1. Please introduce yourself. Say a bit about yourself and your company

I am a number of things. All housing related. I work with landlord and tenant law on a variety of fronts. Defending people in court in possession proceedings brought by their banks for mortgage arrears and dealing with landlord harassment cases and prosecuting cases of illegal eviction.

I also work as a trainer of landlord tenant law to housing advisers, lawyers etc., marking course work for housing law diplomas for the Chartered Institute of Housing and have recently signed up for a franchise with the new model of letting agency HomeXperts Ltd. Poacher turned game-keeper you might say.

2. How did you first become involved in property?

Haha. In a very weird way. I began my housing life sorting out fights in a 1,200 bed direct access night shelter in Peckham, South London, called “The Camberwell Spike”. George Orwell stayed there and wrote about it in “Down and Out in Paris and London”. Huge dormitories that held 40 men in a building designed by the man who built Dartmoor Prison, It was a workhouse in 1820 and hadn’t changed a bit in 180 years. I learned a lot about the root of housing problems there.

3. What do you think is your greatest achievement so far?

Two things. Saving countless people from eviction by their mortgage lenders during the past 18 months and training refugees to get involved in housing work.

What I have learned is that there is very little difference between a broken nosed rogue landlord wielding a baseball bat to get possession of their property, and a bank and its lawyers. Give me a rogue landlord anytime, the latter are doing the same thing but hiding behind the law to do it.

I am involved in teaching and tutoring the Reach-In Project, a joint initiative between the Chartered Institute of Housing and HACT. Mentoring refugees through the CIH Level 3 housing law diploma and getting them into housing jobs where they can use their experience and perspectives to really make a difference in housing.

4. Do you or your company have any exciting plans for the future?

Oh yeah. I have taken my expertise into accommodation agency work through the HomeXperts Franchise group.. I am constantly appalled at the level of knowledge and service offered to landlords and tenants by incompetent and unknowledgeable accommodation agents. My aim is to be an honest, transparent and skilled agency that works for everyone, and every single thing I do is By – The-Book.

I am also about to launch a new report telling people in mortgage arrears how to fight mortgage lenders at their own game and save their home. Teaching people how to fight the banks and win. The stuff I have learned through countless court appearances.

5. What do you think are the greatest problems facing the private rented sector today?

The proposed changes to Housing benefit regulations. Things are going to get very difficult for landlords and tenants past April 2011. Caps to benefit levels, the increase in age limit for the single room reference to 35 years of age, meaning any benefit claimant will be stuck renting a single room until almost middle age.

Benefit levels being cut by 10% every 12 months. Landlords will get hit by this and totally dis-incentivised to let to benefit claimant. Where will they go? Back to the 40 bed dormitories at the Camberwell Spike probably!

6. What do you think are the greatest opportunities?

Believe it or not I am a firm believer in the idea that the more we are restricted by circumstance the more creative we become. When I first started out in housing we said there was a housing crisis and there still is, but people continue to get by. Bring it on I say. It is in the area of the biggest problems that our opportunities lay. I have heard that the Chinese use the same pictogram for ‘Crisis’ as they use for ‘Opportunity’, that makes sense to me.

7. We have a new government. What would you like them to do for the private rented sector?

I have a firm view on that…..bring in compulsory licencing for accommodation agents. They are supposed to be housing professionals and yet they repeatedly act unprofessionally, even dropping their clients in the s**t and leaving them open to huge awards of damages (Deposit protection anyone?) and criminal prosecution. All because most of them are as clueless as ‘Dave down the pub’. There should be a law against them.

8. Do you use social media (blogs, twitter, LinkedIn etc)? What place do you think it has in the future of the property industry?

Absolutely. I hate all of it, but it is where things are at. It doesn’t make any sense to be King Canute in these matters hahaha

9. What is the most important lesson you have learned during your time in property?

If you are a landlord, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that it is just about rental income, numbers on a tally sheet.. You have to be part landlord, part social worker. It is good money but it isn’t necessarily easy money.

When you give a set of keys to anyone you are into a relationship with them. The laws surrounding letting properties are stupidly complicated and if you get it wrong you are probably committing a criminal offence. If you don’t like it, don’t do it. Look for a different way to make money.

If you are a tenant reading this. PAY YOUR BLOODY RENT ON TIME, YOUR LANDLORD HAS A MORTGAGE TO PAY.

10. What advice would you have to someone thinking of entering the property industry today?

It is an an excellent way to invest. There is always money to be made from property. Don’t expect it to go easy though. Talk to your tenants; build a relationship with them, tenants become part of your life, not just a page on your bank statement.

*****
Thanks for that Ben, and I think many of us will agree with what you say, particularly about licensing letting agents.

If you want to hear more from Ben, tune in every Friday to read TRO Confidential.

PS Ben now has a website with help on mortgage repossession with some free downloads and a kit you can purchase if you are having problems with your bank or mortgage company.

1. Please introduce yourself. Say a bit about yourself and your company

I’m Jim Overbury the CEO of Housing Action. Housing Action are a charitable owned social enterprise rapidly expanding in the private lettings market. Housing Action are landlords and managing agents with a twist.

Established in 1987 we offer landlords a unique opportunity to never have a debt or void again without the need for credit referencing, insurance or any risk of their property being returned in a condition less than they would expect.

We currently work with several local authorities and run the PSL (Private sector lease) schemes for South Norfolk, Waveney and Broadland district councils. I would describe myself as passionate, committed, service driven and maybe, just maybe, a bit of a workaholic!

2. How did you first become involved in property?

Whilst at university, I managed Student accommodation and learnt early on, the ground rules that have stood me in good stead:  be clear, be simple, but most of all be straight. From these humble beginnings I became a researcher for a  Charity, before moving onto work for and now running Housing Action.

3. What do you think is your greatest achievement so far?

Personally my family, but on a business level,  being instrumental in leading my team to develop a charity dedicated to resolving housing issues into one of the fasted growing social enterprises in the UK, able to now deliver on its core aims at a greater level than anyone ever expected, due to the unprecedented uptake we have month in month out of new landlords .

4. Do you or your company have any exciting plans for the future?

Silly question! Yes of course, we have some fantastic ideas for the coming months and years which see Housing Action develop in to a national charity in the not too distant future.

5. What do you think are the  greatest problems facing the private rented sector today?

Uncertainty. Talking with new and our existing landlords on a regular basis, the comments I hear most are that they really don’t know what the government has planned for landlord legislation, changes in the law around direct payments and the recent issue of capital gains tax changes.

6. What do you think are the greatest opportunities?

That this coalition Government can recognise that the private sector can be developed into an viable alternative to social housing and start to alleviate the social housing shortfall, whilst working more cost effectively than many past government schemes.

7.  We have a new government.  What would you like them to do for the private rented sector?

Listen to us!

8. Do you use social media (blogs, twitter, LinkedIn etc)?  What place do you think it has in the future of the property industry?

I think right now it plays a significant part of business in terms of information sharing, but can see it becoming key to future development of new products and services. We have only recently registered our twitter account Housingactionuk, but as time develops and my children show me how it works I plan for it to be a core area of our activity.

9. What is the most important lesson you have learned during your time in property?

The first ones – be clear, be simple be straight!

10. What advice would you have to someone thinking of entering the property industry today?

Talk to other landlords, learn the pitfalls of what could go wrong, rent not getting paid, tenants damaging your property or turning it into a cannabis factory, then call us, as we offer the perfect solution!

*****

Thank you for that Jim.  I think that what you have achieved is remarkable, and I am sure that Housing Action will be a leading national charity very soon.

To find out more visit the web-site www.housingaction.co.uk.

1. Please introduce yourself. Say a bit about yourself and your company

HI I am Roberta Ward and my company – My Property Mentor started life as a help site for landlords and new investors to learn about property investing safely away from the ‘get rich quick’ mentality of some of the larger clubs and marketeers. By way of 1.2.1 mentoring and networking events I spent time helping others. However, that has led to many great things.We are currently involved in an a much larger event in Essex called be2campeast, which is revolutionising networking, and something we are very proud to be asked to run.Besides that the company has moved away from mentoring and into the further promotion in various ways of ethical investing. I’m also a full time investor running my own portfolio and get involved in renovation projects.

2. How did you first become involved in property?

It all came from humble beginnings as my dad and several members of my immediate family are builders and trades people, so I guess you could say I grew up on building sites! I did my first renovation back in 1994, I also developed property in Ireland and later bought some buy to let’s which I rent out on multi-let basis.

3. What do you think is your greatest achievement so far?

Thats a hard question to answer because I am very proud of the folks I have helped and who have gone on to invest themselves. However I am also very proud of our blog which has been phenomenally successful.Through it and the use of various forms of social media we are now supporting the EACH Treehouse Appeal, have had media attention, famous people blogging for us, have written for magazines and have been involved with several viral campaigns. Our newer finance section is doing very well too.

4. Do you or your company have any exciting plans for the future?

Yes we do, unfortunately I cant divulge our biggest project yet as its still in production, but it is a slightly different tangent to what most folks will think of us for! Our finance arm are planning lots of webinars & workshops on tax mitigation and further investing strategies for long term wealth. Our aim is to teach you how to invest your money safely and ethically whilst at the same time showing you the best way to keep hold of it!

5. What do you think are the greatest problems facing the private rented sector today?

Finance is the main issue right now and the spectre of the interest rate hike which still looms large over a lot of investors. I’m not heavily involved in the rental sector, I am more involved in the buy to sell end so thankfully it wont effect us too much.

6. What do you think are the greatest opportunities?

Personally I feel the market will drop yet, so I am waiting to see what happens when it all shakes out in the wash! There are opportunities in any market, but I do think the change within the Estate Sales sector, with the move for an ever more online presence, will eventually radically change our property market for the better. I suspect there will be many more opportunities when the market opens up and we are involved with some of the prime people driving that change forward.

7. We have a general election coming up – what would you like to see in the winning parties manifesto as regards the private rented sector?

I think a proper tidy up and full rework of the myriad of regulatory aspects that an investor has to deal with would be a real bonus, plus maybe some tax breaks where the govt recognises that BTL is a business which helps them sort some housing issues, and it should be treated as such, without weighing down investors with useless bits of regulation that no one can understand.

8. Do you use social media (blogs, twitter, LinkedIn etc)? What place do you think it has in the future of the property industry?

Yes I do use all the above and it has made our business streamlined and fighting fit. As I said above, our use of Twitter led us to be directly involved with be2camp – which itself is a way to bridge the gap between social media and the built environment. Very exciting. Social media is a crucial part of any business strategy in my opinion- and why not? It basically a modern form of great customer service,which is something we should all strive for in business.

9. What is the most important lesson you have learned during your time in property?

Well there are so many! Here are a few of my favorites…. listen to your own instincts re the people you deal with; invest in things you feel safe with; get good advice from financial experts; finally- network like crazy on and offline, because its people who move you and your business forward not products. Surround yourself with great ethical people who you can trust.

10. What advice would you have to someone thinking of entering the property industry today?

( Dont do it!- just kidding)
Get a grip of your finances first- know your own position. Dont’ attempt to run before you can walk, learn the business at a steady pace. It is currently a very volatile market, even seasoned professionals have been caught out, set a clear entry and exit strategy for each deal and always have a plan B exit strategy! Work towards multiple income streams so that you never get stuck with all your eggs in one basket. Diversity spreads risk.

*****
Great advice Roberta. And keep up the good work on your excellent blog.

Services include :

• employment services help get more single homeless people back into meaningful, sustainable employment
• education through training and employment centres, offering practical and creative workshops in a supportive and inspiring environment together with formal learning opportunities that lead to qualifications and finding work
• Crisis SmartMove, a nationwide network of best-practice model deposit schemes that provide non-statutory homeless people with access to good quality accommodation in the private sector and support to sustain this as a home
• Crisis Skylight health and well-being classes such as workshops in Yoga, Karate, Tai Chi and Pilates to improve physical health and well-being, and  a weekly opticians service
• Companionship and support at Christmas to alleviate loneliness and isolation and help people to take their first steps out of homelessness

Find out how you can help via >> this link.

Housing Action are a registered charity who have been around since 1989.  They aim to re-house and support individuals and families in need, and offer them a way back into the private section.  Many of these are simply unfortunate and given a chance, will make as good a tenant as one able to lay £1,000 on the table as deposit and first months rent.

Once let, Housing Action will visit the property on a monthly basis to check that all is well.  As they say on their website:

We can’t house everyone but do our best to give you the best advice and support. If we do find you a place to live, part of the deal is that you accept our support and supervision. We want you to thrive in your new home and will work with you to overcome problems or difficulties. We often work with other specialised support services in partnership and together we can help you overcome what seems impossible to you right now.

Although they own properties themselves and are therefore landlords in their own right, Housing Action need more properties to house their large waiting list of potential tenants. They offer an amazing deal to their landlords, which includes:

• No voids
• Free EPCs
• Free Redecoration on return of the property after 36 months
• Online Access to Inspection notes and history
• 24 Hour Emergency Service for tenants
• Guaranteed rent for as long as the landlord allows them to tenant the property
• Monthly rent paid in arrears
• The ability fto take over existing tenants in receipt of housing benefit
• Monthly inspections

So far as the rent itself is concerned, obviously this service has to be paid for, and you may get less per month than you would having your property managed by High Street agency. On the other hand, no voids and re-decoration on return, is a really good deal. Plus you don’t have all the hassle of dealing with local authority benefit offices and late night call outs. For example it sounds like a good option for people with property at the lower end of the market who want to use it for their pension income. Plus it is nice to know that your property is being used to help people in need.

If you want to know more, visit the website, www.housingaction.co.uk, or give them a ring on 0845 257 0903 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week).