Older renters set to surge in number within a few years

The other part the failed to mention Michael is the fact by 65 most people would have cleared their mortgages in line with retiring. In turn the people paying rent would be more than people paying a mortgage FGS.

The fact that it says this was achieved back in 2010 shows the upward mobility of the country and the right path it took in the 80's to enable people to achieve this. This also shows how badly the country got it's policies wrong recently.

I am going to Crowdfund Digging Dear Old Margaret up so she can come a crack some heads together...!

Exactly Tricia, I have been aware of this problem for years, it’s a quiet and hidden future disaster.

Excellent points Tricia!

Tricia

I take the opposite view.

Most of the issues you fear also apply to the jobless feckless sofa surfers and if the rental market were to start operating normally again, it's much easier on theory to move to a more suitable property than it is for owner occupiers who face crippling costs in downsizing.

I would much rather put up with the risk of the "problems" you predict with older tenants than the much higher risk of bigger problems with renting to the "entitled" vocal supporters of Generation Rant.

Perhaps with so many sensible reliable older tenants to choose from, Landlords can transform the feckless youngsters into Generation Can't Rent?

The problem, in my opinion, Robert with renting to older tenants is that you have to make a life long committment to them. They need absolute security of tenure. As you get older - I am talking about 80 plus - or if there is any care need, you can't be subject to any form of instability in your living arrangements. I think there should be beautiful state owned retirement flats for the elderly with wonderful and appropriate facilities including the ability for extra care. There is a very good development in Winchester built in conjunction with the local authority where people can buy outright, have shared ownership or rent (affordable rent). There is 24 hour care available there as well as an on-site restaurant (low cost). It is all very smart, too.

Ellie

I would be very happy to commit to such a long term tenancy for older tenants whose future prospects are pretty predictable and whose income is also predictable and assured.

It's the much younger tenants where there is no predictability or reliability that I refuse to give such a long-term commitment to, hence why I no longer rent to families or even young professionals, whose desirability as tenants has been destroyed by the SNP with the same due to happen soon in England.

Robert, you are very kind.

However, I think the accommodation has to be suitable, particularly for the very old - and if there is the availability of carers on site it makes a huge difference. I know somebody who has a retirement flat in the Winchester development, I mentioned, and she was able to come home quickly from hospital because of the availability of care where she lived. She was so happy to come back to her lovely flat. The restaurant brings food up to the flat when there is a need as well.

I don't think we as private landlords are up to the job, even if we are going to keep our properties for the long-term.

Ellie

I am not kind- just developing a weary sense of realism as I approach my 74th birthday.

In my experience older people do tend to be the salt of the earth, having been born into REAL austerity during or just after the War, been punished at school, told to stand on our own two feet, work and save up for what we want and accept the world doesn't owe us anything except the opportunity to sink or swim.

Some of these lessons would serve our younger generations well!

That is often true, but perhaps you are encountering a particularly obnoxious group of young people. The Scottish legislation may be playing a part, too -creating a false sense of entitlement.

Ellie

To be fair, most of my student tenants are doing fairly extensive part time work during term time plus full time work in vacations and I take my hat off to them.

However there are more ( those groups who don't get my student flats) who have coloured my views as expressed above.

The Scottish legislation hasn't helped and has destroyed a previously successful hybrid system in Edinburgh and Saint Andrews where student flats could be refurbished in early June then let to tourists until September. The failure of many student groups to cooperate and give a decent amount of notice has led many landlords to go 100% short term rentals, adding further to the shortage of student flats and rental properties in general. England seems to be going for 2 months notice but the idiots in charge here think only four weeks notice is just fine, leaving landlords with huge problems in getting tradesmen or new tenants in such a short time frame, all contributing to a worsening position in the Scottish prs market.

To go back and add to Tricia's 6 points, and in view of the discussion between Jo and Ellie on Monday, here's a real problem...

Like Jo's old tenant who wanted to only leave in a box, I had an older lady who often said the same.

BUT she got bad Demantia, and would become a risk to herself and the tenant upstairs.
Her son, living in the USA, realised I had Section 21 available, which helped him recognise the inevitable he was trying to ignore. It prompted him to organise a Dementia Care Home place for her.

Don't know what I could have done if no Section 21 as a longstop.
Nor if no offspring or relatives.

I have a Duty of Care to both the tenant and the one upstairs, so can't tolerate one putting themself or another in potential danger.

There is a need sometimes for real 'No Fault' evictions; which doesn't mean "No Reason".
And if that means the local authorities need to house a tenant in an appropriate (care) home, then good for all concerned. It is their job in such a circumstance.

Robert - you are experienced, so you have chosen the right tenants. Perhaps there might be some tweaks to the Scottish legislation to make it less damaging to everyone; Gove wants to unify the legislation across the UK. Fingers crossed it improves matters for you.

And they're very unlikely to move in a moron boyfriend and have loads more feral kids!

Nice people. An absolute essential quality when deciding who to rent to. Normally the first thing I ask my agent. Any rudeness, Lack of manners, cannot converse civilly then app goes in round file.

Jahan, also any smell of smoking also regected

Coincidence that you should say that. One tenant gladly going

Well done Michael, keeping active in body and mind is a must for living into old age, I'm on enforsed rest at present, it's driving me nuts

I second Jo being put forward for Housing Minister..! And be careful on that roof, need one doing in Preston if you're free next week...

Andrew

Just get out the whisky a bit earlier - makes an idle day seem shorter - and if you must, make it an Irish, although it's neither spelled nor made properly.

I'm dry at present Robert not allowed any

Sorry to hear that Andrew - thought some of your recent posts sounded a bit angrier than usual - now I understand why!

Hope it's not time to be ditching my Diageo shares?

Seriously, get well soon!

Thank you Robert, I'm doing okay, family have all stepped upto the mark, I know they mean well but I just want to get back to work

Irish distilled 3 times makes it nicer, welsh also nice and english made in East Harrling just down the road from me

Perhaps try cocoa - there are substances in it which reduce risk of heart problems etc. They are called flavan - 3 - ols.

And research indicates milk is OK, too.

Not so sure that artificial sweeteners are all right.

Michael

The Scots have been distilling whisky for thousands of years but they managed to keep it a secret long after the Irish stills were discovered by the Excisemen.

Perhaps it's because we can hold our liquor better and not get into fights that we kept the secret longer?

On second thoughts.........