The lack of social/affordable housing is scandalous. Most of us are forced to either line the pockets of greedy landlords or greedy bankers. I’m thinking of buying something cheaper that needs some work if it means I won’t have a huge mortgage that I’ll be paying for 25 years.
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It’s such a vicious circle isn’t it because if you are privately renting you are generally paying a premium for the pleasure And therefore it’s usually pretty impossible to save the money that’s now required to get a mortgage even though you are paying far and above what the monthly mortgage cost would actually be.
It is a vicious circle and 'earn more' isnt really a solution. No matter what we need people to do the lower paid jobs, we need carers, cleaners, nursery teachers etc. Everyone deserves secure housing, they deserve a warm home. It should not be at the mercy of finding a good landlord. The rents too should be capped.
I had some issues in a previous rental bouse and I dont think my landlord actually had the funds to fix it. If his home was such an asset and he could have afforded to fix it, he would have, as long term the ceiling would have come in.
I dont think that just anyone should be allowed to become a landlord personally.
The only ways the housing crisis can be sorted is either by making it harder to move to live in the UK (which to be fair is now going to happen with the points system) or bulldozing our beautiful scenery which would ruin our environment.
We need to scrap people being allowed second homes/holidays homes and we need to completely scrap the right to buy - I know it’s already been scrapped in some areas.
Therein lies the problem. Anyone that can stump up a deposit can become a landlord. It's almost encouraged with all the freshly printed money sloshing around that banks are wanting to lend.
So many times you hear of someone moving but they're keeping their old house as it's easy to do and property always increases in price. It's an investment innit. It shouldn't be so easy to do.
It's causing untold misery for millions and pushing up prices. This should have been taxed and regulated properly a long time ago. Section 24 is welcomed, but way too late.
Second homes and landlords who rent out multiple properties should absolutely not be a thing. Right to buy was stopped up here in Scotland a few years ago and my local council has bought back a few properties which were sold under the scheme. There are lots of options that don’t involve ruining green areas
Agreed!! Its a sad state of affairs and yes causing misery for millions.
Again, I’m only referring to Scottish legislation as I don’t know about others, but there are only certain specific situations now where a LL can evict someone with 2 months notice. The majority of notice periods now are for 84 days minimum if the T’s have been in for over 6 months.
long term tenancy is still an option, if both the LL and T want that to be the case. It shouldn’t be though that a LL has no way of ending a tenancy until the T wants to leave(bearing in mind a T can serve 28 days notice at ANY POINT during the tenancy). That’s wrong. So a notice period has to be applied and 84 days is reasonable to find another property.
It’s always amazed me, in any event, that some people rent a home, knowing notice (of 84 days remember on most occasions now)can be served for them to be evicted, and yet they then get pissed off when they get said notice.
T’s can report LL’s who aren’t maintaining their properties efficiently despite the T chasing them to do so. And at that point, I can assure you the favour nine times out of ten falls to the T (as it should when a LL isn’t keeping up his/her responsibilities anyway). So those who sit with leaks etc that are being ignored, need to read their tenancy agreement and the supporting notes on how to move matters along. Again, there is no clause for a LL to evict a T based on repairs or complaints of repairs not being carried out, so the LL couldn’t kick someone out for that.
Again, this is based on Scottish PRT’s and so possibly different elsewhere. But T’s in Scotland are VERY well protected.
I agree, it should have been stopped years ago.
Its very difficult to get a landlord to accept a long term tenancy. There are some people who will never be able to, for whatever reason buy a property and may not be able to get a council property due to low stock. Is it right that the only security they should have is 84 days? I dont thinkso.
I know of so many people (through my job!) who have tried to get landlords to fix an issue and have been served eviction notice. No reason is needed for eviction. A LL can merely state 'I want to sell the house' 'Ive had a life event and need to move back in.' Then once the tenant is out theyve got it back on the market.
As I said in my other post Im not griping at all landlords here (from your reply I assume you may be one?) There are good landlords out there but there are so many bad ones too and 84 days isnt enough, its no security at all
With the PRT in Scotland, you can’t dictate the length of the tenancy, so a long term is very possible. Equally a short term is just as possible for all those who only want to rent for 3 weeks for example.Its very difficult to get a landlord to accept a long term tenancy. There are some people who will never be able to, for whatever reason buy a property and may not be able to get a council property due to low stock. Is it right that the only security they should have is 84 days? I dont thinkso.
I know of so many people (through my job!) who have tried to get landlords to fix an issue and have been served eviction notice. No reason is needed for eviction. A LL can merely state 'I want to sell the house' 'Ive had a life event and need to move back in.' Then once the tenant is out theyve got it back on the market.
As I said in my other post Im not griping at all landlords here (from your reply I assume you may be one?) There are good landlords out there but there are so many bad ones too and 84 days isnt enough, its no security at all
From a conversational point of view, what would you propose is an acceptable notice period then? If not 84 days, presumably longer?
I’m assuming you’re not based in Scotland then if they’ve been served notice after requesting a repair? For your friends, if you are in Scotland btw, if a LL serves notice based on “selling requirement” or requiring to live in it, this needs to be backed up with a letter confirming the sale from an estate agent or lawyer or supporting document such as a home report for example. If the T finds out the LL doesn’t then sell, by seeing the flat on the open rental market again for example, they can take him to tribunal for unlawful/unfair eviction. And should absolutely do so.
im not a L myself no, I’m a property manager so set up, manage and deal with rentals on a daily basis. I just hate to read everyone always going on about how hard done by T’s are, as a majority, when actually, particularly in Scotland anyway, they are fiercely protected by the government. Of course there are some bad LL’s, I don’t dispute that. I also welcome the fierce support from the government against all those bad LL’s. But certainly as an agency, who vouches for all sides, I find it infuriating that all LL’s are generally branded “bad”.
I personally do not feel 84 days is long enough. What is a long enough period? How long is a piece of string? In my area there are v few 3 bedroom properties on the rental market. We own our home now, or rather pay a mortgage on it. I have kids in school and nursery, if I was served 84 days notice on a rental property, I cant just move further away to get a house. What do I do if there is nothing on the market? Those who are forced into private renting due to low council house stock deserve security of more than 84 days. I appreciate this isnt a landlords fault but if someone has paid there rent on time and upkept a property for say 10 years, it doesnt seem fair they can be given 84 days notice because theyve been unfortunate to not 'buy' a property.
I am in Scotland but my job role has me dealing with people mostly in England so I don't disagree with what you are saying about the rights etc. I can also imagine there are some bad tenants too!
My landlord used to come and peer in the windows of our house when we werent home. I know this because a family member caught him. For all I know he probably had gone in with his keys but didnt have proof of that. Someone further up asked why people shouldnt feel there rental is there home. That is my reason. Yes he isnt allowed to do this but didnt stop him. He also turned up on a few occasions out of the blue, with no notice, which we reported to the letting agent but nothing came from it. Again we were trapped as back then the 28 day notice wasnt a thing when in contract and there was no other suitable properties on a very slim market. I was also pregnant and having to report him/deal with all the fall out when he was in the wrong is a lot, when all I wanted was quiet enjoyment of my home that I paid *alot* of rent for.
I started a thread a few weeks ago you could look back and read the replies, they were so helpful. I just had a offer accepted on my first home and I was so overwhelmed and second guessing! But now I’m so excitedThank you for your replies! I think I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of buying a property on my own. Time to put on my big girl pants
Aw thank you, I will and congratulations!
I lived in a council house until I was 7, then I lived in rented until I was 21 and since then I’ve had a house with a mortgage.
there’s pros and cons of them all I think.
Firstly, are social housing properties readily available in your area? Where I live, it is very difficult to get social housing. My friend is disabled, has a baby and was living in overcrowded conditions, but could not get a council house and is now privately renting.
I think council are a good route to go down if you do get offered a property. You have more flexibility to do what you want (within reason) to the property and you also don’t run the risk of the landlord wanting the property back. Also, in the area I live in, you can’t really choose where you get offered the house, so you might end up somewhere you don’t want to live.
With private renting, you can move around a bit easier if you have any issues where you are living and you don’t have to worry about selling your property. But, you can’t always decorate as you wish, you can have landlord inspections and the landlord can ask for their house back (with notice). The other issue is, it can be expensive. I pay £282 for my mortgage, but if I rented the house out, it would achieve £550 per calendar month. Which is a hefty difference.
then there’s the mortgage. In most cases you save a fair bit of money, as I said above. I bought my house at the age of 21 and I’ve still been able to afford a car and expensive holidays. I can also decorate as I wish and I don’t have to worry about the landlord wanting it back because it’s mine (as long as I pay my mortgage, which I have savings for). I should have my mortgage paid off by the time I retire which means I’ll have one less thing to worry about. Obviously downsides are it is more complex if you want to move and any repairs (roof damage, boiler breaking ect) are your responsibly.
Just my views obviously.
there’s pros and cons of them all I think.
Firstly, are social housing properties readily available in your area? Where I live, it is very difficult to get social housing. My friend is disabled, has a baby and was living in overcrowded conditions, but could not get a council house and is now privately renting.
I think council are a good route to go down if you do get offered a property. You have more flexibility to do what you want (within reason) to the property and you also don’t run the risk of the landlord wanting the property back. Also, in the area I live in, you can’t really choose where you get offered the house, so you might end up somewhere you don’t want to live.
With private renting, you can move around a bit easier if you have any issues where you are living and you don’t have to worry about selling your property. But, you can’t always decorate as you wish, you can have landlord inspections and the landlord can ask for their house back (with notice). The other issue is, it can be expensive. I pay £282 for my mortgage, but if I rented the house out, it would achieve £550 per calendar month. Which is a hefty difference.
then there’s the mortgage. In most cases you save a fair bit of money, as I said above. I bought my house at the age of 21 and I’ve still been able to afford a car and expensive holidays. I can also decorate as I wish and I don’t have to worry about the landlord wanting it back because it’s mine (as long as I pay my mortgage, which I have savings for). I should have my mortgage paid off by the time I retire which means I’ll have one less thing to worry about. Obviously downsides are it is more complex if you want to move and any repairs (roof damage, boiler breaking ect) are your responsibly.
Just my views obviously.
For social housing, you have to fill out an application, which is sent to the council and relevant housing associations, and specify which areas you prefer and then you get put on a very long list. It’s not as bad as places in England but there’s still a huge wait. I’m pretty sure I’ll end up buying but as banks require a 15% deposit now I’d probably be better saving a little more. I might just put my name down for a council house in the mean time anyway and see what happens.
Yeah that’s the same as our area then, you choose your areas and then they tell you where you are on the list based on your priority. My friend has been on the list for years, but hasn’t gotten anywhere. My sister was too and never got anything. Its so tough around these parts to get into council.
good luck with whatever you go for.
Can I ask why people shouldn't be landlord, what would happen for people who couldn't afford a mortgage?
I currently rent a flat (I DO wish I saved up when I lived with my mam & dad to buy, but lesson learnt)
I cannot afford to save money for a mortgage, I struggle to save to save to move into a house as I want to rent a house now because I hate living in a flat.
I feel like I will never own a house at this rate but I am a single person now, I guess it is easier when there's two of you. I do agree landlords charge ridiculous prices sometimes, there's really affordable houses in my city (£350-£450) but the cheaper ones are in the East side of town and I'd rather chew my own foot off than live on the East side. I am hoping to move soon out the flat but the fees even to do this are a lot
I currently rent a flat (I DO wish I saved up when I lived with my mam & dad to buy, but lesson learnt)
I cannot afford to save money for a mortgage, I struggle to save to save to move into a house as I want to rent a house now because I hate living in a flat.
I feel like I will never own a house at this rate but I am a single person now, I guess it is easier when there's two of you. I do agree landlords charge ridiculous prices sometimes, there's really affordable houses in my city (£350-£450) but the cheaper ones are in the East side of town and I'd rather chew my own foot off than live on the East side. I am hoping to move soon out the flat but the fees even to do this are a lot