to borrow now.

From: Andrew townshend 19 August 2020 10:25 AM

There is a simple answer, where someone is GENUINELY unable to pay the rent through no fault of their own then the government need to step in with a DIRECT payment to the landlord, we are not charities the same as Tesco's are not a charity .

From: Andrew townshend 19 August 2020 09:24 AM

Not our responsibility, just a Micky Mouse scam insurance company out to make a few quid .

From: Andrew townshend 19 August 2020 09:16 AM

They are not a good a good bank John my mother banked with them as many older people used to from the old Abbey National days we had so much un necessary trouble with them. Some people moan about good old Barclays but I can only speak as I find they have always stood by me through good and bad times.

From: Andrew townshend 19 August 2020 08:58 AM

Most of these degree courses could with a bit of hard work be completed in half the time, all one big scam to make the universities and their over paid staff a lot of money, and the students the excuse not to have to find a job for 3 yrs.

From: Andrew townshend 18 August 2020 16:53 PM

I would not touch anything leasehold, but convert to commonhold with a share of the freehold and a right for all to manage would be a totally different ball game, will it happen though?

From: Andrew townshend 18 August 2020 16:46 PM

I see from the table that I can expect a 4.4 % yield from UEA students in Norwich, I do much better than that from good working tenants in Norwich, so why would I want all the hassle of renting to students, more trouble than they are worth, and their snob parents are worst still.

From: Andrew townshend 18 August 2020 09:41 AM

I think we are safe there David not much chance of you or Labour getting into government anytime soon mate

From: Andrew townshend 17 August 2020 19:16 PM

@ David Edmunds, so we all live off housing benefit do we ? I think you will find most on here will not touch anyone on benefits, I certainly will not.

From: Andrew townshend 17 August 2020 15:45 PM

Oh chip on shoulder David ? there are a lot of dirty businesses out there , what line are you in ?

From: Andrew townshend 17 August 2020 15:39 PM

Soon to be Lord McDonnell I believe, what a twat.

From: Andrew townshend 17 August 2020 08:38 AM

75% LTV, total mugs game, if you have to borrow that strongly then BTL isn't for you.

From: Andrew townshend 14 August 2020 10:53 AM

BTL isn't dead, far from it, mortgages getting harder to get, the end of the high loan to value lending, and poor job security means less owner occupier and therefore more renting. BTL works well for landlords that aren't in it to get rich quick, and for cash buyers.

From: Andrew townshend 14 August 2020 10:49 AM

Sadly Seb I fully expect you could be right, however my residential tenants are all paying at present, I do have a commercial tenant who cannot trade at present , but it's very easy to get rid of a commercial tenant, all though I am hoping that I don't have to

From: Andrew townshend 13 August 2020 20:14 PM

We will have to agree to disagree there mate, I wouldn't touch anything leasehold.

From: Andrew townshend 13 August 2020 17:49 PM

I can see where you are coming from Geoff but the problem we have now is that often the deposit we are allowed to hold is no where near enough when a property has not been looked after well.

From: Andrew townshend 13 August 2020 17:24 PM

There is a big ''IF'' here , the government would need to build one hell of a lot of houses, which is just not going to happen anytime soon, if at all, then there is the question of quality, new social housing generally starts off well, but it doesn't take long for the tenants to not just wreck the houses but the areas as well, just look around any council estate more than 10 yrs old, there are some people that you just cannot help and you are wasting your time even trying.

From: Andrew townshend 13 August 2020 12:25 PM

The harder it is made for us to evict none paying tenants the harder it will be for people on benefits, the under 25s and single mums to find a landlord to rent to them, it's called minimizing risk.

From: Andrew townshend 12 August 2020 18:02 PM

I don't want to live in London, I don't want to go there, and I certainly would not want to own anything there .

From: Andrew townshend 10 August 2020 16:24 PM

Buyer beware, you wouldn't trust a car salesman so why would trust an estate agent ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 August 2020 13:07 PM

m d (17.21) I would agree with you, any landlord working on a 3% yield is a fool as are those that are mortgaged up to the eye brows, most of us on here have been in the game a long time and own our properties debt free , a lot are also hands on, I do my own repairs, re decorating and clean ups between tenants, being a proper landlord is a job of work, too many out there think we sit at our computers watching the money flow into our bank accounts, come out for a day with me and see what I do

From: Andrew townshend 08 August 2020 17:38 PM

@ md, yes risk, that is why most of us will not risk housing tenants on benefits, single mums and the under 25s, as in any business we are mindful of risk and are getting more and more careful of who we rent to, better an empty property than one with a freckless tenant in it.

From: Andrew townshend 08 August 2020 16:48 PM

'' Are people really that thick! '' Yes Paul they really are and most of them have uni degrees !

From: Andrew townshend 07 August 2020 15:46 PM

Yes, my accountant advised against it

From: Andrew townshend 07 August 2020 14:37 PM

Been there before, many times, total waste of time and effort even to apply, as soon as you mention the word grant the contractor's quote doubles .

From: Andrew townshend 07 August 2020 10:05 AM

Who wants to live in London ? not me that's for sure.

From: Andrew townshend 07 August 2020 10:00 AM

Going back to the 90s I had a few commercial properties with flats over them, they were a winner then, down to 2 now all the others I have converted to residential, I expect the remaining 2 will be going that way in the not too distant future .

From: Andrew townshend 07 August 2020 09:58 AM

Yes Paul, now I 'm on my second large Irish, so that is all for tonight mate.

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2020 21:26 PM

Now wouldn't that be a good idea !

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2020 20:59 PM

Nice idea Paul, and would work well, will never happen though .

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2020 20:56 PM

David I fully intend to continue as a landlord and I will decide who I rent my property to .

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2020 15:52 PM

David past experience, 30 yrs, have taught me that I am unlikely to get my rent paid by people on benefits, would you trust a bunch of travelers to tarmac your drive at home ? all boils down to the same thing, who we can trust and who we cannot.

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2020 09:18 AM

Well then Shelter may like to stand guarantor for those tenants ???

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2020 08:58 AM

So we cannot say NO DSS, but when they waste every one's time we can still say sorry not suitable without giving a reason.

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2020 08:25 AM

Well Yes Paul the lenders have been freckless but that is how lenders work until things start going wrong, I have had banks and lenders wanting to throw money at me, but I'm not that daft, and your last sentence, who will be housing all those tenants ? local councils are going to have a big problem aren't they ? not my problem though

From: Andrew townshend 05 August 2020 20:23 PM

Up to a point I do agree with you Lee, It is foolish to borrow too much, however tenants are expected to pay their rent, they signed the contract, private sector landlords are not charities .

From: Andrew townshend 05 August 2020 18:14 PM

Yes go after the rogue landlords by all means, please do, that will do us all a favor .

From: Andrew townshend 05 August 2020 09:00 AM

If it's anything like previous grants it will be a complete waste of time even bothering to apply.

From: Andrew townshend 05 August 2020 08:57 AM

I live in Norfolk, all my properties are within 30 miles of home, why would I want a property 100s of miles away what ever the yield.

From: Andrew townshend 03 August 2020 17:35 PM

You are right Paul there are jobs, just not the right sort of jobs for the ''entitled generation'' .

From: Andrew townshend 02 August 2020 08:58 AM

I got married in 81, bought an old cottage with no bathroom, toilet or kitchen, we lived in a caravan in the back garden through wind rain and snow, my money went on the renovation works while my wife's money kept us, 18 months down the road we had a nice home and no mortgage or borrowings, how many of the young would take that on today ? That's why their money goes on rent, the pub, eating out and holidays in the sun, their choice .

From: Andrew townshend 01 August 2020 12:18 PM

I could survive on HB, but I'm sure as hell not going to, on princible if nothing else.

From: Andrew townshend 31 July 2020 19:10 PM

If we see the drugs we have to report them, if we do not we also can be prosecuted

From: Andrew townshend 31 July 2020 15:09 PM

Perhaps demand varies around the country, but there seems to be a strong demand in and around Norwich

From: Andrew townshend 31 July 2020 09:20 AM

But Paul, you are forgetting something, generally HB falls quite a bit short of the rent, then when it is paid to the tenant will they pass it on to the LL, or if it is paid direct to the LL there is the risk of CLAW BACK sometimes yrs latter.

From: Andrew townshend 30 July 2020 18:00 PM

The game could be up for highly leveraged landlords, but those of us that own our properties are better placed to weather the storm, I've said for a long time we need to be very careful who we rent to, no benefits, no one under 25, no single mums and no all day curry eaters, better an empty property than a property with a rouge tenant in, and there are plenty of good tenants out there.

From: Andrew townshend 30 July 2020 15:02 PM

My tax return always is filed early normally before the end of May, no point putting these things off, done, sorted and out of the way until next yr

From: Andrew townshend 29 July 2020 09:17 AM

We all run our own businesses differently, with different methods, presently I have 15 good tenants, and one I would like to see the back of , but in fairness to her she is paying her rent, I will bend over backwards for good tenants, but take the P out of my good nature and watch out, red rag to a bull, I /we are not charities , and I too have no time for wimping lefties on here

From: Andrew townshend 28 July 2020 20:43 PM

Bit risky to assume property prices will increase with jobs going and businesses failing, banks don't like risk.

From: Andrew townshend 28 July 2020 09:35 AM

Not good times for highly leveraged LL who can no longer claim their tax relief, but optimistic times for the rest of us

From: Andrew townshend 28 July 2020 08:54 AM

With high loan to value mortgages a thing of the past GR will be renting for a long time to come, supply and demand means rents will increase in most areas , am I worried about the looming recession ? I've always done well in past recessions, cash will be king again.

From: Andrew townshend 28 July 2020 08:50 AM

Paul, interesting that you mentioned the 2nd world war, my Farther purchased government war stock, when he died in 1979 we sold it for less then he paid for it, when he purchased it he thought he was doing the right and proper thing, what a rip off.

From: Andrew townshend 27 July 2020 22:39 PM

Going back to the 90s I did illegally evict a couple of tenants, one I got away with the other got a solicitor on board, a local chap who was also a landlord, he suggested to his client that he might like compensation of £1000, that £1000 was worth every penny to get rid of that tenant, of course that £1000 was soon blown away on drink drugs and fags in less than a month and word was put out so that no other local landlord would touch him, will those times happen again?? well they might just.

From: Andrew townshend 27 July 2020 17:31 PM

Gave me a good laugh as well, I can just imagine the response if Norwich council (labour controlled ) came up with this one.

From: Andrew townshend 24 July 2020 09:44 AM

I have properties that I purchases in the 90s that are now worth 10x what I paid for them, why would I sell any of them, just keep taking the income, inheritance tax ? not my problem, I'll be dead, and my children will be getting something for nothing even after they have paid that tax.

From: Andrew townshend 24 July 2020 09:22 AM

This as been a trick played for a long time, build yourself a house, claim back the 20% VAT, move the family in, put the house on the market, sell and then do the same thing all over again, tax free, estate agents and conveyancing solicitors won't like it though because the number of houses being bought and sold will dry up.

From: Andrew townshend 24 July 2020 08:26 AM

There is an easy for the government to protect tenants from eviction, pay their rent for them.

From: Andrew townshend 23 July 2020 09:02 AM

@ A Bhalla, commercial properties are very different to residential properties when it comes to the kind of actions that you can and cannot take, had I have changed the locks on a residential property I would have been guilty of a criminal offence and been arrested, where rent is over due for more than 21 days on a commercial property I can enter in daylight hours, change the locks and leave a notice in the window, over the yrs I have done this many times, it never fails to get results.

From: Andrew townshend 22 July 2020 15:10 PM

I walk past mine regularly, walked past a shop a few yrs ago and saw it was closed with lots of condensation up the windows, an old Transit van parked up the road with a couple of dids sitting in it watching me, police were not interested in catching them, they just took all the plants away and I placed all the equipment outside, locks changed and that was that.

From: Andrew townshend 22 July 2020 10:10 AM

Increasing debt now, is that a good idea ?

From: Andrew townshend 21 July 2020 08:39 AM

I'm not getting too excited these grants are generally a total waste of everyone's time.

From: Andrew townshend 21 July 2020 08:37 AM

Other than 1 commercial tenant who cannot trade at present all are paying me, so I guess so far I have been lucky, I own all my properties with no borrowings so I'm in a strong position should some stop paying.

From: Andrew townshend 20 July 2020 10:13 AM

Back in the 90s I converted a house into 2 flats without PP, many local LL had done the same thing and got away with it, I was the one that did not get away with it, so the sensible thing to do was to immediately change it back to 1 house , I still have the house and it still rents well, no harm trying it on but if found out there is no point in fighting it as you are never going to win

From: Andrew townshend 20 July 2020 10:05 AM

I do agree Paul but anthony, you got something wrong their mate, I've had a couple of large whiskys tonight, how many have you had ?

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2020 21:16 PM

I'm not leveraged, I'm an old fashion Norfolk boy that was brought up to save first and buy for cash , I have been told many times that I'm doing it wrong, and I can see that in the past leveraged would have been the way to go, had I gone that way I would likely have had 50 properties today, but that would have been a lot for one 66 yr old hands on landlord to look after, maybe for those on here that are leveraged the way to go might be to sell just enough to pay off their borrowings then roll up their sleeves do their own cleaning, decorating and where possible repairs, PRS can and does work but it means work and not just sitting in an armchair watching the money roll into a bank account, I also get, and keep good tenants because I gain their respect for being the hands on landlord, of course my way would not suit everyone.

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2020 20:28 PM

I think this work from home is good and the way forward, I won't have a problem with any of my tenants working from home, then we can buy the redundant office space and convert them into flats.

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2020 14:43 PM

Where the gain is more than £11k, or £22k where jointly owned, surely it would be madness to sell, just keep taking the income.

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2020 13:56 PM

Surely where someone is '' vulnerable '' isn't it the councils responsibility to house them

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2020 13:53 PM

Not a good time to buy right now, wait until the end of the year or even next year, then buy for cash or with very small borrowings

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2020 13:34 PM

Possibly, not all HB tenants are bad ones, but so many are and the way things are the risk is just too high

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2020 19:52 PM

Jimmy, if I may call you that, Paul's properties are near London hence the cost, I'm in Norwich where a 2 bedroom Victorian terraced house would cost you around £600 - £700 a month it's all about area and market rents the same as second hand cars have a market price, the difference between a Ford and a Bentley , and no I don't drive a Bentley.

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2020 19:28 PM

Unfortunately myself and most other landlords have had so many problems with tenants on benefits it has become a blanket ban, give me a sure fire way of getting rid of nonpaying problem tenants quickly then myself and many other landlords might just risk a tenant on benefits, business, what ever the business is all about minimizing risk, it's a hard world out there and that's the way it is, once bittern twice shy

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2020 19:17 PM

For what it is worth I am one of very few landlords who will consider pets, presently I have 3 properties with pets, if the government want landlords to consider tenants on benefits they need to guarantee their rent payments or a fast track method of evicting non payers 2 months max, but lets face it that will never happen so most of us will still not be taking tenants on benefits

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2020 17:42 PM

Ask a solicitor to act for you in a legal case and he will consider taking the case on, he like everyone else is fully within his rights to say no, a builder, a car mechanic, etc can all say no as can a landlord, seems to me Mr Watkins you have a problem.

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2020 17:00 PM

Sorry Sue you are wrong there we don't have to rent a property to anyone that we don't consider suitable, we just cannot say no DSS , we still will not rent to them though as we know that the chances of getting the rent paid is low

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2020 10:26 AM

Why would I want to sell anything, just keep taking the income

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2020 09:42 AM

Who I rent to is my decision and mine alone , so the no DSS stands

From: Andrew townshend 15 July 2020 09:33 AM

Yes nail on head there NP we have all been caught, but we don't get caught twice do we ?

From: Andrew townshend 14 July 2020 21:33 PM

I'm with you on that one Paul, don't even bother reading comments from the likes of Mr Holland just an academic idiot with a useless piece of paper to his name from a useless university , Mr Holland will be the looser at the end of the day.

From: Andrew townshend 14 July 2020 20:39 PM

I have to agree Paul, we are awash with these academic idiots that got a piece of paper from some 2 bob university which in the real world means F*** ALL , speak 5 languages am I impressed am I hell, as thick as 2 short planks and no use to anyone .

From: Andrew townshend 14 July 2020 20:11 PM

We are not charities, homeless people make themselves homeless, it's self inflicted.

From: Andrew townshend 14 July 2020 08:59 AM

Of course it's common sense, the chances of getting the rent paid from tenants on benefits is low, and from past experience lower still where single mums are concerned , it's the councils responsibility to home these people

From: Andrew townshend 14 July 2020 08:53 AM

Most landlords and tenants get along just fine, I think Mr Edmunds you sound like a tenant that most of us on here would not want at any money, I've made a note of your name don't bother applying to rent from me I would rather have the property sit empty than have the likes of you in it.

From: Andrew townshend 13 July 2020 17:44 PM

Well David as I said to your other comment-- PRATT

From: Andrew townshend 13 July 2020 17:35 PM

@ DAVID EDMUNDS---PRATT !!

From: Andrew townshend 13 July 2020 17:28 PM

David, Robert's comment sums it up perfectly

From: Andrew townshend 13 July 2020 17:27 PM

Generally the standard of rental property is good, rouge landlords with poor properties cater for rouge tenants who get what they deserve .

From: Andrew townshend 13 July 2020 09:24 AM

Tenants terrified, why ? good tenants that have been paying their rent and behaving themselves have nothing to worry about.

From: Andrew townshend 13 July 2020 09:19 AM

I agree flats are not required, I only own 2 and those are above commercial properties where I own the freehold below, 2 / 3 bed houses are the winners. Stamp duty, in all the properties I have purchased over the past 40 yrs I have only ever paid SD once and that was the last one a terraced house in Lowestoft (most easterly town in GB) £74k with a sitting tenant.

From: Andrew townshend 10 July 2020 19:51 PM

I take what you are saying Paul but the price I paid for it all those yrs ago and the money I have earn from it, and continue to earn from it I really don't care if the time comes when I can no longer rent it I will just put it into an auction and take what ever I can get.

From: Andrew townshend 10 July 2020 15:21 PM

I'm still renting a property with an F rating, as it it would cost at least £14k to get it up to an E I got an exception last yr, tenants are happy in there 3 beds and paying less than £500 per month, I paid £13.5 k and spent less than £7k renovating it 25 yrs ago, so every one happy.

From: Andrew townshend 09 July 2020 19:14 PM

That is an interesting one, personally the way I see it they are existing tenants and can wait until 1 April 21 but others have told me otherwise .

From: Andrew townshend 09 July 2020 17:50 PM

The last time I looked into a grant towards a new boiler the contribution that I was asked to make was more than it cost me to buy a boiler and pay my plumber to fit it, needless to say I didn't bother with the grant.

From: Andrew townshend 09 July 2020 17:40 PM

The red tape involved and bull s**t will be a nightmare, it will end up just being a total waste of time to even apply.

From: Andrew townshend 09 July 2020 09:29 AM

As with any business the more we are taxed, the more costs and the more red tape we are hit with the more we pass on to the end user, in our case that's the tenant.

From: Andrew townshend 08 July 2020 21:21 PM

Fine Ken, our views differ, I still say it's a mug that rents.

From: Andrew townshend 08 July 2020 20:08 PM

@ Fred, the best way to buy a BTL is to pay cash for it and own it yourself

From: Andrew townshend 08 July 2020 20:06 PM

Agreed, that's exactly what will happen, but I have a good electrician who I have been using for more than 10 yrs now that I trust, same with the guy that MOTs my cars been using him for more than 20 yrs, better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

From: Andrew townshend 07 July 2020 09:24 AM

Competent would be some one able to do the job, where as qualified would be someone who has trained to do the job, ie I expect you could change the oil in your car, where as a mechanic has been trained to do that job. A student could come out of uni with a law degree, doesn't mean he is able to do that job he just has a piece of paper saying he has done the course

From: Andrew townshend 07 July 2020 07:50 AM

Prime example Robert, I am one of very few landlords in my area that will consider tenants with pets, they paid an extra deposit which was fully refunded if the property was returned in a decent condition, now I charge a higher rent , who loses out? yes the tenant , makes you wounder about these so called intelligent people in our government with their private educations and uni degrees, THICK AS S**T the lot of them.

From: Andrew townshend 06 July 2020 20:19 PM

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

From: Andrew townshend 06 July 2020 17:23 PM

The only tenants in danger here are the ones that shouldn't be there, evict them then please tell us who they are so we don't get them.

From: Andrew townshend 06 July 2020 09:07 AM

Pass the cost onto the landlord and the landlord will pass the cost straight back on to the tenant, not rocket science is it ?

From: Andrew townshend 06 July 2020 09:04 AM

Tenant taking the p*** get rid of them ASAP

From: Andrew townshend 03 July 2020 20:07 PM

I agree with Paul I would enter as an emergency inspection, further more if they have not returned the keys and their food is still in the fridge they are still due to pay the rent, money claim online for the rent due will earn them a CCJ which will screw up their mortgage application nicely, never let a rouge tenant walk all over you on princible if nothing else.

From: Andrew townshend 01 July 2020 14:25 PM

The days of the high loan to value mortgage are over, in order to get a mortgage now FTB will need a much bigger deposit, a good secure well paid job and a squeaky clean credit history, no shortage of good quality tenants out there for our properties.

From: Andrew townshend 30 June 2020 17:30 PM

Increasing debt to build a war chest ? sounds plain daft to me.

From: Andrew townshend 30 June 2020 17:23 PM

I can afford to pay it in July so I will.

From: Andrew townshend 29 June 2020 08:47 AM

Agreed, same as all business have to do.

From: Andrew townshend 29 June 2020 08:44 AM

No credit history is as bad as a bad credit history, I told all my children to get a credit card as soon as they were 18 and to pay it off in full every month, they have all earn't themselves good credit histories.

From: Andrew townshend 27 June 2020 10:17 AM

I was one of very few landlords in my area that would consider pets with an increased deposit, now I ask for an increased rent, which goes down like a lead balloon

From: Andrew townshend 26 June 2020 16:36 PM

In the insurance game the higher the risk the higher the cost, not that much different in our game is it.

From: Andrew townshend 26 June 2020 16:31 PM

When it comes to the danger of fires it's the council and H A properties that are the worst offenders, now that would be funny, ONLY IT IS NOT FUNNY AT ALL !

From: Andrew townshend 26 June 2020 16:27 PM

As I've said before I don't rent to students, not since the 90s, however if I did, no suitable guarantors no tenancy, simple.

From: Andrew townshend 26 June 2020 16:22 PM

He was given the chance to carry out the works, so why didn't he do them, it's landlords like this that do the rest of us no favors .

From: Andrew townshend 26 June 2020 09:48 AM

Just like school teachers then, if it's safe for the bus driver then it's safe for the rest of us, sensible precautions and get back to work.

From: Andrew townshend 26 June 2020 09:45 AM

Maybe I have just been lucky, other than one long term commercial tenant unable to trade at present every one else is paying, maybe this rent arrears problem is more likely in London.

From: Andrew townshend 26 June 2020 09:38 AM

Highly geared portfolios looked impressive when times were good a few years ago, now they will bankrupt those that borrowed too much.

From: Andrew townshend 24 June 2020 08:10 AM

Sensible percentage being the all important term here.

From: Andrew townshend 23 June 2020 09:54 AM

If their belongings are still there they have not vacated, rent still due, money claim on line.

From: Andrew townshend 22 June 2020 19:56 PM

The last sentence '' the government has asked for landlords to be understanding towards tenants during these times'', hows about the government being understand towards landlords during these times ?? or are we on that old one way street again.

From: Andrew townshend 22 June 2020 19:45 PM

Another good reason not to buy leasehold flats

From: Andrew townshend 22 June 2020 18:29 PM

The universities broke their contract with the students so it follows that the students have a claim against them for all loses uncured, which must include rent, I have not rented to students since the 90s, they and their middle class snub parents aren't worth the bother

From: Andrew townshend 22 June 2020 18:22 PM

While you cannot evict her at present nothing stopping you doing a money claim online for the money she does owe you, £60 last time I done one and dead easy to do, if she doesn't pay up it will earn her a CCJ , might just wake her up to reality .

From: Andrew townshend 22 June 2020 09:00 AM

Agreed, but building control is the local council.

From: Andrew townshend 21 June 2020 19:13 PM

I've looked at buying leasehold flats in the past, but on reading the lease terms have always decided not to buy.

From: Andrew townshend 20 June 2020 09:08 AM

And in this case the freeholder was the COUNCIL ! but no action taken there, stinks doesn't it.

From: Andrew townshend 20 June 2020 09:04 AM

I've always refereed to s 21 as the accelerated eviction, when we have a rouge tenant we want them out asap and s 21 is the quickest way

From: Andrew townshend 19 June 2020 15:01 PM

Because Lee our costs are increasing all the time, as with any business it's the end user that pays, and in this case that's the poor tenant, don't blame me, blame the government.

From: Andrew townshend 19 June 2020 14:55 PM

Agreed, building control officers were negligent but will anything be done about that ? of course not .

From: Andrew townshend 19 June 2020 14:51 PM

Here in Norwich we are doing well, but I can see London being hit

From: Andrew townshend 18 June 2020 08:39 AM

Buying leasehold is a mugs game.

From: Andrew townshend 17 June 2020 19:50 PM

Not totally powerless Nial, you cannot evict, but you can money claim online, £60 last time I done it, if they don't pay they get a CCJ , might just wake them up to reality, if not though you will have the satisfaction in knowing that next time they look to rent a property most landlords will not touch them.

From: Andrew townshend 16 June 2020 16:19 PM

I would rather an empty property than a property with a rouge tenant in, so will be very selective now when looking for new tenants, no benefit claimants, no single mums, no one under 25 and a good guarantor where possible, leave rouge tenants to councils to home, their problem, not mine.

From: Andrew townshend 16 June 2020 16:12 PM

Why do we evict tenants? the main reason is unpaid rent.

From: Andrew townshend 16 June 2020 09:11 AM

I don't agree John, BTL still works when it is done properly, the '' flash with no cash '' element who have high borrowings may well lose their shirts, the more government and councils put in our way the more rents increase, it's the end user that pays, isn't that true of any business.

From: Andrew townshend 15 June 2020 15:32 PM

The ''I'm entitled generation '' , Don't knock them though, it's mugs like them that keep us wealthy.

From: Andrew townshend 15 June 2020 14:20 PM

Agreed, better just to pay it as normal and not draw attention to your self where HMRC are concerned

From: Andrew townshend 13 June 2020 10:15 AM

Where will you get a worthwhile return over just 6 months ?

From: Andrew townshend 12 June 2020 18:18 PM

Maybe in London it will be different, Here in Norwich I don't think it will be much different for me, all my residential tenants have been paying, one commercial tenant has not been able to, but I'm cool with that, I have no borrowings so I'm in a strong position, in fact with the landlords that do go, and the fact that first time buyers are going to find getting a mortgage near on impossible I think there will be more quality tenants for us to chose from, but we shall see, I may be proved wrong, we don't know do we? wait and see

From: Andrew townshend 12 June 2020 18:15 PM

I shall be paying my tax in July as normal.

From: Andrew townshend 12 June 2020 08:58 AM

No different to what it was before CV19

From: Andrew townshend 12 June 2020 08:56 AM

And I've also been buying , selling and renting since the 80s as well Darren.

From: Andrew townshend 11 June 2020 14:46 PM

I have a Baxi and a Worster that are both 25 yrs old and still going strong, then there is the 7 yr old Vaillant that I had to replace last yr, new boilers just like new cars are rubbish

From: Andrew townshend 11 June 2020 14:33 PM

I've had plenty of experience of solicitors making mountains out of mole hills, probably bought and sold more property than you have had hot dinners old chap. @ Darren, that's before they start adding the extras

From: Andrew townshend 11 June 2020 14:26 PM

I'm glad you got the full asking price, Oxford, a good area, hope it all goes through okay, some solicitors drag these things out to increase their bills, I do however think by the end of the year there will be many desperate sellers, Nov / Dec have always seemed a good time to buy for me.

From: Andrew townshend 11 June 2020 09:53 AM

Boiler Plan ? tried something similar a couple of yrs ago when the plumber I had been using for the past 20 yrs retired, complete and utter waste of time, effort, and money, found another reliable local plumber.

From: Andrew townshend 11 June 2020 09:28 AM

I think it will be a good time to buy latter in the year,'' bid them in the balls '' they can only say no, stand your ground the desperate will sell at what ever money they can get.

From: Andrew townshend 11 June 2020 09:23 AM

Well I have just read in the Telegraph that London rents are 8% down, rent and demand seems to be holding up in Norwich though, I had 1 property empty before the lock down and one that became empty during the lock down, both now relet, one at the same rent and the other at an increased rent, demand is there, marriage / partner break up, and the end of high loan to value mortgages means generation rent will continue to rent.

From: Andrew townshend 11 June 2020 09:19 AM

I agree Anthony, but only where the problems are genuine , I think you will find in many cases the problems will not be genuine, just a tenant trying to get out of paying their rent, which for a few months they will get away with, until the truth comes out, which it will, then an eviction, a CCJ, and no deceit landlord will touch them for the next 6 yrs at least , tenants trying it on need to think first because they could well be sleeping in shop door ways next winter.

From: Andrew townshend 10 June 2020 20:38 PM

Many of us are perfectly compartment to carry out these checks ourselves, 30 yrs ago I fitted a full LPG heating system in my house, including the boiler and gas pipe work, never leaked, caught fire or gassed anyone.

From: Andrew townshend 10 June 2020 12:34 PM

Depends where, Norwich is doing well at present.

From: Andrew townshend 10 June 2020 08:24 AM

Don't take it to hart Micheal, Mr Sutton is just a first class prat out to wind us up, ignore him and ignore that prat Seb as well.

From: Andrew townshend 09 June 2020 21:23 PM

David, I agree business is business, and having been self employed since 1977 I have learn't a lot along the way, and what I have learn't has been to harden up, but there still good people out there that you can put trust in and there are those that deserve everything that is coming to them, treat me right and I will be your friend, cross me, take advantage of my good nature and I will hound you all the way to hell on earth, yes I do bear a grudge.

From: Andrew townshend 09 June 2020 20:47 PM

I've just gained 2 new tenants due to partnership break ups, expect there will be lots of them

From: Andrew townshend 09 June 2020 16:33 PM

A good tenant is worth keeping even if they are paying a little under market rent.

From: Andrew townshend 09 June 2020 16:30 PM

Seb, the eviction process is not the same, lenders can get occupiers out much quicker and easier .

From: Andrew townshend 08 June 2020 16:45 PM

@ Seb, it is not the same, when a property is reprocessed by a lender they can have the occupiers out in days

From: Andrew townshend 08 June 2020 16:34 PM

The ones that pay their rent will be secure, the ones that do not will feel secure for a couple more months, but after that ??

From: Andrew townshend 08 June 2020 09:33 AM

Paul always has a lot to say on here and 99% of the time he's spot on right, a man who tells it as it is please or offend, maybe when he sells his properties and retires he'll sit down and write a best seller, then we can all say we knew that man Mr Barrett.

From: Andrew townshend 05 June 2020 14:35 PM

And now another newly single, a guy this time, due to move in in 2 wks, will then be fully let again, all these marriage / partner break ups due in the main to lock down, good news for us landlords.

From: Andrew townshend 03 June 2020 19:47 PM

Well I have just been paid 2/3 of the rent due with a promise of the balance due by Tuesday, so good on her so far

From: Andrew townshend 03 June 2020 19:35 PM

Well I have just one that has not paid this month, she has until the 25th to pay then the eviction process will begin .

From: Andrew townshend 03 June 2020 09:05 AM

Early days to say bounces back, no doubt there will be many marriage break up brought about by this lock down, I have a newly single lady moving into a property tomorrow.

From: Andrew townshend 03 June 2020 09:01 AM

An annex is normally charged council tax at a 50% discount, but is often restricted to family members .

From: Andrew townshend 02 June 2020 16:33 PM

BTL is still a good investment vehicle if done properly , buy for cash, or very low LTV (less than 50% LTV) buy locally where you can keep an eye on what's going on, be prepared to get your hands dirty cleaning, painting and repairs, take a long term view, and be very careful who you rent to, no students, no one under 25, no single mums, no one on benefits, and no all day curry eaters, oh yes and avoid London at all costs.

From: Andrew townshend 02 June 2020 16:29 PM

No where does the law say the tenant does not have to pay, it just says that at present we have to delay evictions

From: Andrew townshend 01 June 2020 17:20 PM

Yes if only we could have a black list online so we could quickly check

From: Andrew townshend 01 June 2020 17:15 PM

No David that is not the way it should be and it is not fair on both parties.

From: Andrew townshend 01 June 2020 17:12 PM

Non payment of rent is a civil matter, drive away from a petrol station without paying is a criminal matter, both theft so why the difference?

From: Andrew townshend 01 June 2020 10:21 AM

Gov' haven't a clue, fish out of water, all public school boys with useless uni degrees, no business sense, no common sense, no hope , some one should come up with a ''real world uni course'' but who would teach it ? more pricks with useless uni degrees.

From: Andrew townshend 29 May 2020 21:42 PM

Paul, anyone going into BTL for CG is a total fool, CG is a bonus if it happens, BTL is for the % return on the purchase price, I aim for 6% but am happy with 5% or even 4% , more than any return I will get from any bank account, and a CG only happens when you sell, I don't look to sell, all I want is a % return on my hard earn't cash.

From: Andrew townshend 29 May 2020 21:28 PM

That's good advice is it? money claim online, at a cost of around £60 to the landlord == a CCJ on the tenants credit history for the next 6 yrs, mmm a clever move ?

From: Andrew townshend 29 May 2020 09:35 AM

I fully expect rents will drop in London, but for the rest of us I doubt there will be little change, I accepted an offer of £525 on a property that was advertised at £550 yesterday, which had previously been let at £525 so I'm happy with that, maybe we will need to add a bit on to take a bit off.

From: Andrew townshend 29 May 2020 08:55 AM

I've always seen property as a sound investment, it's not let me down yet, but it has to be looked at long term, it's not a get rich quick investment and there will always be ups and downs along the way, the mistakes that I've seen some people make are borrowing too much in order to run before they can walk, buying property a long way from their home, and the armchair landlords that are afraid of getting their hands dirty.

From: Andrew townshend 28 May 2020 09:05 AM

''Students disabuse themselves'' ? will never happen, have you ever met a student without a chip on their shoulder, and as for their parents mostly fall into the flash with no cash bracket, rent to a dustman or a road sweeper, nicer people and much better tenants.

From: Andrew townshend 27 May 2020 09:28 AM

Squatters in a residential property - a criminal offence, doubt police will do much though, bailiffs, the sheriffs office might have some ideas though, worth a phone call , or just go round there with a couple of heavies and throw them out of an up stairs window, after all what are they going to do about , treat people as they treat you.

From: Andrew townshend 26 May 2020 17:54 PM

I stopped renting to students in the 90s, just not worth the bother when there is no shortage of decent working tenants out there, as I understand things most student landlords insist on guarantors, I would simply go after the guarantors and not under any circumstances let them get away with it, I also wounder if our friend here is really a solicitor.

From: Andrew townshend 26 May 2020 16:23 PM

I think there will be bargains to be had towards the end of this year, but long term capital values will increase as they always do

From: Andrew townshend 26 May 2020 08:24 AM

Absolutely right does not matter who the tenant is or what they do for a living , no rent = no home.

From: Andrew townshend 25 May 2020 12:55 PM

I use a tenancy agreement from Eastern Landlords Assoc, 4 pages, simple, straight forward and says all it needs to.

From: Andrew townshend 25 May 2020 12:51 PM

How many tenants ever read their tenancy agreement either before signing or after, many tenant copies get filed in the bin as soon as they move in.

From: Andrew townshend 25 May 2020 10:20 AM

I know of a student landlord that pays for all the windows to be cleaned every couple of months, that way he gets feed back ''what the window cleaner saw''

From: Andrew townshend 22 May 2020 08:03 AM

I have found an easy answer, simply not to read comments from certain people on here, job done

From: Andrew townshend 21 May 2020 17:01 PM

If I'm not round the same day then I am defiantly round the next day, all my properties are within a 30 mile radius of my home.

From: Andrew townshend 21 May 2020 16:52 PM

Expect you could be right Mark, so glad I'm not in London, just a Norfolk boy, and yes they could drop around here, but not like they will in London.

From: Andrew townshend 19 May 2020 09:43 AM

Richard you are right not to buy now if you are borrowing to do so, better to get your borrowings reduced first, this buying opportunity is for cash buyers only.

From: Andrew townshend 19 May 2020 09:37 AM

I don't rent to students, learnt my lesson there yrs ago, only my opinion but I think I would issue'' money claims online'' to tenants and the guarantor, only £60 to do last time I issued one, and dead easy, no need to get a solicitor involved , they would soon be contacting you then, go for it Daniela these sort of people must not be allowed to get away with it.

From: Andrew townshend 19 May 2020 09:33 AM

Investing in property rather than a private pension was the best thing I done, buy for cash, or keep borrowings to a minimum, and pay them off ASAP , and take a long term view, I was buying in the 90 - 97 period, corner shops and run down terraced houses out of auction rooms in Norwich 15 - 25k a time, but even then people were saying that I was mad to be doing so, my solicitor once said to me why don't you let me know before you go to an auction, my answer, because you would try and talk me out of it. Gut feeling has always worked for me.

From: Andrew townshend 19 May 2020 09:24 AM

I had some brilliant bank managers in the 80s and 90s, but times change, bank managers today all seem to be wet behind the ears, the only way now is to own our properties, no borrowings

From: Andrew townshend 18 May 2020 19:31 PM

Revenge is sweet isn't it David, throw them out and screw their credit history, plenty good enough

From: Andrew townshend 18 May 2020 19:26 PM

If you have any around the Norwich area I could be interested at the right price, always buy in a falling market

From: Andrew townshend 18 May 2020 19:22 PM

@Robert, agree totally, I buy when people tell me not to, but always buy for cash, over 30 yrs now, not gone wrong yet, no regrets

From: Andrew townshend 18 May 2020 19:20 PM

Dennis, please don't take this the wrong way but I'm a landlord of more than 30 yrs now, been there, seen it all and got the tee shirt, but there are no shortage of very good decent working tenants out there just be very selective of the tenants you let to and then these problems don't arise too often, no DSS , no single mums, no one under 25, and no curry eaters

From: Andrew townshend 18 May 2020 19:16 PM

Come on Steve, see the funny side and laugh at this idiot.

From: Andrew townshend 14 May 2020 20:34 PM

Agreed Laura, that's why few of us will touch anyone on benefits, just not worth the risk.

From: Andrew townshend 14 May 2020 17:48 PM

I've stopped reading comments from Seb, complete idiot.

From: Andrew townshend 13 May 2020 18:26 PM

Oh that's alright the unions will be paying the rent, after all they are wealthy enough to do so, staff being paid £100k+ a year.

From: Andrew townshend 13 May 2020 09:17 AM

Agreed there, strange isn't it.

From: Andrew townshend 13 May 2020 09:00 AM

Help the tenant, in genuine cases of hardship where the tenant has been good up to now then yes possibly , but of course there will be many tenants just trying it on here.

From: Andrew townshend 13 May 2020 08:57 AM

@John Hughes, well said mate I've been thinking just that, bitter and twisted Seb.

From: Andrew townshend 13 May 2020 07:55 AM

There are some really good agents out there, then of course there are the chocolate tea pots ' generally best to avoid the big nationals as most of their staff are still wet behind the ears.

From: Andrew townshend 12 May 2020 16:46 PM

Being a bit of a prat again Seb ??

From: Andrew townshend 12 May 2020 16:39 PM

Chip on shoulder Ray, many landlords own their properties without borrowings, I like many others got into it in the 80s and 90s because we didn't like private pensions it's worked really well for me and many other babyboomers, a few of the ' flash with no cash' landlords may go bust, but the rest of us with real money in our pockets will be in the auction rooms buying their properties.

From: Andrew townshend 12 May 2020 16:30 PM

Paul, you and I were brought up to save and pay our way, the young of today live the lifestyle from one payday to the next, and yes the just in time lifestyle, in fact many middle aged people live that lifestyle as well, these people are our customers because they will never own property, their fault, their problem, but we benefit from these mugs, without them we would not have tenants, so far other than 1 commercial tenant all are paying me in full, the 1 commercial tenant that cannot pay me at present has been an excellent tenant of mine for over 25 yrs so I will trust her and I want to keep her as a tenant.

From: Andrew townshend 11 May 2020 22:32 PM

@ Sebastian, firstly I like to be able to trust people which generally pays off, however abuse my trust and they become feckless, Sebastian I think you understand very little chap.

From: Andrew townshend 11 May 2020 21:01 PM

I treat people as they treat me and can see nothing wrong with that.

From: Andrew townshend 11 May 2020 20:00 PM

Yes Paul push us too far and it could happen.

From: Andrew townshend 11 May 2020 19:12 PM

We'll just have to take the law into our own hands again just as we did in the 80s and 90s

From: Andrew townshend 11 May 2020 17:48 PM

Travel to and from work is allowed so long as work cannot be done from home, I have been traveling a 30 mile round trip to and from Norwich painting, renovating and up dating 2 empty properties since Easter and fully intend to carry on doing so.

From: Andrew townshend 09 May 2020 16:34 PM

I like the countryside all year round, winter included, but doesn't suit all.

From: Andrew townshend 08 May 2020 11:16 AM

Yes agreed Paul, just done my tax return, accountant working from home, renewed my property insurance, broker working from home, Letting agent also working from home, no problems at all, many will carry on working from home, what's not to like, less office space, less people traveling to and from work, another nail in the coffin for the high street

From: Andrew townshend 08 May 2020 11:14 AM

I'm surprised by the 75% loan to value, would have thought it wiser to go 50 - 60 % max at present, but then the best way now is not to borrow at all.

From: Andrew townshend 08 May 2020 10:41 AM

Be very careful when using an agent, one I use in Norwich is very good, rent paid into my bank a/c same day they receive it, the other agent I use (only one property left with them now) payments are getting later and later, now 18 days late, I have been promised a payment by Monday, I have to carry out a small repair on the property next week and will be having a chat to the tenants who have been there a long time and always paid, I think there will be a good few agents going bust in the not too distant future

From: Andrew townshend 08 May 2020 10:35 AM

'The Guild of Property Professionals' sounds like a load of bull s**t to me.

From: Andrew townshend 07 May 2020 09:21 AM

That's students for you, I stopped renting to them in the 90s, very little between the ears, think they know the lot, in reality they know F all

From: Andrew townshend 06 May 2020 20:47 PM

Kate, I had an excellent solicitor for over 30 yrs (he was also a landlord both residential and commercial ) he retired a couple of yrs ago, all I can find now are chocolate teapots universities turn out academic idiots now complete waste of time, but that is now true of anything that comes out of a uni now, doctors, teachers all of them .

From: Andrew townshend 06 May 2020 20:43 PM

I disagree David if they have been good tenants and are honest then they deserve a chance at least, however if they do not start to make the short fall up then they do need to go fast, I know all my tenants and 15 out of the 16 I would like to keep and would give them a chance.

From: Andrew townshend 06 May 2020 09:36 AM

@Sebastian, a very big difference, a good tenant is someone that you can trust and that will repay, a bad tenant is someone that you cannot trust and will not make up the shortfall', thankfully most will fall into the good bracket, but their will still be a lot that will not

From: Andrew townshend 06 May 2020 09:29 AM

Interest free ??

From: Andrew townshend 06 May 2020 09:21 AM

Total waste of time, a good tenant would repay the shortfall slowly over a period of time, some will be out in the cold next winter and wonder why.

From: Andrew townshend 06 May 2020 09:09 AM

Michael, I come from the same generation, but was lucky my take home pay as a HGV fitter was £30 per wk, my first house was a derelict small cottage in Norfolk which myself and girlfriend ( now wife) spent every wk end and every bank holiday renovating with our own hands, like to see the snowflakes of today doing that, but hey ho us baby boomers had it easy, or that's what people keep telling us

From: Andrew townshend 03 May 2020 14:20 PM

But we can increase the rent every 12 months by means of sec 13, so why does the abolition of sec 21 make for rent controls, the only effect the loss of sec 21 is going to have is that we are all going to be very careful who we rent to and in many cases are going to require a guarantor to sign up, the tax issue only really affects landlords with mortgages, many of us own our properties without borrowings.

From: Andrew townshend 03 May 2020 13:07 PM

Feckless ? there good tenants, I currently have 15 out of 16 that I rate as good, and then there are bad, rouge, feckless tenants, call them what you like they are what they are and only have themselves to blame.

From: Andrew townshend 02 May 2020 11:52 AM

Us baby boomers always went for home ownership, but then we were never workshy, we saved, we went without the flash new cars on the drip, the continental holidays in the sun, etc etc etc, Few snowflakes will ever own own property unless someone gives it to them, their problem, self inflicted fools, that keep us landlords wealthy

From: Andrew townshend 01 May 2020 17:07 PM

No need to worry there David we all know it will never happen, however it has to be remembered that extra costs forced onto landlords doesn't make landlords poorer, it just makes tenants poorer.

From: Andrew townshend 01 May 2020 15:12 PM

Sticks and stones Laura, we are the ones laughing all the way to the bank, so they can call me what they like.

From: Andrew townshend 29 April 2020 16:55 PM

Agreed, I never renew an AST I just let them roll over and use S13 to increase rents when necessary.

From: Andrew townshend 29 April 2020 08:31 AM

@ Elina, there are many ways to trace people, I always insist on proof of a new tenant's NI number, this makes tracing them easy, as I have often said before it's not the money, it's the princible .

From: Andrew townshend 26 April 2020 14:49 PM

Sheriff's office also very helpful find them online they have imfo online that you can down load free

From: Andrew townshend 25 April 2020 10:44 AM

Personally I think I would do the money claim now, you don't need a solicitor for that, never know it might just wake the guy up, you don't need solicitors for sec 21 or sec 8 either, plenty of help online, I 'm a member of Eastern Landlords in Norwich £70 per year, tax deductible and worth every penny, they have always been there for me with sound advice and help, don't know where you are in the country but I expect there is a good landlord assoc somewhere near, don't bother with the big nationals they are about as much use as a chocolate teapot .

From: Andrew townshend 25 April 2020 10:39 AM

These kind of tenants tend to go quite and sweep things under the carpet, but when evicted we are the rouges, for the sake of £60 issue a money claim online, easy to do, he will ignore it, doubt you will get your money, but you will have the satisfaction in knowing he has earned himself a CCJ and with that on his record few landlords will even consider him as a tenant, revenge is sweet.

From: Andrew townshend 25 April 2020 10:11 AM

You don't know what ''trying it on means'' ? you must have lead a very sheltered life!

From: Andrew townshend 22 April 2020 16:38 PM

Only had one so far, a commercial let, the lady has been an excellent tenant for over 25 yrs, so of course I agreed, but if I get any trying it on then they can rest assured that they will be on the streets in time for next winter.

From: Andrew townshend 22 April 2020 09:54 AM

Good, if the agent doesn't like it invite him to take you to court, he would be laughed out of court if he were stupid enough to try it, which of course he won't.

From: Andrew townshend 20 April 2020 15:48 PM

Sounds to me as if the agent has already broken this agreement, I would be talking to the tenants direct.

From: Andrew townshend 20 April 2020 08:13 AM

Making a residential mortgage more risky for the lender, few first time buyers are going to qualify for a mortgage and gone will be the 10% deposit, some lenders are now talking about 30 - 40 % down, so more good quality working tenants for us, win win hopefully.

From: Andrew townshend 19 April 2020 09:31 AM

@Tim, surely if their processions are still in their room they should be paying you rent

From: Andrew townshend 18 April 2020 16:14 PM

Polling on behalf of the Guardian, well we can ignore that then, will be far from the truth.

From: Andrew townshend 17 April 2020 08:20 AM

@ Paul B, unearned income ? I spent most of last year, and this year so far, cleaning, repairing, upgrading and decorating properties, yes me, I, myself in there getting dirty doing it, unearned income ?, my backside!

From: Andrew townshend 16 April 2020 09:23 AM

Just like the stock market you buy in bad times, but with your own money not the banks, done that in early 90s, auction rooms empty and builders with no work, many people told me I was mad, who had the last laugh ?

From: Andrew townshend 16 April 2020 09:14 AM

Just watch those homeless figures rocket in time for the cold winter of 2021

From: Andrew townshend 16 April 2020 09:09 AM

I cannot see any reason for not increasing the rent

From: Andrew townshend 16 April 2020 09:06 AM

Directline are a very bad insurance company and best avoided at all costs, they are also behind the green flag recovery insurance.

From: Andrew townshend 15 April 2020 08:23 AM

The government could lead by example by stopping all collection of council tax, business rates, vat and income tax, come on lets be signing that petition to force the government to act.

From: Andrew townshend 15 April 2020 08:16 AM

It will not just be BTL mortgages being with drawn, home owner mortgages will also be withdrawn, mortgages and loans for all will be very much harder to get and deposits will be very much higher, which is no bad thing, too many people living on credit has to change now.

From: Andrew townshend 15 April 2020 08:11 AM

The writer of that article seems to be saying that the rent we receive is 100% profit, we don't have costs, insurance, accountants fees and repairs, many landlords have large mortgage payments to make as well. The answer here might be to agree a short term rent reduction but only in genuine hardship cases, and the arrears to be made good by a short term rent increase when this lock down is lifted

From: Andrew townshend 15 April 2020 08:04 AM

Slightly off topic but collected some coal today, good chap and has some investment properties ( residential and commercial) anyway tenant in shop, very high class expensive gentleman's clothing, 3 wks ago when he had to close announced that he would not be paying his rent, but did not want to loose his shop, this guy (the tenant) drives a Porsche, his wife drives a range rover taking the 'P' or what ? bet both cars are leased, FLASH WITH NO CASH oh isn't this going to sort the men from the boys.

From: Andrew townshend 14 April 2020 21:06 PM

I done student lets at one of my properties for a couple of yrs in the 90s, too much grief, stopped that, I now go for working people over 25 and no single mums, oh and no all day curry eaters either, too much mess and smell.

From: Andrew townshend 14 April 2020 17:10 PM

So accountants, solicitors, councils, vat, etc etc will also be reducing their charges by 25% then, don't take us for mugs.

From: Andrew townshend 14 April 2020 08:56 AM

75% LTV seems a bit risky to me, 50 - 60 % would seem more sensible now, but then the best way is not to borrow at all.

From: Andrew townshend 13 April 2020 09:57 AM

Good tenants who don't try to take the 'P' have nothing to worry about, why would any landlord want to loose a 'good' tenant, there will be many tenants that will try it on, fools to themselves at the end of the day they are the ones that will loose out

From: Andrew townshend 10 April 2020 19:54 PM

Maybe explain to the tenant rent is not being passed on and ask the tenant to pay you direct, there have been many cases of rouge agents pocketing the rent, are the agents a ltd company and about to go bust, sounds like it.

From: Andrew townshend 10 April 2020 17:31 PM

Nothing personal just business, like the garage that will not let you drive your car away until the bill has been paid in full, there is a heating company here in Norwich who will not service a boiler unless payment has been made before the engineer leaves their yard to do the job, there are so many people in all walks of life that think they do not have to pay the bill which has made us all hard, sad but true.

From: Andrew townshend 10 April 2020 17:04 PM

I think we will be looking at more than 14%, my guess would be a figure approaching double that

From: Andrew townshend 10 April 2020 11:30 AM

All this is going to have to be paid for some how, income tax, vat increases in the near future.

From: Andrew townshend 10 April 2020 09:41 AM

An estate agent, well of course he would say that, he could be out of a job and bankrupt in a couple of months most of them operate on a shoe string driving the flash cars on lease, auctions are going to be busy selling off all these re possessed cars and houses.

From: Andrew townshend 10 April 2020 09:37 AM

Some will just sweep it under the carpet and adopt the attitude'' can't pay won't pay''-- then we take the attitude '' can't pay we take it away ''

From: Andrew townshend 10 April 2020 09:31 AM

@ Lee, ''feckless'' the word does sum up a certain element in society today quite well, would you not agree ?

From: Andrew townshend 09 April 2020 17:32 PM

Matthew, where were you in 1989/90 ?

From: Andrew townshend 09 April 2020 14:52 PM

They will fall, that's not rocket science is it? 38% seems a very precise figure, I think the fall in sales will be much higher than that.

From: Andrew townshend 09 April 2020 09:46 AM

Maybe a few forced sales in the auction rooms, back to 1990 when the bargains were out there with very few buyers

From: Andrew townshend 09 April 2020 09:42 AM

Not much is going to happen while we are in lock down, buying, selling, renting is going to be slow for the rest of this year, will certainly sort the men from the boys.

From: Andrew townshend 09 April 2020 09:38 AM

I think property has been over valued for sometime and this is the straw that will break the camels back, added to that large mortgages will be hard to get which will hit the young first time buyer hard, just like shares the lose in value is only a figure on paper, it is only a true lose if or when you sell.

From: Andrew townshend 09 April 2020 09:28 AM

Money claim on line for the monies due, tenant gets a CCJ , she might just wake up, do not put it off, do it now.

From: Andrew townshend 09 April 2020 08:39 AM

Just let her go Rachel, you are well rid, you will have no problem re letting that spare room.

From: Andrew townshend 08 April 2020 21:37 PM

Spot on Paul, but snowflakes and the '' I'm entitled generation will never see it that way''', my first home cost me £5k in 1979, small and derelict, 2 yrs later I sold it for £11k went to an auction and bought another derelict property, cost me £22k I borrowed £3 k from Bank over 3 yrs, had it payed off in 1 yr, lived in a caravan in back garden while renovating , done more since and lived in more caravans, today it is fair to say that I am a wealthy man, nice home, 16 rented properties and no borrowings, work, work, going without, driving beat up old vans has got me here, and you know what, I have enjoyed the journey all the way, and I still buy derelict properties at auction and get in there myself, odd guy? yes but that is me, no time for wingers like that spoil brat Kate

From: Andrew townshend 08 April 2020 21:28 PM

That's what my old accountant always told me '' cash is king'', many yrs ago a ''proper'' bank manager once said to me '' borrow money to make money boy, don't borrow money to sustain a false life style'' all very good advise, loans and mortgages are going to be very hard to get now, and that is no bad thing, 50% in 50% borrowed max, just common sense isn't it ?

From: Andrew townshend 08 April 2020 19:49 PM

Sounds to me like someone trying to talk the market up, after this banks will want much larger deposits the risks are just too great for them and who can blame them, as I have said before large mortgages are a mugs game, too many people have been living a false life style on too much debt, time for a change.

From: Andrew townshend 08 April 2020 09:30 AM

But Paul you I and everyone else know that they are fools to themselves only long term

From: Andrew townshend 07 April 2020 22:33 PM

For the sake of £60 go money claim online and start a claim, ccj coming his way, credit history screwed no landlord will touch him, you may well not get your money, but revenge is sweet.

From: Andrew townshend 07 April 2020 21:54 PM

Oh you stupid sad woman, just go away.

From: Andrew townshend 07 April 2020 21:31 PM

I could be wrong here but I seem to remember reading somewhere that it is a criminal offence in Germany not to pay their rent.

From: Andrew townshend 07 April 2020 19:22 PM

Agreed, but many tenants take a short term view, those that take the 'P' will be on the streets next winter.

From: Andrew townshend 07 April 2020 19:19 PM

Yes where a tenant takes the short term view it is a green light, but those that take advantage of the situation will find themselves sleeping in shop door ways next winter.

From: Andrew townshend 07 April 2020 09:43 AM

I like good long term tenants, who would not, I have tenants that have been with me 10 yrs + one has been with me over 25 yrs.

From: Andrew townshend 07 April 2020 09:37 AM

Rude Kate ? pot kettle black I think there girl.

From: Andrew townshend 06 April 2020 15:11 PM

Agreed Kate and the worst of it is they are laughing at you, mine was a shop which might make it a bit different, I entered the premises in day light hours changed the locks, placed a notice in the window stating that they had 14 days to contact me after which their stock would be removed, that got rid of them, never did get the money though, I think you need to contact a good solicitor that knows what he is talking about, if yours is a commercial let you may be able to do as I did, but if it is residential then you will not.

From: Andrew townshend 06 April 2020 10:55 AM

Never rent to a company without at least one director standing guarantor in their own right, I speak from experience I was once caught yrs ago.

From: Andrew townshend 06 April 2020 09:06 AM

It will not happen to me Kate, I do not live the false lifestyle on borrowed money, all my properties are bought and paid for, I have cash reserves, my cars are bought and paid for, you are the original mug lady, but that suits me because it's mugs like you that have made me a wealthy guy

From: Andrew townshend 04 April 2020 22:22 PM

Can't pay or won't pay ? that is the question, companies closed down? yes and a lot of them will never reopen, but more likely the straw that broke the canals back, these companies were technically bankrupt long ago trading on turnover, closing the country down? big mistake, and needs a rethink ASAP.

From: Andrew townshend 04 April 2020 22:14 PM

Sorry Kate but I tell it as it is, please or offend, seems to me you got yourself into this situation, really not cut out to be a landlord are you?

From: Andrew townshend 04 April 2020 21:55 PM

@Kate, that's the joys of being a landlord, you had better hope it does not happen because there is nothing you can do, by the sound of things if it does happen you will be bankrupt, large mortgage ? not a good idea.

From: Andrew townshend 04 April 2020 20:21 PM

Exactly ''HONEST'' I think most of us would help out where we can in genuine cases, but there will be many tenants trying it on, I have already given a commercial tenant who has had to close her business for now a rent holiday.

From: Andrew townshend 03 April 2020 11:15 AM

I like most other landlords will not even consider renting to someone on UC , however if an other wise good tenant lost their job I would not evict them, but if the rent then got into arrears I would have no choice other than to start the sec 8 ball rolling

From: Andrew townshend 03 April 2020 11:04 AM

Nail on head, all they have achieved is to push up rents, hurting the very people that they are supposed to represent .

From: Andrew townshend 03 April 2020 09:11 AM

I don't rent to students, or anyone under 25, just too much bother, give me the good honest hard working man (or woman) who I can offer respect to.

From: Andrew townshend 02 April 2020 12:45 PM

Talking about shelter have you seen their t v ad wanting donations, they must be finding it hard to pay the boys at the top their 100k a yr wages

From: Andrew townshend 02 April 2020 12:39 PM

I have been a member of Eastern Landlords Assos for 30 yrs, very happy with the support and guidance I receive from them, they are local and I can walk into their office here in Norwich anytime I like, no interest in this new trade body I fully expect they will be a total waste of time.

From: Andrew townshend 02 April 2020 10:55 AM

Greedy ? lets take a look at what solicitors, accountants, car repair garages, heating engineers, etc etc charge, are they also not greedy? Everyone is greedy we have to be in order to survive, governments, both left and right over the past 30 yrs have caused this.

From: Andrew townshend 02 April 2020 10:38 AM

Freckless tenants will always take the P, give them an inch and they will take a mile

From: Andrew townshend 02 April 2020 10:29 AM

The rent is still do to be paid, there is no rent free period, evictions will still take place, it will just take longer to evict.

From: Andrew townshend 02 April 2020 10:25 AM

I have already given a commercial tenant a rent holiday as the lady has had to close for now, she has been my tenant for more than 25 yrs and has always paid her rent in full, so I am happy to do so even though I don't have to, as yet I have not had a residential tenant approach me for one, if a tenant does ask for one I will consider a compromise depending on the circumstances .

From: Andrew townshend 01 April 2020 13:40 PM

The courts will have to do their job as laid down in law, no ifs and no buts, courts do not make the law they just apply it.

From: Andrew townshend 31 March 2020 14:46 PM

Ian your opinion and of course you are entitled to it, but like others on here you do not disclose your line of work, as for the crash coming I welcome it property has been over valued for a long time, I'm not selling, and like many others I own my properties no loans, so if values drop I will likely buy, filthy business ? certainly right there you should see the s**t I clear up from some of these tenants, and yes I do do it myself, '' STICKS AND STONES MAY HURT MY BONES - WORDS NEVER WILL, but you carry on ,you and your like give us a good old laugh.

From: Andrew townshend 31 March 2020 14:40 PM

The damage they do to us will come back and bite tenants, councils and the government hard on the backside when we get back to normal, if a tenant fails to pay me without good reason I will serve sec 8, I will evict, however long that may take and I will make sure every landlord in my area knows who they are, we landlords do talk to each other

From: Andrew townshend 31 March 2020 10:05 AM

Very true Paul, but generally tenants are the kind of people that live for today and sod tomorrow, which is why they will always be tenants and never a home owner, latter life on the bread line, but they just aren't clever enough to see that coming.

From: Andrew townshend 31 March 2020 09:01 AM

Hayley, I think in your position I would stop paying the mortgage, let the lender reprocess the property and forget about being a landlord, I'm sorry lady but it sounds to me you are just not cut out to be a landlord, your tenants will be out immediately as when a property is repossessed by a lender the residents are out without the need of any court order.

From: Andrew townshend 30 March 2020 21:09 PM

@ John Hughes, no you are not the stupid one, we work and pay our way, that means we can hold our heads up high, I wouldn't have it any other way.

From: Andrew townshend 30 March 2020 13:56 PM

Long term this is all going to back fire on tenants, landlords will be even more selective as to who they rent to, leaving more and more people sleeping in shop door ways

From: Andrew townshend 30 March 2020 13:38 PM

Very good point Peter, I would like to hear answers there as well, but of course we won't hear a thing.

From: Andrew townshend 30 March 2020 12:13 PM

Agreed, lead by example, or is it a case, as always, do as I say not as I do.

From: Andrew townshend 30 March 2020 12:08 PM

This rent holiday should only apply to those self isolating or those who have lost their jobs, as a blanket ban it is totally wrong. If you have a suitable guarantor you should be able to get your money out of them

From: Andrew townshend 30 March 2020 09:55 AM

So solicitors and accountants will be offering their services for free for 3 months ?? What ever the loony left comes out with is nothing other than a joke, laugh at them, totally unelectable there will not be another labour government in my life time, and what happens when I'm gone is no concern of mine.

From: Andrew townshend 30 March 2020 09:47 AM

Paul I always buy for cash, whether it be a house, car or what ever, that's the way I was brought up, save first then buy, my properties come from the auction room as do my cars and I never pay more than £10k for a car I cannot see the point in driving anything more expensive.

From: Andrew townshend 28 March 2020 17:44 PM

So rumor has it Nick you are a teacher, I have yet to meet a teacher with even a morsel of common sense, but you are giving us a good laugh on here so rock on.

From: Andrew townshend 28 March 2020 17:30 PM

Nick, you are very welcome to comment on here, and entitled to air your views, we are all entitled to our opinions .

From: Andrew townshend 27 March 2020 19:13 PM

They will be broken promises, any way to get out of paying out just like any cheap insurance does.

From: Andrew townshend 27 March 2020 09:33 AM

This is exactly what will happen, at present I have one tenant that might be stupid enough to do this, thankfully the other 15 are very unlikely to, but we can always make things very difficult for the rouge tenants in the future by naming and shaming them, we stick together and talk to each other.

From: Andrew townshend 27 March 2020 09:23 AM

There will be many ex tenants with very bad credit scores sleeping in shop door ways, big mistake to take the ''P'' out of landlords, at the end of the day we have the upper hand.

From: Andrew townshend 27 March 2020 09:16 AM

Good time to buy in the 90s, when I bought most of mine for peanuts, because few had the balls to buy.

From: Andrew townshend 27 March 2020 09:11 AM

Well said Paul, sums things up perfectly, just as well we all have a sense of humor

From: Andrew townshend 26 March 2020 17:13 PM

Only the fittest will survive this, those that borrowed too much trying to run before they could walk will hit the buffers

From: Andrew townshend 26 March 2020 09:53 AM

Very optimistic statements, I would have thought a drop in sales to zero personally, and values will certainly drop when we get back to normal, property has been over valued for a long time, a correction has been well over due, be a good few estate agents going bankrupt and likely some of the big names.

From: Andrew townshend 26 March 2020 09:25 AM

Of course not Jean, I'm 66, and after 30 yrs as a landlord am mortgage free, I think I'm lucky though, all but one of my tenants are good honest hard working people who I feel I can trust, the one who is not will likely find herself homeless next winter

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 21:35 PM

Morons driving office desks in town (and city) halls they are all the same, especially the loony left ones like Norwich city council

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 21:12 PM

30 Yrs ago I rented to students, did not take me long to ditch them and their snobby parents and move to honest working tenants.

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 19:59 PM

What work do you do Nick ?

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 10:31 AM

A complete ban is totally unfair, tenants who can pay their rent but chose not to need to go ASAP .

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 09:17 AM

I don't see why not.

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 09:13 AM

Correct as they will still be receiving their housing benefit, but what's the betting that some will jump on the band wagon as they know that we cannot evict them for at least 3 months, but of course they will be homeless by next winter and only a few rouge landlords will consider renting to them then.

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 08:50 AM

Agreed, but it is not going to work, we landlords are made of much stronger stuff than these sad whimps driving office desks in town halls.

From: Andrew townshend 25 March 2020 08:44 AM

I would agree there, however I have to speak as I find, I have banked with Barclays for over 40 yrs they have been very good to me and stood by me in difficult times , at present I have no borrowings so it's unlikely to be a problem now.

From: Andrew townshend 24 March 2020 17:24 PM

I think we have all had tenants like that Ken.

From: Andrew townshend 24 March 2020 17:17 PM

I will consider a pet, small dog or cat, but as I can nolonger take a larger deposit it will now have to be an increased rent, the problem of course is some tenants ignore the no pets clause then we either have to just accept it or go down the expensive route of eviction .

From: Andrew townshend 24 March 2020 14:01 PM

That would seem like a fair compromise, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

From: Andrew townshend 24 March 2020 10:00 AM

Sadly there is nothing that you can do other than wait and sit it out, I have a tenant that needs to go but for now I am stuck with her, the dross element will milk this for all it is worth but our time will come when this is all over and they find themselves homeless with only the rouge landlords prepared to take them on in sub standard properties.

From: Andrew townshend 22 March 2020 20:56 PM

Well we will not be compensated, but the rent payments are only deferred they will still be due for payment once the tenant returns to work, I will expect these tenants to make extra payments each month to slowly pay off the monies due, if they do not I will not hesitate to take county court action.

From: Andrew townshend 22 March 2020 19:47 PM

We can reduce the risk though by being very careful who we rent to, no DSS, no single mums, and no one under 25.

From: Andrew townshend 20 March 2020 08:40 AM

I note you have even up voted yourself, that speaks volumes about you sir or madam

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 20:39 PM

So all we do is sit at home on our lap tops watching the money flow into our bank accounts ? you really have no idea do you, may I ask what do you do for work, that is if you work at all?

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 20:13 PM

I will expect any unpaid rent to be repaid once the tenant goes back to work, and I will take court action if need be, this is not a rent free period, it's just deferred payment.

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 17:46 PM

That is very reasonable, there will be many tenants trying it on here, wounder if the workshy benefits scroungers will expect to live rent free

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 17:36 PM

It is clear to me that this guy is a complete idiot, work for nothing? yer pull the other one.

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 17:31 PM

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 17:26 PM

Agreed, for every 1 rouge landlord there are at least 10 rouge tenants

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 09:25 AM

This is of course exactly what will happen, so where it does either evict when this is all over or increase the rent to make up the short fall

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 09:22 AM

Very sensible idea, but of course it will never happen.

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 09:12 AM

I suspect a lot of rouge tenants will use this to simply get out of paying the rent and there will be little that we can do about it, we need to be able to black list these rouge tenants to protect other landlords

From: Andrew townshend 19 March 2020 08:48 AM

You are dreaming, government / councils, shelter, G R ease their relentless attack on us ? never going to happen, I treat people as they treat me.

From: Andrew townshend 18 March 2020 15:50 PM

Nice thought Michael, but never going to happen is it, government / councils are our enemies, their doing, why would I help an enemy

From: Andrew townshend 18 March 2020 15:40 PM

There some trust worthy people that you can be flexible with, I rent a shop to a lady that does sandwiches , she has been a good tenant for the past 25 yrs, if she has to close I will of course give her a rent free period, residential tenants I will not, it is up to the government or local council to pay their rent, if rent not paid section 8 notice in the post, the government / local councils are no friends of us landlords, their doing, maybe they should have thought about that before they stuck the knife in between our shoulder blades, I treat people as they treat me, and I do bear a grudge

From: Andrew townshend 18 March 2020 15:25 PM

You genuinely believe you might get help. dream on Martha, we won't get any help, just stabbed between the shoulder blades as all ways.

From: Andrew townshend 17 March 2020 21:44 PM

No John, they take us for mugs, no one but no one takes me for a mug

From: Andrew townshend 17 March 2020 21:36 PM

This is the governments problem, support landlords -- no chance-- tenants will also take the P , it's a hard world out there , dog eat dog, harden up, or fall by the roadside, will anyone have any sympathy for a landlord ? of course not, this is the real world and welcome to it, one good thing about it though, it might wake up the snowflakes and the I'm entitled lot.

From: Andrew townshend 17 March 2020 21:31 PM

Well said Paul, these idiots have no idea.

From: Andrew townshend 17 March 2020 19:38 PM

It's up to the government or local council to pay, if they don't then it's eviction, I am not a charity.

From: Andrew townshend 17 March 2020 18:11 PM

And how many tenants will use this as an excuse to not pay rent, if the government or councils pays me the rent then I will not evict, in all other cases I will evict, I am not a charity, shelter is though, knock on their door.

From: Andrew townshend 17 March 2020 18:03 PM

If a rule were to be brought in to stop us refusing the DSS dross then we would have to insist on a home owing guarantor , they would find that very difficult to provide.

From: Andrew townshend 15 March 2020 09:30 AM

Leave the rouge tenants to the rouge landlords, they deserve each other.

From: Andrew townshend 13 March 2020 17:05 PM

There is a saying '' you don't need an education to be clever '', now most of these boys and girls in government have had the education, private school uni etc, but when it comes to the real world out there they are as thick as 2 short planks, and as David says above there is no shortage of desperate people out there looking for some where to live, so we can pick and choose

From: Andrew townshend 13 March 2020 16:55 PM

From: Andrew townshend 13 March 2020 08:51 AM

And when it comes to making a claim on these micky mouse insurance policies are they going to pay out, or do their best to wriggle out of it, would not touch them, not for me thank you.

From: Andrew townshend 12 March 2020 16:41 PM

What a surprise, one of them funny names yet again.

From: Andrew townshend 11 March 2020 19:16 PM

Sex for rent ? well that's being paid for sex, prostitution , so these tenants would be admitting to being prostitutes, against the law, lock them up, problem solved.

From: Andrew townshend 11 March 2020 19:10 PM

We now live in an age of living the life style on credit, the '' flash with no cash '' all show and nothing to back it up with, will it all end in tears? of course it will, mugs, but not my problem.

From: Andrew townshend 09 March 2020 19:13 PM

Their are lot of very nasty people out there who seem to be above the law.

From: Andrew townshend 04 March 2020 08:16 AM

But who's the ultimate looser in all this? the tenant, higher rents and even fewer landlords that will consider pets, or benefit claimants, shot in foot comes to mind.

From: Andrew townshend 03 March 2020 07:31 AM

Very true most terraced houses here in Norwich date around the 1880s, built to last and people who live in them love them, houses built in the 60s are being knocked down, houses being built today will last 50 yrs max, and in 50 yrs time those 1880s houses will still stand and people will still love them. Electric cars are not green, they are also down right dangerous in the event of an accident, these ' greenies' no doubt straight out of uni with a useless degree are truly as thick as 2 short planks, as an electrician said to me recently '' you do not need an education to be clever''.

From: Andrew townshend 28 February 2020 22:32 PM

Wise advice, but it won't happen, we are talking the ''I'm entitled generation'' entitled to all you list and want it all NOW.

From: Andrew townshend 26 February 2020 18:16 PM

We need a thick hide to be a landlord, I for one am not going to lay down and die quietly.

From: Andrew townshend 25 February 2020 21:20 PM

I have an excellent electrician, and an excellent MOT testing garage here in Norwich who are fair and honest , there are many who are not, and no, I am not dishonest myself.

From: Andrew townshend 25 February 2020 18:03 PM

So you always find a fault in order to increase the bill, bit like the MOT test where some garages always fail a car in order to get work?

From: Andrew townshend 25 February 2020 16:19 PM

I will consider pets but now that I am unable to charge an increased deposit it will have to be an increased rent

From: Andrew townshend 25 February 2020 16:15 PM

Yes as always it will be the tenants picking up the tab here.

From: Andrew townshend 25 February 2020 16:11 PM

Very true Paul, but do you really think for one moment anyone in government are listening , or even want to listen

From: Andrew townshend 24 February 2020 19:42 PM

The name says it all to me.

From: Andrew townshend 24 February 2020 17:15 PM

Legal aid seems to be handed out to any old Tom, Dick, or Harry for any old reason, legal aid should be scrapped .

From: Andrew townshend 20 February 2020 13:15 PM

Not at all interested in these '' no deposit schemes'' no deposit no tenancy simple.

From: Andrew townshend 19 February 2020 14:55 PM

There will not be any good news in the budget for landlords, face facts we all know this.

From: Andrew townshend 18 February 2020 10:04 AM

Shelter is a charity, but are they providing homes, are they helping vulnerable tenants, NO they are just making things worse for the very people they claim to be there for.

From: Andrew townshend 18 February 2020 09:57 AM

The helping hand I would like is to be able to evict non paying rouge tenants within 2 months, until I get that (and I'm not holding my breath) I will not consider benefit claimants, single moms or people under 25, I far from alone here, so this isn't helping vulnerable tenants is it ?

From: Andrew townshend 18 February 2020 09:53 AM

All very good linking rents to wages but what about all the extra costs now being imposed on us this money has to come from some where, it's not coming out of my profits so it has to come from increased rent, the end user always pays.

From: Andrew townshend 17 February 2020 09:38 AM

£60 well spent money claims online, we should all be doing this, why shouldn't they have a ccj if they don't pay ?

From: Andrew townshend 17 February 2020 09:30 AM

Yes I think this is the way forward, unless a new tenant is gold plated then a home owing guarantor is a must, without this no tenancy, we need to stick together here because if we do councils and government are going to have such a problem with the homeless they will have to come and talk sense with us, we can win here.

From: Andrew townshend 14 February 2020 20:19 PM

Very true, a big scam, but no doubt there are many a mug out there that has wasted their cash.

From: Andrew townshend 14 February 2020 17:47 PM

Our overheads increase and shortage of supply = increased rent, not rocket science is it ?

From: Andrew townshend 13 February 2020 10:00 AM

I was expecting too much from present day coppers wasn't I ?

From: Andrew townshend 13 February 2020 09:56 AM

Police don't seem interested, I found one in a shop once, called the police, took them over an hour to get there, then parked a police van right outside, I don't think they want the paper work.

From: Andrew townshend 13 February 2020 09:31 AM

Rapid rehousing, how about a rapid eviction when things go wrong ? thought not .

From: Andrew townshend 07 February 2020 09:30 AM

Very true Paul.

From: Andrew townshend 06 February 2020 19:07 PM

Just as with both tenants and landlords not all agents are rouges here, I have a very good independent agent I use in Norwich who are fair to both landlords and tenants equally .

From: Andrew townshend 06 February 2020 18:09 PM

Rents are climbing here in Norwich, and no shortage of good tenants to chose from, the dross element are taking up the shop door ways increasingly .

From: Andrew townshend 06 February 2020 09:04 AM

S S, I agree some agents were ripping tenants off with high fees, what might have been better here would have been a cap on fees that could have been charged to the tenant. however we are talking about damage deposits here which at a max of 5 wks are not enough so the money has to be collected another way as much as that is unfair to good tenants but the government made the rules here not us landlords.

From: Andrew townshend 06 February 2020 08:16 AM

But have they saved £163 ? No they have not, the lost deposit has simply been added to the rent, that none of them will get back, shot in foot again.

From: Andrew townshend 05 February 2020 19:55 PM

That's what you get when dealing with these sort of people

From: Andrew townshend 04 February 2020 16:51 PM

I'm one of very few LLs in my area that used to consider tenants with pets, not now though, 5 wks deposit is not enough, might consider a higher rent but that's really going to hurt the tenant, well done government, shot in foot again.

From: Andrew townshend 04 February 2020 16:00 PM

Well those of us that are left, and with low or zero borrowings will be in a strong position as rents go through the roof.

From: Andrew townshend 03 February 2020 20:11 PM

There really is no excuse is there ? 1st of April until 31st of Jan to get the self assessment in.

From: Andrew townshend 03 February 2020 20:08 PM

They live a totally different life style to the life we lived at their age, we saved, they spend, so unless some one gives them a property then they will rent until they die, mugs, but it's their choice .

From: Andrew townshend 30 January 2020 09:39 AM

Here's the deal Boris, take away s 21 ( the so called ' no fault' eviction) increase minimum tenancy terms, but give us a sure fire way of removing rouge tenants in one month max.

From: Andrew townshend 28 January 2020 18:31 PM

Nice idea, but will never happen.

From: Andrew townshend 25 January 2020 08:44 AM

Many older council properties are simply not safe, but councils and housing assocs are allowed to get away with it, why ?

From: Andrew townshend 24 January 2020 21:10 PM

Long term tenants, I have many, they all started off on 6 month AST and then became SPT, no new tenant will ever be offered anything longer than 6 months we just don't know what we are getting with a new tenant do we.

From: Andrew townshend 24 January 2020 21:04 PM

Probably makes sense, but who's paying ? well the tenant of course by an increase in rent to cover the landlords extra expense.

From: Andrew townshend 17 January 2020 09:21 AM

But is that our fault, or is it down to the government ? the end user always pays.

From: Andrew townshend 17 January 2020 09:17 AM

Could not shelter lend them the money, after all they are supposed to be a charity for tenants and the homeless ?

From: Andrew townshend 06 January 2020 16:42 PM

I'm sticking with BTL I have the advantage of owning all my properties, no borrowings, but I am going to be very careful who I rent to, no risks from here on, if my gut feeling isn't right then no tenancy.

From: Andrew townshend 03 January 2020 21:38 PM

Easy answer Paul, if a tenant will not qualify for RGI leave them sleeping in shop door ways

From: Andrew townshend 03 January 2020 21:25 PM

I do believe the RLA and the NLA to be a total waste of time here, I am, and have been since the early 90s a member of a local LL group, Eastern Landlords Assoc, who are always there to help, as for the government being hell bent on destroying us, well they have a fight on their hands there, those of us who own our properties outright are in a very strong position, all the government are doing is hurting the tenant with increased rents, and a big problem for bad tenants who most of us will not touch at any price.

From: Andrew townshend 02 January 2020 20:56 PM

Yes charities stink don't they, it's all about how much their employees can milk out of them and not the cause, the church is no different either.

From: Andrew townshend 02 January 2020 20:23 PM

We know the government don't want to listen, so we just up the rents, it's the tenants they are hurting.

From: Andrew townshend 02 January 2020 16:20 PM

The first sentence sums it up perfectly, done properly, learning to walk before you run, and not over borrowing BTL can work very well, much better than any private pension sold by those spivs in suits.

From: Andrew townshend 02 January 2020 09:12 AM

I find void periods useful for repairs and up grades, sods law though I have 2 empty properties at present both needing work, but that's just the way it goes.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2019 17:43 PM

I do, as a matter of princible, £60 online money claim, very unlikely to get the money owed, but the satisfaction of giving the defaulting tenant a ccj is worth it.

From: Andrew townshend 31 December 2019 08:53 AM

Agreed, and I would not trust these insurance based schemes to pay out in the event of a claim.

From: Andrew townshend 30 December 2019 18:54 PM

I like tenants that stay a long time, and have many that have, but we still need a cheap quick way of evicting rouge tenants, until we get that, if ever, then mine are all on 6 month tenancies.

From: Andrew townshend 28 December 2019 15:37 PM

That is so very true Neil, and don't forget housing assocs as well, Happy Christmas.

From: Andrew townshend 25 December 2019 09:06 AM

Most of my tenants are o k , but you always get the odd one.

From: Andrew townshend 23 December 2019 16:06 PM

Making money out of tenants, all additional costs are passed on by an increased rent.

From: Andrew townshend 20 December 2019 09:10 AM

''Highly educated Albert Einsteins of the future'' but when it comes to common sense as thick as s**t.

From: Andrew townshend 19 December 2019 21:30 PM

As a some what green landlord in the early 90s I had student tenants, never again, more trouble than they are worth, and their parents were worse , I don't rent to anyone under 25 now, and students are a big big no.

From: Andrew townshend 19 December 2019 20:38 PM

I think the landlords name says it all.

From: Andrew townshend 19 December 2019 17:47 PM

Your are hot on the key board tonight Paul, happy Christmas mate.

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2019 21:17 PM

Never got involved with HMOs, and never will.

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2019 21:13 PM

I have to agree with you there Paul, buy a property with a tenant in it and you are taking on another landlord's problems, been there, done that, got the tee shirt.

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2019 19:51 PM

A good relationship with tenants ? I totally agree, but a relationship is a 2 way thing.

From: Andrew townshend 17 December 2019 09:08 AM

I think we have 10 yrs before we need worry about any possibility of a labour government, that will make me 76, if I'm still around, and if I am I don't think I will be too bothered by then.

From: Andrew townshend 16 December 2019 21:16 PM

I have a detached house in Norwich built around 1880 which I have owned for the past 30 yrs, over this time I have had many tenants there complain of damp and mould, present tenant has been there around 3 - 4 yrs now, no damp and no mould, why ? because when ever I drive past, winter or summer, the bedroom windows are always open durin day light hours, there's your answer.

From: Andrew townshend 03 December 2019 09:29 AM

Pi**es me off too Danieli, I'm a good landlord, as I'm sure you are as well, good tenants are good customers, all business need good customers and the way to keep them is to look after them, but hey ho we all get tared with the same brush.

From: Andrew townshend 28 November 2019 20:13 PM

Totally agree, no deposit, no tenancy.

From: Andrew townshend 28 November 2019 20:02 PM

But this is how millenials and snowflakes work, live today, pay later, which is why few of them will ever own a home, and in old age they will be skint, their problem, not mine.

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2019 19:31 PM

Well yes, when we bid, or make an offer we deduct 3%, take it or leave it.

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2019 19:26 PM

Well hasn't it always been a case of voting for the lesser of the 2 evils, none of this is going to end well, it will be as always the end user that will pay, but will tenants see this ? doubtful.

From: Andrew townshend 26 November 2019 19:19 PM

It won't work, I'm not going to give the keys to a new tenant until I have the deposit in full, and I 'm not going to agree to release a deposit until I'm happy with the property.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2019 17:27 PM

I have never used sec 8, when I've had a non paying tenant I have always used sec 21, all I want is them gone a s a p, now if we are to loose sec 21 it's a case of not taking risks with new tenants, if they don't stack up I don't want them in my properties.

From: Andrew townshend 25 November 2019 17:17 PM

And again, a very not British sur name!

From: Andrew townshend 18 November 2019 19:13 PM

22 weeks, now add to that the 8 weeks before the section 8 notice was served that's 30 weeks with no rent + the court costs, and shelter say we are unreasonable when we say no dss.

From: Andrew townshend 15 November 2019 10:09 AM

People don't go looking to buy / rent by the boards outside properties, these boards just invite the time wasters, business is done over the internet now by viewing web sites.

From: Andrew townshend 14 November 2019 09:24 AM

From what I have heard from people that have bought shared ownership they are nearly impossible to sell on.

From: Andrew townshend 13 November 2019 10:35 AM

Horror letting agents ? yes there have been a few of them haven't there , thankfully I have no personal experience there.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2019 17:44 PM

I used to manage all mine , I'm down to 4 that I manage now, the rest (12) are all managed by a good local agent, they get me a bit more rent than I would myself, and the money is transferred into my account on the same day they receive it, just avoid those big national agents their staff are all wet behind the ears youngsters, useless.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2019 11:12 AM

Women tenants from hell are far worse than the men, never stand for the sob story from a woman.

From: Andrew townshend 12 November 2019 09:49 AM

The law of the land should be applied equally, sadly it regularly is not .

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2019 10:39 AM

I think John has just hit nail on head '' fear of discrimination'' that's local and central government for you.

From: Andrew townshend 10 November 2019 09:51 AM

I hear what you are saying mate, but would not taking a lower paid job out side of London not make you better off in the long run ?

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 22:13 PM

But that's for an HMO licence isn't it, I don't have any HMOs and don't want any.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 16:34 PM

£50 every 5 yrs, yes I would go with that, no more though, there is no need for it to be any more that that.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 14:01 PM

Many of mine come out of auctions and have suffered structural damage / movement in the past, as such a FTB would be very unlikely to get a mortgage on them.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 12:37 PM

Shared ownership - biggest con going.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 12:31 PM

I find the void period useful for maintenance and upgrades, the length tends to vary depending on area, there are no shortage of tenants in Norfolk at present.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 11:04 AM

To buy a property means hard work and giving up the expensive life style that the young of today seem to think they are '' entitled '' to, they can't have it both ways.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 10:56 AM

Well I for one have nothing to fear and would welcome it so long as landlords were not expected to pay for it.

From: Andrew townshend 08 November 2019 10:49 AM

Property can be bought quickly south of the boarder, I have agreed a purchase on a monday and completed on the friday before now to beat the competition, solicitors don't like it but sometimes they just have to be told .

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2019 15:19 PM

But is the average tenant clever enough to see this ?

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2019 11:00 AM

I don't have life insurance, but then other than the credit card, which is paid off in full every month, I don't have any borrowings. It never ceases to amaze me however how many people don't have property or contents insurance, It's not expensive and can even be payed monthly, I had a commercial property fire 30 yrs ago, the insurance company, General Accident (now Aviva) were brilliant, I had the go ahead within hours and a large interim payment within 7 days, it certainly pays to insure with a proper company.

From: Andrew townshend 07 November 2019 09:28 AM

Leave the ''dross'' element to councils and housing assocs', why would we want them ?

From: Andrew townshend 05 November 2019 17:14 PM

I have often looked at leasehold properties, but on reading the lease have always been put off.

From: Andrew townshend 04 November 2019 09:16 AM

Purpose built student accommodation, a good idea for students, but would I invest ? that's a big fat NO to that one.

From: Andrew townshend 01 November 2019 09:47 AM

Direct Line ? no, I would not insure with them, same company as Green Flag, steer clear of them.

From: Andrew townshend 01 November 2019 09:41 AM

I doubt it will happen, but if it does I can see it all backfiring for the tenants

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2019 16:05 PM

When you have a good agent it is worth holding onto them, plenty of bad ones out there, my agent charges me 10%, I could change to one that only charges 8% but I'm not going to, penny wise and pound foolish comes to mind

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2019 16:01 PM

The shear arrogance, ignoring letters, plenty good enough that he was fined just should have been a lot more, these people get the good landlords a bad name which we don't deserve.

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2019 15:52 PM

If a tenant cannot afford a deposit then it follows that they cannot afford the rent either.

From: Andrew townshend 30 October 2019 09:51 AM

I too would be happy to pay a fiver a month, even a tener, lets face it it's really no money to get one back at the government, shelter and generation rent.

From: Andrew townshend 29 October 2019 09:46 AM

I don't have any borrowings and most were purchased in the 90s, so I'm sticking with it for now, but at 66 who knows what the future may hold for me.

From: Andrew townshend 29 October 2019 09:36 AM

Good agents are worth their weight in gold, there are many that should be avoided at all costs including the big nationals where you are only a number and their staff are wet behind the ears snowflakes.

From: Andrew townshend 29 October 2019 09:20 AM

The agent I use in Norwich pays the money into my bank account on the same day that they receive it, I would never use an agent that hangs onto it.

From: Andrew townshend 25 October 2019 10:01 AM

It seems demand varies quite a lot around the UK , still seems strong in my area (east anglia)

From: Andrew townshend 24 October 2019 10:49 AM

But that is their problem, not ours, they live their lives to the full today and will pay the price for that when they are old, self inflicted.

From: Andrew townshend 23 October 2019 10:55 AM

The snowflake GR live for today, they have no interest in what tomorrow may bring, some may be lucky enough to be given a property when our generation die off, but most will fall flat on their faces in later life, their problem not mine.

From: Andrew townshend 23 October 2019 10:47 AM

Most renters don't want the hassle of home ownership, they also have the ability of giving just 1 months notice when they need to move, I don't think any of my tenants want to be home owners.

From: Andrew townshend 23 October 2019 09:35 AM

Totally agree, our great british courts for you, not fit for purpose

From: Andrew townshend 19 October 2019 15:23 PM

Will never happen Robert, they are the lazy I'm entitled generation.

From: Andrew townshend 18 October 2019 12:02 PM

I have 16 great tenants at present, we are all on first name terms and get along just fine, but don't we have to be so very careful when vetting prospective tenants, the days of taking a risk with a new tenant are long gone, no room for rotten apples now.

From: Andrew townshend 16 October 2019 08:07 AM

Paul, why ever did you not put your name forward for PM, I would have voted for you, come to that why not a landlord party standing for common sense .

From: Andrew townshend 14 October 2019 21:37 PM

I would not object to the idea of a national licencing scheme if it were fair and the fees were also fair, but such a scheme would never be fair and would push rents higher still.

From: Andrew townshend 14 October 2019 10:53 AM

No fault evictions ?? Sec 21 is used to get non paying tenants out quicker and more cheaply than sec 8, that's why we use sec 21, without sec 21 we are going to be ever more selective when choosing tenants, leave the dross to councils and housing assocs where they belong.

From: Andrew townshend 14 October 2019 09:45 AM

4 03 am, do you ever sleep Paul ?

From: Andrew townshend 12 October 2019 11:50 AM

Not all landlords live miles away from their properties, yesterday I had a call from a tenant reporting a fault with a heater, I was round there to fix the problem in less than 1 hour, generally if I'm not round the same day I'm round the next day, don't tar all landlords with the same brush that simply isn't fair .

From: Andrew townshend 11 October 2019 12:31 PM

I tell it as it is, if that offends then so be it, the truth hurts some out there

From: Andrew townshend 11 October 2019 11:13 AM

Yes again it's these people getting the rest of us a bad name.

From: Andrew townshend 11 October 2019 11:06 AM

Another one that considers himself above the law ??

From: Andrew townshend 11 October 2019 09:33 AM

Comments removed, does the truth hurt ??

From: Andrew townshend 11 October 2019 09:24 AM

I am one of very few LL in my area that will consider tenants with a pet, now that I'm unable to take a larger deposit I will have to charge an increased rent for a pet, so once again it's the tenant that will lose out, government really don't think these things through do they?

From: Andrew townshend 10 October 2019 10:03 AM

She denied causing the damage, well who did cause the damage then ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 October 2019 09:07 AM

Without sec 21, or something to replace it, we are all going to be very careful who we let into our properties, if in doubt don't rent to them, sec 8 is not fit for purpose in it's current form.

From: Andrew townshend 10 October 2019 09:02 AM

While bring HB up to current rent levels may help the situation I for one would still not take tenants on HB.

From: Andrew townshend 10 October 2019 08:57 AM

It isn't all over for the small landlord yet not by a long way.

From: Andrew townshend 09 October 2019 15:53 PM

Don't worry about it, it won't happen, just hot air from labour trying to gain voters.

From: Andrew townshend 04 October 2019 10:17 AM

Agreed, very bad bank, stay clear.

From: Andrew townshend 03 October 2019 20:14 PM

And would you give to that charity? I certainly would not, that's where the money goes, to the fat cats at the top.

From: Andrew townshend 02 October 2019 17:49 PM

Rents up, or just trying to cover additional landlord costs ?

From: Andrew townshend 02 October 2019 10:21 AM

Tory, labour, lib-dem, GR and shelter all want us gone, so what happens to our properties when we sell up, maybe some tenants will be able to buy them and become owner occupiers, with the responsibility of paying the mortgage every month , and paying for the ongoing repairs and maintenance, most tenants have not got a hope in hell of ever getting a mortgage, many of our properties would not pass a mortgage survey, = big increase in people sleeping in shop door ways, we will see what the future holds.

From: Andrew townshend 01 October 2019 21:30 PM

I also agree, I have a good independent agent that I have used in Norwich for 20 yrs now, but there are still many rouge ones out there that need closing down.

From: Andrew townshend 30 September 2019 09:00 AM

The lose of sec 21 will certainly hit the dross element of tenants, it will be the case of '' gold plated tenants'' only need apply.

From: Andrew townshend 30 September 2019 08:56 AM

That could be an option, up until now I have been prepared to consider pets , however now that I will not be able to hold a larger deposit it will have to be a higher rent.

From: Andrew townshend 28 September 2019 11:21 AM

I think that is very true, they either don't want to or know that they never will, it takes commitment, hard work and going without the expensive life styles to buy property, then when they have bought there is the maintenance, something the snowflakes are incapable of.

From: Andrew townshend 24 September 2019 14:37 PM

He's entitled to his point of view Paul as we all are

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2019 20:15 PM

David I disagree with Paul below, you are more than welcome to make your posts on here, we are unlikely to agree with you, but please keep them coming

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2019 19:28 PM

It's not a view David it is a FACT !

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2019 19:23 PM

David you are just so wrong, I get on well with all my tenants and they get on well with me, but stop paying the rent and things do change and very quickly

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2019 19:13 PM

Most tenants are good tenants, we like them and they are welcome to stay as long as they like, the problem comes when we get a bad tenant which we all do from time to time we need them gone a s a p

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2019 19:07 PM

But why would a landlord want to evict a good tenant who pays their rent on time and in full, sec 21 is a quicker cheaper way for us to get rid of bad non paying tenants.

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2019 19:02 PM

It's going to be ''if in doubt don't rent to them'' we can no longer take any risks with who we let into our properties.

From: Andrew townshend 23 September 2019 09:38 AM

I had that one from a single mum some yrs ago, ended up both her and her child being evicted, I no longer do single mums, more trouble than they are worth.

From: Andrew townshend 19 September 2019 17:06 PM

Money claim on line, £60 (tax deductible) money well spent, CCJ on his record for 6 yrs, then do the same again for another 6 yrs, this guy will very likely come back to this country at some point, revenge is sweet, the grand really doesn't matter.

From: Andrew townshend 19 September 2019 09:17 AM

I'm with you Suzanne, 1, I cannot see a hard left labour getting into power 2, If they do get in I cannot see them getting this through parliament 3, If they do I'm staying and fighting

From: Andrew townshend 18 September 2019 18:28 PM

We are going to loose sec 21 who ever wins the next GE , we now have to be even more careful who we let into our properties, there will be even more sleeping in shop door ways as a result.

From: Andrew townshend 18 September 2019 09:21 AM

Property chains are a nightmare, the world is full of time wasters, I much prefer the auction route for property transactions, deal done no messing.

From: Andrew townshend 17 September 2019 09:01 AM

Well we all have to do that now when buying, and knock off the auction house buyers fees to come up with a max all inclusive price we will pay.

From: Andrew townshend 16 September 2019 10:19 AM

All depends how serious you are about selling, place it with an estate agent and you will be messed about by every dreamer in the world, put it in a good auction with a fair reserve and the deal is done when the hammer hits the table, no messing.

From: Andrew townshend 16 September 2019 10:14 AM

I think we have all been there and experienced the single mums as tenants and watch how they milk the system, strict rule now ''NO SINGLE MUMS'' leave them to councils or housing assocs, they are just not worth the bother.

From: Andrew townshend 16 September 2019 09:43 AM

Probably the realities of being a landlord, once you have experienced the dross of the benefit tenants attitudes soon change, I will bend over backwards for a good tenant, I spent a day and £20 last week renewing roofing felt on a tenant's shed roof, her shed not mine, nothing wrong in doing some one a good turn when it is appreciated, I treat people as they treat me.

From: Andrew townshend 14 September 2019 09:38 AM

Paul I cannot see it happening, it's all a lot of hot air from the loony left

From: Andrew townshend 13 September 2019 09:40 AM

Not British then, yet again, getting the rest of us that bad name

From: Andrew townshend 13 September 2019 09:34 AM

These are just the kind of tenants I like, they pay the rent in full and on time, they look after the property and are grateful for a home.

From: Andrew townshend 12 September 2019 09:26 AM

Generation Z , the under 25s then, would not touch them.

From: Andrew townshend 12 September 2019 09:22 AM

I agree, and I am a member of the conservative party, mainly because I wanted Mrs May gone. However where labour are concerned it's the unions with their large block votes who decide the leaders, which is why Mr Corbyn was made leader, I don't think the average labour voter really wanted Mr Corbyn as leader, still looking on the bright side labour are 14 points behind the conservatives at present and unlikely to win a GE while Mr Corbyn is their leader.

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2019 15:45 PM

Russia, I know a guy that married a Russian lady , he now lives in Russia very happily with his younger bride.

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2019 15:02 PM

Norwich council (left wing) make me pay the full council tax from day one on an empty property, where as 10 miles away Breckland council (tory) give me the first 4 wks free.

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2019 14:51 PM

Place increased costs on ANY business and it will always be the end user that pays the price

From: Andrew townshend 11 September 2019 14:45 PM

I think the reason for the drop in evictions is simply because we are now more careful who we rent to, no more taking risks on iffy tenants hense the rise in shop door way sleeping

From: Andrew townshend 10 September 2019 09:05 AM

Why not name the tenant ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 September 2019 08:55 AM

Shot in foot comes to mind.

From: Andrew townshend 06 September 2019 20:51 PM

While I agree with you Paul I don't thing Mr Corbyn will get in, and if he does I don't think he will get these policies through parliament.

From: Andrew townshend 05 September 2019 22:37 PM

I fear a labour government but am hopeful that with Mr Corbyn as leader they are un electable, just as they were in the 90s with Mr Kinnock as leader.

From: Andrew townshend 05 September 2019 09:11 AM

I am one of very few landlords in my area that will consider a pet, up to now I have taken an extra deposit, however as I am no longer allowed to take that extra deposit I will have to either say no pets or charge an increased rent.

From: Andrew townshend 05 September 2019 09:07 AM

I don't think Labour will get in while Mr Corbyn is leader, he could just be our saving grace.

From: Andrew townshend 04 September 2019 11:03 AM

I wouldn't want to be a landlord in London, I don't like the place.

From: Andrew townshend 04 September 2019 10:50 AM

No shortage of good tenants in and around Norwich, just finished renovating a 2 bed bungalow in a village 15 miles from Norwich end of Aug, new tenants moved in 2nd Sept, £675, a friend finished renovating a 2 bed terrace in Norwich on a Friday last month, new tenants moved in on the Monday, £795. both 6% + yield.

From: Andrew townshend 04 September 2019 09:46 AM

But how many tenants would be able to find enough money for the deposit, how many would be accepted for a mortgage, how many of our properties would pass a mortgage survey, most of mine would not I bought properties at auction many having suffered structural movement. No I don't think this will happen, just a lot of hot air to get the GR vote.

From: Andrew townshend 03 September 2019 18:27 PM

Mate my spelling and grammar is rubbish as well and do know what I don't care, it certainly has not stopped me being successful in business, I don't get upset when people take the ''P'' I just laugh at them.

From: Andrew townshend 02 September 2019 14:19 PM

So what is stopping tenants becoming home owners, or even landlords themselves ? oh that's right the dislike of hard work, of saving money, then there is the expensive social life that of course they are '' entitled'' to, oh these snow flakes and millennials don't you just love them, still it's mugs like these that keep the money rolling into our bank accounts.

From: Andrew townshend 01 September 2019 10:28 AM

And I expect that you really do own your properties as I do, these large landlords don't own their properties, the banks do, '' flash with on cast'' comes to mind.

From: Andrew townshend 30 August 2019 21:23 PM

Agreed that is rubbish, take a look at council and housing assoc homes, that's where the real problems are, that burn't out tower block in London, COUNCIL owned !! don't have to say anymore do I ?

From: Andrew townshend 30 August 2019 10:06 AM

The conservatives have not been our friends, however that's nothing to what Mr Corbyn would do to us.

From: Andrew townshend 30 August 2019 10:00 AM

No personal experience of either of them, I've been a member of Eastern Landlords for more than 20 yrs, well worth the £70 per yr, they have been very helpful, and are always there for us.

From: Andrew townshend 30 August 2019 09:53 AM

Will save the tenant £200, but put £35 per month on the rent, over the 6 month period, and who is the looser? these mugs are unbelievable aren't they?

From: Andrew townshend 27 August 2019 22:06 PM

Of course rents are rising above inflation, our costs are rising above inflation, whatever the business costs are always passed onto the end user, this isn't a game, we are not charities, we are init to make a profit, and make a profit we will

From: Andrew townshend 27 August 2019 12:52 PM

It's the so called ''vulnerable'' tenants that we don't want in our properties at any money, leave them to the council to house, not our problem.

From: Andrew townshend 23 August 2019 19:05 PM

If they cannot afford to pay a deposit what are the chances of them paying the rent? little and none, I once had a guy that wanted to move in and pay the deposit in installments, he couldn't understand why I said no

From: Andrew townshend 23 August 2019 10:55 AM

Only 54% in arrears, I would have thought the true figure to be much higher, NO DSS !

From: Andrew townshend 23 August 2019 09:04 AM

Dream of stepping onto the property ladder, that's exactly what GR are, dreamers, want their expensive life styles and own a house as well, well wake up that isn't how it works.

From: Andrew townshend 22 August 2019 09:46 AM

Really makes no difference, if I'm buying I decide how much I want to pay then take off fees and stamp duty to come to the max price that I will bid, if I were selling I would add these costs to the reserve price.

From: Andrew townshend 22 August 2019 09:42 AM

And there are a lot of labour MPs with property portfolios, Mr Blair has a very large portfolio. Few renters are going to vote Tory what ever the Tories do for them.

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2019 09:54 AM

Avoid the big boys at all costs where you are just a number, the staff are all under 25, and wet behind the ears. I have an excellent letting agent here in Norwich, Spencer Ward, money paid into my account on the same day they receive it, I first used them 20 yrs ago, since then as properties have come vacant I have handed them over to them, not had a bad tenant from them yet.

From: Andrew townshend 21 August 2019 09:48 AM

Agreed, generally it is the tenants that cause the problems to these properties , HMOs and the associated type of tenants they draw are bad news and the problems are only going to get worse, so leave these type of tenants to the local council to house, their problem, not ours.

From: Andrew townshend 17 August 2019 10:06 AM

Yes spot on Steve, that's how proper landlords work, when a problem is reported to me if I'm not round the same day I'm always round the next day, including week ends and bank holidays, this why I keep good tenants many years.

From: Andrew townshend 16 August 2019 20:43 PM

Yes sadly times and people change, I had a brilliant solicitor for over 30 yrs one of the boys, he spoke our language, sadly he retired a couple of yrs ago

From: Andrew townshend 16 August 2019 17:50 PM

That would be nice to know wouldn't it.

From: Andrew townshend 16 August 2019 17:30 PM

We are also only allowed one increase a yr south of the boarder, but we only have to give 2 months notice.

From: Andrew townshend 16 August 2019 17:25 PM

When you instruct a solicitor then he (she) is working for you, I have agreed a purchase on a Monday and completed on the Friday before now, solicitors don't like it but you are the one calling the shots

From: Andrew townshend 16 August 2019 17:20 PM

But will these schemes pay out in the event of a claim? somehow I think they will do their upmost to wriggle out of a claim just as cheap car and home insurers do.

From: Andrew townshend 16 August 2019 09:26 AM

I don't understand landlords like this, if the council inspected the property, found the faults and then gave the landlord time to carry out the repairs why not carry out the repairs, or was it that Mr Khan considered himself above the law? after all he didn't even attend the court hearing, sounds like arrogance to me, the fine should have been much more, these landlords give the rest of us a bad name which good landlords do not deserve

From: Andrew townshend 16 August 2019 09:21 AM

You are certainly right when it comes to council employees, nail on head there.

From: Andrew townshend 15 August 2019 13:23 PM

There are good agents and there are bad, I have a good one here in Norwich, small independent and trust worthy, I haven't had a bad tenant from them yet, It's the big national letting agents where most problems come from they employ young wet behind the ears boys and girls who haven't got a clue when it comes to the real world.

From: Andrew townshend 15 August 2019 13:17 PM

The only tenants that I have ever evicted are the non payers, why would a landlord evict a good tenant who pays their rent on time.

From: Andrew townshend 15 August 2019 09:11 AM

This is why now more so than before it is so important to be very careful who we rent to

From: Andrew townshend 15 August 2019 09:06 AM

But will they win votes? GR in the main will always be left wing.

From: Andrew townshend 15 August 2019 09:03 AM

Agreed, I have a few eastern Europeans as tenants, all good as gold, it's the curry eaters I avoid like the plague.

From: Andrew townshend 13 August 2019 17:37 PM

We don't want unemployed tenants on benefits, so why waste everyone's time, just say it as it is, NO DSS.

From: Andrew townshend 12 August 2019 16:27 PM

I think whatever the government hands out to G R , they will still be left wing voters.

From: Andrew townshend 12 August 2019 16:23 PM

From: Andrew townshend 09 August 2019 15:47 PM

Exactly why '' generation rent'' will never own a property unless some one gives them one.

From: Andrew townshend 08 August 2019 17:28 PM

From: Andrew townshend 08 August 2019 17:25 PM

Our laws don't apply to them.

From: Andrew townshend 08 August 2019 09:53 AM

While I totally agree that over crowed and unsafe rental properties are unacceptable and must be closed down the question still remains where will these '' vulnerable'' tenants go, I doubt very much that they are the type of tenants that I would even consider renting to, or any other landlord with decent properties, horses for courses ?

From: Andrew townshend 07 August 2019 10:13 AM

I wouldn't be at all surprised, look at Mr Blair he's big into BTL and has been for a long time.

From: Andrew townshend 06 August 2019 17:20 PM

Doesn't matter what business you are in, it will always be the end user that pays, so rents up, sorry good tenants but not our fault is it?

From: Andrew townshend 05 August 2019 22:21 PM

No shortage of Range Rovers parked outside council houses !

From: Andrew townshend 05 August 2019 08:55 AM

Get used to it the government don't like us, only one way forward, increase rents.

From: Andrew townshend 02 August 2019 09:52 AM

Graduates have the letters after their names, which mean F all, what they don't have is common sense .

From: Andrew townshend 01 August 2019 16:04 PM

The end user pays, simple.

From: Andrew townshend 01 August 2019 09:52 AM

Depends on area Paul, I put a 2 bed bungalow in a Norfolk village to rent Thursday, showed 2 ladies around Saturday, now gone let agreed today. £675 month.

From: Andrew townshend 31 July 2019 16:30 PM

A council tenant , good luck getting that money out of him then.

From: Andrew townshend 30 July 2019 09:29 AM

I'm in the middle here, my properties are in Norfolk + one in Suffolk, yields of around 6%, wouldn't want one in London, don't even want to go there, good deals up north ? yes, but a long way from me.

From: Andrew townshend 29 July 2019 21:23 PM

Spot on James, could not have put it better myself, however at the end of the day it will be the ''entitled snowflakes'' down fall.

From: Andrew townshend 29 July 2019 21:10 PM

Have to agree, '' out of the frying pan and into the fire''

From: Andrew townshend 27 July 2019 10:36 AM

Robert, I both agree and disagree, if a landlord is looking to sell then you are of course correct, personally I'm not selling anything, just keep taking the income, who wants a big fat lump sum, what do you do with it ? other waste it on flash cars etc.

From: Andrew townshend 26 July 2019 16:39 PM

Vote winning from who ? generation rant ? they have always been labour voters, and Im sure they will continue to vote labour, the Conservative party will however be losing the landlord vote though, come on Boris, sort this out pdq.

From: Andrew townshend 26 July 2019 16:29 PM

But is it out of a bottle ?

From: Andrew townshend 25 July 2019 20:41 PM

I hope you are right Paul

From: Andrew townshend 23 July 2019 17:48 PM

David you simply would not believe how some people live, and it's not just the low life, I've seen how some doctors and teachers live in filth, and yes the smashing up does happen in real life.

From: Andrew townshend 23 July 2019 17:39 PM

Replace the ''so called no fault eviction'' with a quick cheap way of evicting rouge and non paying tenants, why not ?

From: Andrew townshend 22 July 2019 09:50 AM

Can we have a rouge tenant data base ?

From: Andrew townshend 22 July 2019 09:41 AM

Oh Shelter will object, in their eyes it is our responsibility to house these people for free !

From: Andrew townshend 20 July 2019 10:19 AM

Yes there are a number of agents as you describe that will disappear, good agents will survive .

From: Andrew townshend 19 July 2019 09:46 AM

Prospective tenants now have nothing to loose by applying to rents properties that they will not be accepted for, agents can look forward to an influx of time wasters trying it on.

From: Andrew townshend 19 July 2019 09:29 AM

We cannot take any risks from now on, get the wrong tenant and we are stuffed , sorry to the DSS, single mums and the under 25s you are simply not worth the risk.

From: Andrew townshend 19 July 2019 09:24 AM

Basically if I tell it as it is, slags breed slags, and we the hard working tax payer pay for them, blood boiling !

From: Andrew townshend 18 July 2019 22:19 PM

I too have many Polish, Bulgarian & Lithuanian tenants , they make good tenants, but not it would seem good landlords.

From: Andrew townshend 18 July 2019 17:49 PM

Wounder where the woman originates from ?

From: Andrew townshend 18 July 2019 09:07 AM

Which is why we say NO DSS, why rent to some one who isn't going to pay ?

From: Andrew townshend 18 July 2019 09:02 AM

Happy tenants = a happy landlord, I get on well with all my tenants, I have of course had a few bad ones in the past but over the yrs I have learnt to be very selective when it comes to a new tenancy and it has certainly paid off.

From: Andrew townshend 18 July 2019 08:59 AM

My agent charges me 10%, there are some in my area charging as little as 7%, 15% is way over the top.

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2019 17:59 PM

I use ''a week to view diary'' and scrap paper, works just fine for me

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2019 17:55 PM

Most tenants don't read any of it, they blindly sign on the bottom line and move in.

From: Andrew townshend 17 July 2019 10:14 AM

I agree, pointless selling, just keep taking the income.

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2019 20:11 PM

Perfectly summed up in a nut shell.

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2019 09:55 AM

From: Andrew townshend 16 July 2019 09:48 AM

I'm not giving in, I do have an advantage though, no loans or mortgages, and retired, so I have the time to do most repairs etc myself, however aren't I going to be very careful who I rent to, I if the gut feeling isn't right, then it's NO !

From: Andrew townshend 15 July 2019 20:23 PM

3.5 k, 5 k, what's the difference? 1.5 k don't buy you much. I have a property was a G, now improved to an F, to improve any further will cost 15 k, existing happy tenants, I've applied for an exemption.

From: Andrew townshend 15 July 2019 20:16 PM

Simon, some do, but not many!

From: Andrew townshend 15 July 2019 19:54 PM

From: Andrew townshend 15 July 2019 19:52 PM

If Grenfell Tower had been owned by one of us private landlords we would already have been found guilty of corporate manslaughter and be serving a long prison term, funny how the law applies to some and not to others !

From: Andrew townshend 15 July 2019 19:51 PM

I have a 25 yr old worster boiler in one of my properties, never been a moments trouble, the newer boilers seem to last 7 yrs if you are lucky.

From: Andrew townshend 10 July 2019 20:22 PM

I've tried the insurance route, Domestic & General, complete waste of money, not fit for purpose.

From: Andrew townshend 10 July 2019 20:17 PM

Give us a quick, cheap, easy way of evicting non payers and we won't need section 21

From: Andrew townshend 10 July 2019 09:07 AM

I must be guilty of discrimination, no benefit claimants, no single mums, and no one under 25, why would anyone in any business risk doing business with someone who is unlikely to pay ?

From: Andrew townshend 10 July 2019 09:02 AM

I'm of a similar generation, 66 next month, I do all the nuts and bolts of my tax return, then my accountant files it online for me, £600, + £120 tax investigation insurance cover for myself and my wife, it is what it is, what happens when i have to file a return 4 x a yr, we will have to wait and see.

From: Andrew townshend 08 July 2019 19:35 PM

Far too sensible Paul.

From: Andrew townshend 08 July 2019 17:47 PM

None of us like paying tax but not to pay is plane wrong, personally i put as much as possible against profits then pay the tax on time and in full, that way i can hold my head up high and i'm not constantly looking over my shoulder.

From: Andrew townshend 08 July 2019 09:59 AM

Agreed James, but a vote winner for who ? i doubt snow flakes or generation rent would be voting Tory.

From: Andrew townshend 06 July 2019 08:59 AM

Of course we will have to be more selective, if there is the smallest chance that a prospective tenant may turn out to be a bad tenant, or if something doesn't feel right the prospective tenant will have to be rejected, if in doubt leave them to the local council to house .

From: Andrew townshend 05 July 2019 09:28 AM

Agreed, it's not no fault, it's the accelerated eviction process .

From: Andrew townshend 04 July 2019 18:04 PM

Ever the optimist .

From: Andrew townshend 03 July 2019 22:12 PM

Agreed Paul, one good property, with good tenants, is worth 4 bad properties with bad tenants, leave the bad properties and bad tenants with those landlords with funny surnames.

From: Andrew townshend 03 July 2019 22:10 PM

In your dreams!

From: Andrew townshend 03 July 2019 22:05 PM

Paul mate, who are you kidding '' pragmatism among councils'' ??

From: Andrew townshend 03 July 2019 22:04 PM

I had a small back street garage business which earn't good money, I got into BTL instead of a private pension, did not trust the spivs selling them, I sold my business 11 yrs ago at age 54, today I'm a full time hands on landlord, I enjoy what I do, have no regrets, and would recommend it.

From: Andrew townshend 03 July 2019 21:09 PM