Comments on: The Rugg Report – the governments response http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/05/14/the-rugg-report-%e2%80%93-the-governments-response/ From landlord and tenant solicitor Tessa Shepperson Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:12:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RHG http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/05/14/the-rugg-report-%e2%80%93-the-governments-response/comment-page-1/#comment-317 RHG Wed, 20 May 2009 16:17:40 +0000 http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/?p=264#comment-317 Much is said about the few landlords who fail to provide secure, safe and adequate tenanted properties, the majority of landlords are conscientious, after all a badly maintained property is a faster depreciating asset than a well maintained one. There are substantial penalties available to the government to punish errant landlords and councils have formidable powers to ensure that landlords do not let out unsafe or unhealthy properties.<br /><br />I do believe that yet again the legislation is perhaps slewed towards making it easier for the revenue to collect taxes, as with so many government initiatives the true intention is masked behind a screen pertaining to ensure that tenents are kept safe from unscrupulous Rachmann like figures.<br /><br />I would be a little more impressed if the government made it less easy for the unscrupulous tennent to evade rent, to destroy and damage property and to use legislation to obtain free accomodation. <br /><br />Just as the majority of landlords do take care of their tenants requirements, the majority of tenants care for their rented property. The law however is weighted substantially towards allowing the percentage of tenants who disregard the details of the tenancy agreements and treat the legal contract as a one way piece of legislation. <br /><br />It is possible to evict tenants, but it does take a long time, in the menatime the tenant can avoid paying the rent, they can cause serious damage to a property and many landlords can be left many thousands of pounds out of pocket, the law does little to really help the landlord in such a case. Much is said about the few landlords who fail to provide secure, safe and adequate tenanted properties, the majority of landlords are conscientious, after all a badly maintained property is a faster depreciating asset than a well maintained one. There are substantial penalties available to the government to punish errant landlords and councils have formidable powers to ensure that landlords do not let out unsafe or unhealthy properties.

I do believe that yet again the legislation is perhaps slewed towards making it easier for the revenue to collect taxes, as with so many government initiatives the true intention is masked behind a screen pertaining to ensure that tenents are kept safe from unscrupulous Rachmann like figures.

I would be a little more impressed if the government made it less easy for the unscrupulous tennent to evade rent, to destroy and damage property and to use legislation to obtain free accomodation.

Just as the majority of landlords do take care of their tenants requirements, the majority of tenants care for their rented property. The law however is weighted substantially towards allowing the percentage of tenants who disregard the details of the tenancy agreements and treat the legal contract as a one way piece of legislation.

It is possible to evict tenants, but it does take a long time, in the menatime the tenant can avoid paying the rent, they can cause serious damage to a property and many landlords can be left many thousands of pounds out of pocket, the law does little to really help the landlord in such a case.

]]> By: Howard http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/05/14/the-rugg-report-%e2%80%93-the-governments-response/comment-page-1/#comment-315 Howard Sat, 16 May 2009 12:42:00 +0000 http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/?p=264#comment-315 The private rental sector is full of landlords who do not care about the adverse impact their properties can have on neighbourhoods. <br /><br />Furthermore, many tenants, especially students and "young professionals" do not care about the exterior state of their dwellings which become blots on the landscape. Such properties are also a magnet for burglars who see the obvious signs of multiple occupancy and know that there will be multiple rich pickings inside.<br /><br />Letting agencies perform merely a tenant finding service and fail to manage properties on their books.<br /><br />It is easy therefore to distinguish the rented property from the owner occupied. A rented property is likely to have multiple vehicles, carelessly parked, front gardens untended, dustbins permanently on display etc. Conversely, owner occupied properties tend to present a neat and tidy appearance to the world. <br /><br />It is high time that errant landlords and tenants were forced to ensure that properties did not not have adverse impacts on the residential environment. Legislation that places greater control on this area which has mushroomed because of the buy-to-let boom is therefore to be welcomed. It should for example enable those who have a need to know, to find out where landlords actually live. I believe this can in some cases be surprisingly difficult currently. The private rental sector is full of landlords who do not care about the adverse impact their properties can have on neighbourhoods.

Furthermore, many tenants, especially students and “young professionals” do not care about the exterior state of their dwellings which become blots on the landscape. Such properties are also a magnet for burglars who see the obvious signs of multiple occupancy and know that there will be multiple rich pickings inside.

Letting agencies perform merely a tenant finding service and fail to manage properties on their books.

It is easy therefore to distinguish the rented property from the owner occupied. A rented property is likely to have multiple vehicles, carelessly parked, front gardens untended, dustbins permanently on display etc. Conversely, owner occupied properties tend to present a neat and tidy appearance to the world.

It is high time that errant landlords and tenants were forced to ensure that properties did not not have adverse impacts on the residential environment. Legislation that places greater control on this area which has mushroomed because of the buy-to-let boom is therefore to be welcomed. It should for example enable those who have a need to know, to find out where landlords actually live. I believe this can in some cases be surprisingly difficult currently.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/05/14/the-rugg-report-%e2%80%93-the-governments-response/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Anonymous Thu, 14 May 2009 21:01:00 +0000 http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/?p=264#comment-314 Only reason why government wants landlord to register is to make sure they pay tax not for other reason.<br />I think people or landlords should stop letting any propert if this govermnet so concern they can provide housing. Of course fiddling MP expenses need to be paid thefore taxman need more money to pay dishonest MP.<br />I am glad I am not in letting property business. It puts of this so many regulations to landlords. Only reason why government wants landlord to register is to make sure they pay tax not for other reason.
I think people or landlords should stop letting any propert if this govermnet so concern they can provide housing. Of course fiddling MP expenses need to be paid thefore taxman need more money to pay dishonest MP.
I am glad I am not in letting property business. It puts of this so many regulations to landlords.

]]>