Rees-Mogg: ‘Dear landlords.. sorry about all the pain, but there’s no more help on the way’

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The Government has expressed sympathy for landlords’ Covid-related struggles and has praised their patience but still hasn’t announced any new practical measures to help them.

Speaking in the Commons, Conservative MP Robert Syms called for a debate on residential landlords as he said the sector was “very unhappy”.

He told MPs: “It provides valuable property for people, yet throughout this crisis landlords have been prevented from managing their properties and evicting people, even those with arrears from well before the crisis.

“I know of landlords who have not been able to evict people exhibiting anti-social behaviour and causing distress to other tenants because of restrictions the Government have imposed.

“Some people who could pay rent are not paying rent, but some of the residential landlords are still having to pay mortgages. This is a troubled sector and we should explore all the issues.”#

‘Wasn’t unsympathetic’

Responding to the question, Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured), said he “wasn’t unsympathetic” to landlords’ plight.

However, while he offered no new initiatives, Rees-Mogg pointed to the lifting of the stay on possession proceedings, and added: “Although we have laid regulations to require bailiffs not to enforce evictions until 11th January, there are exemptions – this is important – for the most serious cases, such as anti-social behaviour and illegal occupation.”

Rees-Mogg added: “We are grateful to landlords for their forbearance during this unprecedented time.

“Some may have been able to benefit from postponements of mortgage payments, which have been made available, but we strongly encourage tenants in all relevant Government guidance to pay their rent or to have an early conversation with their landlord if they have any difficulty doing so.”

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – Rees-Mogg: ‘Dear landlords.. sorry about all the pain, but there’s no more help on the way’ | LandlordZONE.

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As built-to-rent developers embrace pets, how much longer can landlords refuse them?

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A large new apartment development about to open its doors in London is the most recent to offer those buying or renting at the site the opportunity to live with their pets.

Network Homes’ Evolution development in Southall will offer residents the opportunity to bring their pets with them across the whole site, although its developer says that any four-legged friends will have to be vetted before they move in.

But sites like Evolution, and others in London including be:here Hayes, Black Horse Mills in Walthamstow and Duet at Salford Quays, are challenging perceptions that landlords and home builders are anti-pets.

They’re encouraging change in the private rented sector which is slowly becoming more pet-friendly, helped by the Government’s new model tenancy contract which has been changed to encourage landlords to take on more tenants with pets.

Pets bill

Also, the Dogs and Domestic Animals (Accommodation and Protection) Bill currently going through Parliament aims to give tenants the right to live with their pet.

Lisa Ley, Network Homes’ head of sales and marketing (pictured), says that due to strict regulations, lack of space, or access to the outdoors, many apartment providers aren’t able to accommodate a four-legged friend.

She says that the opportunity to live in an apartment in London that permits domestic animals is “a rare luxury”.

Prices at Evolution start from £65,000 for a 25% share of a one-bedroom apartment priced at £260,000, the rest is owned by Network Homes and owners pay a subsidised rent along with their mortgage.

©1999 – Present | Parkmatic Publications Ltd. All rights reserved | LandlordZONE® – As built-to-rent developers embrace pets, how much longer can landlords refuse them? | LandlordZONE.

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Ignorance is no defence against licensing fines, absentee landlady discovers

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An absentee landlord has been fined £2,500 for failing to licence a property that she had been renting out for several years.

Warning letters were sent to the landlord’s last known addresses, however, the property in Axon Place, Ilford, remained occupied and unlicensed after an inspection by a housing enforcement officer from Redbridge Council.

The landlady involved, who cannot be named, could not claim ignorance – there are ten apartments within the two towers on Axon Place already registered with the Redbridge selective licensing scheme.

A first-tier tribunal has now ruled that she should have paid a £616 fee under the scheme for private landlords renting to single families.

Quality housing

Council leader Jas Athwal (pictured) says: “The selective licencing scheme has been in place in many parts of our borough for several years now to make sure local people have access to decent quality housing.

“I hope this sends a clear message to property agents, companies, and landlords that if they don’t work with us to licence their properties properly, then they could face prosecution and a hefty fine.”

This isn’t the first time that a London borough has come down hard on a landlord for not licensing their properties.

“Earlier this year, Brent Council prosecuted Stephen Ige for renting out three properties – a ground floor flat in Chaplin Road, Willesden Green, and ground and first floor flats in Douglas Road, Kilburn – to tenants without a licence. He was fined £90,000 by magistrates.”

Read more about selective licensing.

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Property Investors Awards – Winners Announcement 2020

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Now celebrating its 10th year, the Property Investors Awards 2020 is taking place online. This year’s award winners will be announced as a ‘premiere’ on Youtube, Saturday 28th Nov at 7 pm.

The ceremony is hosted by Ranjan Bhattacharya and Cyril Thomas who will reveal this years property investor award winners across 11 categories.

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Ask three months rolling rent in advance?

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After the tenant fee ban, can landlords now ask for three months rolling rent in advance rather than normal one month in advance?

This is not the case where the tenant pays rent every 3 months, but is that the tenant pays three months rent at the start of the tenancy and then keeps paying monthly rent for each month going forward.

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