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jeremy's  Personal Profile View my company profile

jeremy clarke
jeremy clarke
Director
12623  Profile Views

About Me

Over 30 years as an agent

my expertise in the industry

managed large chain flagship office and now run my own business

jeremy's Recent Activity

jeremy clarke
Yet government are pursuing periodic tenancies from day 1? Not yet met a landlord or tenant who agrees with the idea, they all want security not uncertainty.

From: jeremy clarke 18 April 2024 07:43 AM

jeremy clarke
One comment asks if gen rent had actually read the articles. Big assumption that these neanderthal idiots can actually read anything beyond Jack and Jill!

From: jeremy clarke 07 March 2024 09:40 AM

jeremy clarke
No, budget needs to get people back to work and stop them being reliant on the state. I run a lettings agency and every day see people capable of work not working because getting benefits means that they are better off! It is not unusual to see people getting north of £2,000 a month for not working, disgraceful.

From: jeremy clarke 05 March 2024 07:41 AM

jeremy clarke
EPC is not fit for purpose, it needs to be abolished or radically changed. I've said it before on here but, again - we had a landlord who fully renovated a detached house, removed gas central heating and replaced with an air source heat pump system, solar water heating and solar photo voltaics. EPC rating was C and after spending thousands it remained C, the assessor said that if it hadn't been for the efficient lighting and insulation it would have been a D!

From: jeremy clarke 27 February 2024 11:29 AM

jeremy clarke
What we need is for Mr Angry to book a holiday in an air bnb (because he certainly wouldn't fly off on holiday, too green and angry)! Once on holiday, a few photos of him published in the sun newspaper should be enough.

From: jeremy clarke 20 February 2024 08:18 AM

jeremy clarke
Yet during all this upheaval, the tenant managed to produce another baby to bring into these awful conditions. If it was that bad, why get pregnant?Was it the mould that inseminated her or a phantom male partner who disappeared once the deed was done and the ink was dry on the form for extra benefits?

From: jeremy clarke 19 February 2024 07:57 AM

jeremy clarke
One of our landlords fully refurbished his 3 bedroom detached house for his own family but had to move abroad at short notice. We let the house and even over this relatively mild winter, the tenants have had to buy and use plug in heaters to keep warm! In addition, a previously c rated epc was downgraded to d after heat pump was fitted.

From: jeremy clarke 08 February 2024 08:56 AM

jeremy clarke
Yet more proof that aspiring politicians need neither qualifications nor common sense. You only have to look at those in government positions to see this, it has to change!

From: jeremy clarke 06 February 2024 08:18 AM

jeremy clarke
How many councils have tried this and failed? The problem is that they are not a business, not accountable etc etc. Last year 1 council had a similar offering, on their website they had 3 or 4 properties showing as let agreed and had 4 staff and a manager in the office!

From: jeremy clarke 24 January 2024 13:36 PM

jeremy clarke
As agents, we have to have CMP and our "body" is PropertyMark or Safe Agent as we have limited options to buy CMP. Neither of these bodies has supported agents in any of the legislation changes, they let us down on tenant fee ban and are noticeably absent in their fight against Renters Reform bill although they do occasionally announce in the press that they have written a letter!!

From: jeremy clarke 23 January 2024 12:58 PM

jeremy clarke
How many of these properties have issues before tenants move in? Probably very few if any.

From: jeremy clarke 22 January 2024 07:02 AM

jeremy clarke
Perhaps if we took Gibbon's advice and insulated the loft, the rent would not go through the roof!

From: jeremy clarke 06 December 2023 16:52 PM

jeremy clarke
In new poll, 98% of tenants when asked would you like to pay less rent and have all bills included said yes, 2% didn't understand the question. Total number of tenants polled = 10, poll taken in the Dog & Duck at 21.00 on Saturday night. What we need on all these articles are more facts about who when how and why they were asked and a decent number and cross section of the population. In truth, it will be tenants that already have a gripe, certainly not the 99% of tenants who are happy with their lot!

From: jeremy clarke 06 December 2023 16:47 PM

jeremy clarke
Another chance to give a council employee a long and ridiculous job title to justify a crazy salary and eye watering pension contributions.

From: jeremy clarke 04 December 2023 08:17 AM

jeremy clarke
3 different HMO licences? Mandatory, additional and??? Either the council know more than the legislation or they know nothing about what they are doing! I presume they are referring to selective licensing which has nothing to do with HMOs?

From: jeremy clarke 01 December 2023 17:21 PM

jeremy clarke
As long as they start with social housing inspections, that'll keep them busy for a while.

From: jeremy clarke 01 December 2023 08:10 AM

jeremy clarke
Pretty sure that this will affect everyone not just tenants, who writes these headlines?

From: jeremy clarke 24 November 2023 09:52 AM

jeremy clarke
Here's an idea polly bleat, why not use some of the millions that shelter receives by duping the public into making donations or the millions donated by government from our taxes to help tenants. Use the money to subsidise rents rather than just letting others do it.

From: jeremy clarke 24 November 2023 09:51 AM

jeremy clarke
Playing the ptsd card seems to be the new "mental elf" card.

From: jeremy clarke 22 November 2023 06:57 AM

jeremy clarke
What on earth does a "senior remote organiser and policy research officer " mean or do? Do these folk just make up titles, does it mean he's working from his kitchen? There doesn't appear to be any correlation between intelligence and stupid job titles.

From: jeremy clarke 22 November 2023 06:55 AM

jeremy clarke
Turkeys and Christmas!

From: jeremy clarke 20 November 2023 15:17 PM

jeremy clarke
Sadiq Khan to buy 10,000 private homes to become social rent properties If ever there was a headline that was misleading and needed re writing, this is it. Sadiq Khan will never be buying 10,000 houses, he has no money. The money will be from tax payers via various quangos which will each take a slice until there's not enough left to buy anything.

From: jeremy clarke 20 November 2023 13:35 PM

jeremy clarke
Is there a link between producing ridiculous statements and the amount of grants from government via us tax payers? Just wondering if the more rubbish spouted by these idiots results in them getting more money?

From: jeremy clarke 16 November 2023 11:50 AM

jeremy clarke
We have had tenants contact us where local authority will basically pay any rent. Last week a couple with joint income of c£48,000 pa receiving £1500 pcm Universal Credit and council willing to pay their deposit, why? It's becoming an entitlement rather than assistance in some people's eyes!

From: jeremy clarke 15 November 2023 13:07 PM

jeremy clarke
We had an enquiry today for a 2 bedroom house. Enquiry by a chap on behalf of his daughter in law and 2 young children (means his son has left her?). The girl doesn't work so would be totally reliant on benefits, I went through the motions and advised him that she would need a guarantor to which he responded, I will be the guarantor. I questioned him on income to which he replied, I'm semi retired but I have 7 rental properties in the area so income isn't an issue. Another question from me, if that's the case sir, why do you not let one of your properties to your D-I-L? Oh that's simple he said, the benefits wouldn't cover the rent I charge!! No wonder this country is in a mess when money is thicker than blood!

From: jeremy clarke 13 November 2023 15:18 PM

jeremy clarke
No, no, no! All a stamp duty holiday does every time is increase asking prices. Seen it happen many times over the years, there are no winners when it happens.

From: jeremy clarke 08 November 2023 11:29 AM

jeremy clarke
All of these issues would have attracted the same penalties without a licensing regime, all under existing legislation.

From: jeremy clarke 08 November 2023 11:27 AM

jeremy clarke
Just when you think they couldn't make it up, they do! What utter rubbish, is it my tax that pays for these idiots to give themselves titles and make up fairy tales?

From: jeremy clarke 06 November 2023 13:55 PM

jeremy clarke
If this carries on, Polly Bleat will soon get a telegram from The King offering her an OBE or something for services to making people homeless.

From: jeremy clarke 27 October 2023 11:21 AM

jeremy clarke
And, "how do you identify?"

From: jeremy clarke 27 October 2023 11:16 AM

jeremy clarke
Propertymark? The same Propertymark that rolled over on Tenant Fee ban having written a letter to the Minister saying that they were unhappy?? Plenty of column inches in this publication from the real noise makers shelter, generation rent et al, if they can make a noise why can't the landlord and agent groups?

From: jeremy clarke 27 October 2023 11:15 AM

jeremy clarke
If Michael Webb wants to come and see the state of a 2 bedroom property vacated this week where the landlord allowed a "small" dog, he is most welcome. After just 2 years, new carpets required and a cleaning and gardening bill of £400+

From: jeremy clarke 25 October 2023 08:26 AM

jeremy clarke
If Michael Webb wants to come and see the state of a 2 bedroom property vacated this week where the landlord allowed a "small" dog, he is most welcome. After just 2 years, new carpets required and a cleaning and gardening bill of £400+

From: jeremy clarke 25 October 2023 08:26 AM

jeremy clarke
If any business wants to operate at below cost or for free, let them do so. If any customer is unhappy with their current provider, let them go elsewhere, but, when the choice has gone from the market, all will have to pay the appropriate cost for the work undertaken.

From: jeremy clarke 25 October 2023 08:22 AM

jeremy clarke
It's the beginning of the month, pay day, Craw has purchased his supply of whatever halucogenic pills he enjoys and is off on another rant!

From: jeremy clarke 05 October 2023 08:49 AM

jeremy clarke
Another finger in the air, think of a number "survey" that means absolutely nothing. Listening to our 3 year old granddaughter counting to 20 last week, she missed out number 18. Still got to 20, or was it 19? Using Acorn's criteria, she probably counted to 55!

From: jeremy clarke 02 October 2023 08:07 AM

jeremy clarke
£29,000 will not go very far when it comes to renovation and, I suspect that if a property needs much renovation, mortgage companies will flinch and start talking about mortgage retentions meaning that many would not be able to proceed anyway!

From: jeremy clarke 27 September 2023 12:51 PM

jeremy clarke
Is it not the case already that if a landlord has been prosecuted in respect housing that they will be removed from the landlord register in Wales and cannot be a licensed landlord? Once removed, surely it is noted as removed, they will still appear in searches made by tenants and agents. If the landlord passes property management onto an agent, he/she/they still have to be registered just cannot be licensed! Does this councillor want landlords to wipe tenants' ar**s too? No need for more defamatory databases.

From: jeremy clarke 27 September 2023 12:38 PM

jeremy clarke
Surely the biggest headache in that department is Gove?

From: jeremy clarke 19 September 2023 10:14 AM

jeremy clarke
"like cut a hole in the fire door for the dog that you didn’t want" has to be the comment of the week, I laughed out loud.

From: jeremy clarke 19 September 2023 10:09 AM

jeremy clarke
So, are mortgage companies saying that if a tenant, who will be on a periodic tenancy offering zero guarantee for landlords or mortgage companies, decides to leave and the landlord is left with a void, they won't worry about landlord paying his mortgage?

From: jeremy clarke 19 September 2023 10:06 AM

jeremy clarke
What amazes me is that landlords are complaining about mortgage rate rises! I bought my first BTL in 1995 and my advisor at the time said, use as much rent as possible to pay off the mortgage as quickly as possible, use the tenant's money not your own. In 2003, mortgage rates were at their lowest since 1954 with fixed rates at c4.5% from 2009 rates were below 1%! So, anyone who purchased BTL in the past say 15 years was either wildly wrong with their gearing or has not been paying down the mortgage, who's fault is it that they still have mortgages and now have high rates to contend with?

From: jeremy clarke 12 September 2023 14:23 PM

jeremy clarke
When taking on a tenancy in the PRS, every tenant should put some thought to what happens if.... * What happens if my landlord dies? * What happens if my landlord needs to sell? * What happens if I don't pay my rent? The PRS is not and has never been housing for life, that is teh job of Government and Local Authorities, the fact that neither organisation (term used lightly), could organise a p**s up in a brewery is not the fault of private landlords who are simply not charities. What about the most misleading charity of all shelter, putting their hands into that very deep bank account that is subsidised by gifts from tax payers via government every year, and building some social housing for those who concern them most?

From: jeremy clarke 11 September 2023 10:53 AM

jeremy clarke
Yet again, local authorities peddling the same old rubbish about improving standards and fighting for tenant's rights. Yet again a story about authorities fining landlords for not paying to join their club with no mention of any of those landlords breaching any regulations, legislation or safety standards?! As we have seen with Birmingham, local authorities simply cannot manage their finances yet keep milking the public for more!

From: jeremy clarke 07 September 2023 09:37 AM

jeremy clarke
OOO look, someone at Property Mark has written a letter! They do this from time to time, it seems about all they do because they sure as hell never back agents! Any organisation purporting to represent agents or landlords should have been fighting the ridiculous government plans for years but: - * Section 24 - wrote a letter! * Tenant fee ban - wrote a letter! * Plans to reduce EPC ratings on rental properties - wrote a letter! * Renters Reform Bill - wrote a letter! * Effect on student market in renters Reform Bill - all of a sudden, as it affected one of their own, a certain director organised meetings, interviews, campaigns as well as writing a letter! * Changes to court system for defaulting tenants - wrote a letter!

From: jeremy clarke 05 September 2023 11:09 AM

jeremy clarke
BIG BROTHER HAS SPOKEN!

From: jeremy clarke 01 September 2023 11:24 AM

jeremy clarke
Utterly disgraceful that a council can even consider! What they need to do is educate their staff on current legislation and then use that to prosecute the bad landlords. looking at recent prosecutions in areas where there is licensing it seems to me that most prosecutions should have been undertaken without the need for licensing if the authority used existing legislation and that most fines are levied simply for not having a licence!

From: jeremy clarke 01 September 2023 11:22 AM

jeremy clarke
My favourite quote of the day in the first comment from Jim - " If we believe the story about global warming, we will not need central heating therefore insulation."

From: jeremy clarke 30 August 2023 13:24 PM

jeremy clarke
"The National Residential Landlords Association is meeting with the Department of Education to consider how, if at all, private landlords can help with a childminding crisis." Don't get me wrong but a lot of landlords are already childminders, holding tenant's hands, teaching them how to open windows, how to use extractor fans, how to clean, and so on.... Do we really need Ben Student Let Beadle, interfering? Surely his energy would be better utilised fighting the rafts of unnecessary legislation that is driving landlords away rather than fiddling around the edges??

From: jeremy clarke 22 August 2023 13:43 PM

jeremy clarke
Let's face it, if tenants were bothered, they would pay to make property more efficient themselves. How about an incentive for tenants who do make properties more efficient such as a rebate each month over 10 years provided they remain at the property?

From: jeremy clarke 21 August 2023 08:09 AM

jeremy clarke
How about asking the tenants/occupiers what they want? Simple question " would you like to have a more efficient property?" If yes, then tenants/occupiers pay, if not they are left alone

From: jeremy clarke 03 August 2023 13:00 PM

jeremy clarke
Tobias Elwood, MP Bournemouth is also on the side of the landlord, recent correspondence from him effectively says that he has been telling Gove for months that there are issues. Just need a few more to show their hands!

From: jeremy clarke 02 August 2023 12:19 PM

jeremy clarke
In larger buildings where fire alarms etc are fitted, new models have remote testing and recording. With Alexa and similar in many homes this ought to be possible with alerts sent to tenants and landlords if there is a failure?

From: jeremy clarke 25 July 2023 11:13 AM

jeremy clarke
Something that would simplify things for landlords would be to amend Renters Reform to allow possession of property in certain circumstances either without the need for a court application or by way of a similar arrangement to the accelerated process/money online claim. For example, rent arrears are very easy to prove, production of a bank statement and either an income spreadsheet or, tenant statement, should be sufficient for possession to be granted using a system like to money online claim process. Application in, case proven by statements, possession order issued to tenants giving say 14 - 28 days to vacate, CCJ issued at same time. If tenant failed to vacate, a process to apply and receive order for bailiff within 24 hours, job done!

From: jeremy clarke 25 July 2023 11:11 AM

jeremy clarke
We use very detailed ingoing inventories and outgoing reports, accurate as they, are no report will be able to record the smell left behind by dogs and cats and rabbits, nor can it record future issues such as fleas and ticks as the eggs can take months to hatch. Only today I have a landlord who is just about to spend over £3,000 putting new carpets and underlay into a house saying definitely no pets! The only way that he could ever be persuaded would be if the tenant was able to lodge a deposit equal to outlay that could be retained for 6+months after the tenants vacate and that ain't gonna happen! Goodness knows what will happen when the real commies take over Westminster next year as no amount of fiddling around will rescue the current incumbents and it will be many years before we have a real Conservative Party again!

From: jeremy clarke 25 July 2023 10:59 AM

jeremy clarke
Me me me me me me me me me more more more more more more - did I get the job?

From: jeremy clarke 17 July 2023 12:48 PM

jeremy clarke
Sandra, unfortunately rouge? landlords will not be reading this article and the proportion of bad landlords in the PRS is very small indeed. There is enough legislation for local authorities to prosecute any landlord reported to them, unfortunately more legislation will not get rid of bad landlords. Since 1903, it has been a requirement for a driver to hold a driving licence, 120 years later and the police stop lots of drivers every week for not having a licence!

From: jeremy clarke 12 July 2023 11:55 AM

jeremy clarke
Question this morning from a landlord concerning council tax. Who would be liable for payment on a periodic day one tenancy? At the moment tenant on 1988 HA tenancy is beneficial owner for period of at least 6 months therefore liable, if tenancy is periodic?? Same landlord and guarantors, no fixed period = guarantor able to withdraw = no guarantor! Is anybody listening??

From: jeremy clarke 11 July 2023 12:45 PM

jeremy clarke
Fines for breaching safety regulations or fines for not joining the licensing "club" aka, council pension fund?

From: jeremy clarke 10 July 2023 08:25 AM

jeremy clarke
Nope, read that article 3 times and cannot see the correlation between s21 and high house prices?? I'm guessing that Ben is trying to justify his salary at Generation Hate, they all probably cheered loudly when he read this rubbish out at story time!

From: jeremy clarke 04 July 2023 15:05 PM

jeremy clarke
Benefits for landlords? This prosecution was about not having a licence no mention as to whether the property was up to scratch? Surely it would have been better for the council to visit the properties and then make a ruling? Box ticking exercise by the council, no more!

From: jeremy clarke 04 July 2023 14:48 PM

jeremy clarke
What exactly does NRLA and Property Mark ARLA do for their clients/fees? Over the past 5+ years they seem to just nod at anything that comes out of Westminster, Property Mark occasionally announce that they have "written a letter" but all in all they have been completely absent at their posts when it comes to representing landlords and agents. I guess that the directors of each are still collecting their salaries, bonuses and pension contributions?

From: jeremy clarke 04 July 2023 10:24 AM

jeremy clarke
Let's start with these rogue councils sotring out their own and other social housing stock. That should keep them busy for the next 25 years@

From: jeremy clarke 28 June 2023 08:10 AM

jeremy clarke
How about these councils just got on with the stuff they need to do anyway and the police make themselves known on the streets?

From: jeremy clarke 26 June 2023 14:23 PM

jeremy clarke
These muppets (no disrespect to Jim Henson) are the types that you find on social media looking for trades to do some work, yet telling trades that it's only a small job, will only take 1/2 an hour to complete. They haven't a clue, really should not be allowed anywhere near dangerous machinery!

From: jeremy clarke 20 June 2023 15:02 PM

jeremy clarke
Asking a council to inspect properties that they charge a licence fee for? You're having a laugh! With most councillors still hiding at home, it's never going to happen. Anyway, councillors need to be looking at the social sector first!

From: jeremy clarke 15 June 2023 11:01 AM

jeremy clarke
Councils just do not get it do they? You cannot vilify landlords for years, make their lives hell and then turn round and ask them for help!

From: jeremy clarke 12 June 2023 14:56 PM

jeremy clarke
Yonette, I fear that you have chosen the wrong platform to air such a view! As a good landlord and agent for 35 years I am daily seeing other good landlords moving away from the PRS because they fear that the steps being made are regressive rather than progressive. Landlords do provide homes but they need to be able to choose who they house and under the current regime this seems to be getting eroded. The major changes that came about as a result of HA 1988 were the ability of a landlord to get their property back (s8 & s21) but also the ability to let for a fixed period with a mechanism for ending. The current proposal of periodic tenancies from day 1 takes away the security that any business owner needs; imagine a landlord refurbishes a property, a tenant takes a property today and then tomorrow gives 2 month's notice because he has decided he doesn't like the property! What protection does this give landlords when it may be cheaper to take a 2 month tenancy than live in a hotel for the same period whilst completing a work project?? That will cause landlord in time and effort which he then recoups from the next tenant by way of a higher rent to compensate. At the moment a proportion of what you pay for, say a jar of coffee, at your local supermarket includes the costs of getting it to the shelf along with a mark up for profit, in addition there will be a mark up to account for the jars of coffee stolen from that store. Stop the coffee thief and the price can come down to compensate, stop the majority of changes in Renters Reform Bill and the number of landlords leaving will stop and rents can come down to compensate.

From: jeremy clarke 12 June 2023 13:34 PM

jeremy clarke
No mention of licensing, was it in place or did the council use some of the hundreds of bits of existing legislation to prosecute?

From: jeremy clarke 08 June 2023 14:37 PM

jeremy clarke
You couldn't make it up could you? Organisation that lobbies against private landlords then gets upset when private landlords give up and starts chasing them at their new business. If gen rent shelter et al didn't exist, there would not be a problem with the PRS!

From: jeremy clarke 06 June 2023 13:41 PM

jeremy clarke
I've said it before and will continue to say - these useless idiots in parliament need to try their stupid ideas for at least 5 years before imposing them on us as law. How many MPs would be supporting the Renters Reform Bill if they had had a few bad tenants and rent arrears?

From: jeremy clarke 31 May 2023 10:55 AM

jeremy clarke
Off course the lefties agree, they can then move themselves and their workshy mates in! Once in, they have an address so they can claim more benefits from us taxpayers!

From: jeremy clarke 26 May 2023 19:31 PM

jeremy clarke
If all these so called tenant organisations had spent as much effort pushing government to build social housing as they have in creating legislation that will cause tenants grief and rents to rise we would not be in this situation as those tenants who should be in social housing would be there rather than in PRS!

From: jeremy clarke 17 May 2023 09:14 AM

jeremy clarke
How long before said hotel is full of young men who have arrived in rubber dinghies leaving their families behind until they get their free house, free food free everything?

From: jeremy clarke 02 May 2023 10:55 AM

jeremy clarke
It took many years in Wales to get the landlord register in place and it's still not fully there so England will take a very long time by which time I and many other landlords will have retired. If kneel starmer thinks he is going to get a register in place during his 5 year term he will get a shock and hopefully the 5 years will be the only term liebor get to serve, by then perhaps we will have a proper Conservative party who are not just reds wearing blue ties!

From: jeremy clarke 02 May 2023 10:51 AM

jeremy clarke
Of course they back it, they back anything that mentions landlords!

From: jeremy clarke 24 April 2023 11:55 AM

jeremy clarke
No mention of rent repayment order?

From: jeremy clarke 19 April 2023 14:19 PM

jeremy clarke
Please can all landlord/agent/property publications stop using the word "rogue"? All it does is reinforce the general public's view that all landlords are rogues!

From: jeremy clarke 19 April 2023 14:18 PM

jeremy clarke
Here, let me fix that headline for you - "Government minister clueless!" There, DONE!

From: jeremy clarke 18 April 2023 14:02 PM

jeremy clarke
6 months notice given by council to tenant yet it took the council a further 3 months to visit the property, why? Does the council not have a diary that they could have put the expiry of notice date in and scheduled a visit?

From: jeremy clarke 06 April 2023 10:13 AM

jeremy clarke
Yeh, da rent is 2 hi innit bro! you is gotta hous da homies.

From: jeremy clarke 05 April 2023 13:15 PM

jeremy clarke
And, in the interests of equality, one would hope that the council is also contacting every homeowner, every housing association and their own housing department to ensure that the EPCs in those properties are also brought into line? No, why not?

From: jeremy clarke 04 April 2023 11:44 AM

jeremy clarke
Last week we advertised a 3 bedroom house in Christchurch, over 40 enquiries of which I would say more than 50% really needed to be in social housing rather than looking in the PRS. Most had gov backing (universal credit & various other benefits) of more than £1500 a month, all were working part time! Money that we, as tax payers are paying, surely building social housing is the answer, if 20 people were housed in social housing that's 20 x £1500 a month that we would not be paying as subsidies!!??

From: jeremy clarke 04 April 2023 11:42 AM

jeremy clarke
Article published in "Left Foot Forward" - does abacus abbot know her left from right? Did she not once appear in public wearing odd shoes??

From: jeremy clarke 03 April 2023 12:40 PM

jeremy clarke
North of £60,000 p/a salary to spout left wing views and cause more homelessness! say no more.

From: jeremy clarke 29 March 2023 11:29 AM

jeremy clarke
Good that he was fined, it's a simple process to employ a tradesman with the waste disposal licence, he probably saved a few quid by using a dodgy tradesman and got caught out, better to pay the correct trades the going rate at the outset!

From: jeremy clarke 28 March 2023 11:27 AM

jeremy clarke
I can only presume that gove has an arrangement with polly bleat for her to use the £millions that shelter have stashed away to house all of the tenants that the prs will be putting out?

From: jeremy clarke 27 March 2023 14:47 PM

jeremy clarke
The issue is not necessarily the abolition of Section 21 although the possibility is scaring many landlords away, the issue is landlords feeling that they are losing control of their own properties. I see the major hurdle as the net zero brigade pushing to reduce EPC in rental properties to a c rating, this will cause more landlords more problems than the removal of S21.

From: jeremy clarke 21 March 2023 15:52 PM

jeremy clarke
A number of issues in this report which, as usual is lacking much information I suspect! Firstly, on the surface it doesn't look as if a licensing scheme is in place, certainly not mentioned, yet, the council manged to prosecute successfully. In my mind, further evidence that licensing schemes do nothing as the councils already have the powers to act! Secondly, a prime example where a private landlord has failed and given more ammunition to the "rogue landlord brigade". Thirdly, no mention of the suitability of the property for 5 occupants including a baby, babies tend to generate more washing, more condensation etc. Finally, no mention really of what the family did to help themselves? The stock picture shows a happy couple with young child, probably a long way from the truth? Did they report in timely manner, did they engage with the landlord or just run to the authorities?

From: jeremy clarke 07 March 2023 11:49 AM

jeremy clarke
The one saving grace, if you listen to the whole advert, is that it is aimed (at the moment) at social landlords.

From: jeremy clarke 07 March 2023 10:52 AM

jeremy clarke
Polly Bleat is having a moan on twitter today about a shortage of affordable rental property. Maybe everyone should reply to her tweet??

From: jeremy clarke 28 February 2023 14:57 PM

jeremy clarke
Yet again, ignoring the elephant in the room when it comes to rentals, Social Housing! All the hype in the media about how terrible social housing is, damp, mould, kids dying but they choose to challenge the "low hanging fruits" the private rental sector. As agents, we have been screwed over by the tenant Fee Ban Act, landlords are being royally shafted every way they turn yet still this incompetent government continues to follow the vote, or at least they think they are...............

From: jeremy clarke 28 February 2023 12:18 PM

jeremy clarke
Some years back Medway council ran "training" for tenants, it still appears on their website. Not sure how that worked??

From: jeremy clarke 28 February 2023 11:25 AM

jeremy clarke
The mad Scots woman has gone, hopefully the khan will be next. We don't visit London very often now, it has become unsafe and unattractive since this idiot was elected mayor!

From: jeremy clarke 15 February 2023 15:59 PM

jeremy clarke
What I have never understood is why, a single tenant can reside and qualify for 25% discount yet a landlord is clobbered for 100% council tax when nobody is residing? That empty property is just that, empty and as such should attract a lower rate, if any, council tax. We are seeing landlords loathe to do basics between properties now because they get that bill within a couple of days of a tenant leaving!

From: jeremy clarke 14 February 2023 12:47 PM

jeremy clarke
Proof if ever needed that licensing makes no difference at all. The councils have more than enough legislation to prosecute landlords who don't follow the rules without the cash cow of licensing.

From: jeremy clarke 08 February 2023 16:00 PM

jeremy clarke
Not sure how genuine this article is, we have been running accreditation courses on behalf of LLAS for over 10 years so nothing new here...

From: jeremy clarke 01 February 2023 14:08 PM

jeremy clarke
Paul, for a long time in our area the council gives no grace at all, we receive council tax billing which starts at midnight on the day the tenant vacates. As a result, landlords want tenants in ASAP and getting any maintenance or property upkeep becomes difficult, we try and book trades such as decorators in advance but often even that is not possible. Good landlords are being forced into corners by the councils for a few quid!

From: jeremy clarke 01 February 2023 14:03 PM

jeremy clarke
Alan, the only thing that keeps me sane when I see the Neate woman's name is that their surveys are normally the result of only asking half a dozen disgruntled tenants then multiplying that response by the combined ages of everyone in the shelter office that day and adding in the year and the price of a standard Hovis loaf from Tesco!

From: jeremy clarke 31 January 2023 15:23 PM

jeremy clarke
Double standards here! Okay for council to make money from landlords but not okay for landlords to make money. More councillors from the school of stupid!!

From: jeremy clarke 23 January 2023 17:13 PM

jeremy clarke
Double standards here! Okay for council to make money from landlords but not okay for landlords to make money. More councillors from the school of stupid!!

From: jeremy clarke 23 January 2023 17:13 PM

jeremy clarke
What shelter should do is contact everyone who made a donation or where an estate left them money in a will and ask the question - "are you okay with us spending the money that you thought was going to help the homeless, which we actually don't do, on paying our staff and CEO a bonus?"

From: jeremy clarke 17 January 2023 12:14 PM

jeremy clarke
Would there be any point in a landlord-centric applicant applying? The ability to hold a placard and shout "what do we want, and when do we want it? Now!" is missing from the advert as is a degree in anarchy or pottery or some other rubbish, me thinks that unless you are a genuine benefit claiming tree hugging vegan you ain't got a chance!

From: jeremy clarke 16 January 2023 13:20 PM

jeremy clarke
We are now fitting them in more modern timber framed properties and they are proving invaluable. They are in huge demand and cost has gone up but a worthwhile investment. Big bonus is that they run all the time, cost very little to run and the controls are not accessible to most tenants = win win!

From: jeremy clarke 16 January 2023 13:15 PM

jeremy clarke
The biggest problem is that our current "blue" government just keep moving further to the red side! In 18 months when the next election is due it will be impossible to tell which party is which.

From: jeremy clarke 06 January 2023 13:32 PM

jeremy clarke
I bet this idiot still lives at home with mummy and daddy, rides a bike, doesn't eat meat, hugs trees and supports all communist regimes! If ever there was a case for politicians to have a minimum age for election and to have had a real job with responsibilities for at least 20 years before being able to stand, this is it!

From: jeremy clarke 04 January 2023 10:41 AM

jeremy clarke
If these stupid politicians spent more time living in the real world maybe they would get more respect? Landlords will only seek eviction as a last resort, it costs the landlord money, it takes up time and it causes the tenants grief! The time of year is irrelevant, you pay your bills on time = no problem, you don't pay your bills on time = problem! You can almost guarantee that the mobile phone bills will be paid on time otherwise how can they play online bingo and complete online benefit forms?

From: jeremy clarke 19 December 2022 11:27 AM

jeremy clarke
in over 30 years, despite hundreds of tenants reporting "damp" I can only recall 2 or 3 actual cases of damp, the rest turned out (surprise surprise) to be condensation which in most cases was caused by tenant's lifestyle! I currently manage a small 3-storey 1960's block of 9 flats, most of them report damp each year. there is 1 flat which has been empty now for 4+ years due to a probate dispute, I have the keys to clear post etc. No heating on, windows on vent, no black mould at all, flat next door is occupied and has black mould every year (owner occupied!) it's a lifestyle thing!

From: jeremy clarke 19 December 2022 11:22 AM

jeremy clarke
Reminds me of a scene from a film... "Why the f*** do I want a caravan that's got no f*****g wheels?

From: jeremy clarke 07 December 2022 15:04 PM

jeremy clarke
We have always supported Crisis with their Christmas appeal but this year have advised them that we will no longer since their chairman chose to go public with his views on the PRS and landlords!

From: jeremy clarke 25 November 2022 12:46 PM

jeremy clarke
Just proving that the legislation is there already for councils, we do not need more legislation!

From: jeremy clarke 25 November 2022 12:39 PM

jeremy clarke
In this article: - "The charity says the government data also revealed that 25 per cent were found to be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because of the loss of a private tenancy." In my book that says that 75 per cent were not in private tenancies, who is evicting them, could it be social housing providers by any chance?

From: jeremy clarke 25 November 2022 12:37 PM

jeremy clarke
What teh councils and London Boroughs need to be concentrating on are Housing Associations and social housing! They have more than enough legislation to beat the private landlord if they could be bothered to leave their cosy home offices but seem to ignore their mates in the social sector. You only need to look north to Rochdale, Gareth Swarbrick, recently sacked for incompetence came up through the local government ranks!

From: jeremy clarke 21 November 2022 10:52 AM

jeremy clarke
Likewise, as an agency we have provided 10 meals every Christmas for the past 10+ years, obtuse comments from overpaid executives like this (otherwise know as Ratner moments) do more harm than good!

From: jeremy clarke 14 November 2022 13:15 PM

jeremy clarke
All I can say is that shelter must have 1 hell of a sales team, or, they just don't tell the truth to these organisations that support them

From: jeremy clarke 11 November 2022 14:33 PM

jeremy clarke
Founder Bernard Darko is a director of a couple of companies, not a great track record. Kindroom - Company No. 14159438 Private Limited Company with Share Capital Incorporation 8 June 2022 Incorporated 5 months ago Size Unreported Classification Other holiday and other short stay accommodation (not including holiday centres and villages or youth hostels) n.e.c. (55209) Other accommodation (55900)

From: jeremy clarke 09 November 2022 13:28 PM

jeremy clarke
There are already hundreds of pieces of legislation available for councils to act upon, they choose not to. If Gov add more, will anyone act upon it or will it sit on the shelf gathering dust? Every day I read in my local paper of drivers of cars stopped by police and prosecuted for having no driving licence, no insurance and no MOT, it has been a legal requirement for drivers to have a driving licence since 1934 yet thousands disregard it every year. Just proves that having legislation doesn't stop the problem!

From: jeremy clarke 04 November 2022 13:13 PM

jeremy clarke
The fact is, if you ask the man on the street a question along the lines of "should landlords be licensed to improve standards of property in the area?" that man on the street will reply yes of course! As far as the council are concerned, that passes as consultation, box ticked, ker-ching, the council tills are ringing!

From: jeremy clarke 02 November 2022 11:35 AM

jeremy clarke
In this report, the following, "and the council goes on to claim that people are often confronted with a blanket ‘No DSS’ (Department for Social Security), ‘No Universal Credit’, or ‘No Benefits’ policy even when they can demonstrate they can afford the monthly rent." How do they demonstrate that they can afford the monthly rent? We will ask for wage slips, bank statements and current tenancy to "demonstrate" affordability, if someone is claiming all sorts of benefits, normally they cannot provide wage slips with proof of income - simples!

From: jeremy clarke 02 November 2022 11:31 AM

jeremy clarke
By cancelling direct debits, most customers will find themselves transferred to a higher rate of energy. Most utility companies offer a discount for dd payments and their contracts advise that rate will only apply to customers paying by direct debit.

From: jeremy clarke 21 September 2022 08:45 AM

jeremy clarke
I'm surprised that any of the folk associated with acorn, generation rent, shelter et al can still walk given the number of times they keep shooting themselves in the foot!

From: jeremy clarke 19 August 2022 09:55 AM

jeremy clarke
Crazy to think that these idiots probably received a state education and have aspirations of influencing Government! To me it looks like the education ended at nursery and the space occupied by government influencers is currently very overcrowded, no room for more loonies!

From: jeremy clarke 18 August 2022 12:42 PM

jeremy clarke
“The current housing market is severely choked. Disincentivising people from purchasing property as investments would free up the market, house prices would realign and drop, thereby becoming more affordable. While the rental housing pool would potentially shrink, the pool of properties for sale would grow” she argues. What utter rubbish, if people didn't buy as investments tenants like her would have nowhere to live! Not every tenant can or wants to buy a house. If the rental housing pool shrinks much more, her rent is likely to go up even more as demand continues to outstrip supply, she obviously didn't study basic economics at her school/college/uni!

From: jeremy clarke 17 August 2022 09:49 AM

jeremy clarke
Ha, why would any landlord want to deal with local authorities who, as soon as tenants are given notice, advise them to stay put until landlords take them to court? Tell them to ask shelter (the charity that houses nobody and receives millions each year in government grants) to provide housing! Private landlords are leaving the PRS in their droves due to the actions of shelter and the stupid attitude of government.

From: jeremy clarke 05 August 2022 08:25 AM

jeremy clarke
Has Polly and her bunch of landlord haters just come back from another magic numbers course? Where in those numbers does it say that the evictions were exclusively PRS? It doesn't therefore the numbers are meaningless as they must also include social housing! I attended a possession last month, first for 15 years and the list on the waiting room wall in the court was mainly social housing landlords seeking possession. At what stage will Polly and the rest of them stand up and admit that it is because of their continuous interference in The PRS that landlords are leaving, rents are rising and property supply is diminishing rapidly?

From: jeremy clarke 02 August 2022 12:50 PM

jeremy clarke
Tell it to one of our landlords who allowed a small well behaved dog into her property 2 years ago. On vacation, lawn completely ruined, carpets smelly and snagged, compost bin full of dog poo and a deposit that won't cover replacing even 1 carpet!

From: jeremy clarke 21 July 2022 08:23 AM

jeremy clarke
Absolutely great news, at last this bunch of unwashed hooligans have been brought to boot over their terrible behaviour. Let's hope they will learn from this and just go away or learn to become civilised adults.

From: jeremy clarke 06 April 2022 13:01 PM

jeremy clarke
Absolutely great news, at last this bunch of unwashed hooligans have been brought to boot over their terrible behaviour. Let's hope they will learn from this and just go away or learn to become civilised adults.

From: jeremy clarke 06 April 2022 13:01 PM

jeremy clarke
Just writing to my mortgage company now asking them how much they are prepared to pay towards my utility bills. Once they have responded I will contact my tenants and offer the same assistance.

From: jeremy clarke 04 April 2022 11:59 AM

jeremy clarke
Said it before and will say it again. If polly and her leftie cronies want landlords to follow their constant chanting, they should all be made to test drive the schemes that they dream up for at least 3 years. If, after that trial period they can, hand on heart, say they had no issues, then maybe landlords might listen.

From: jeremy clarke 11 March 2022 14:14 PM

jeremy clarke
Section 21 is a section under 1988 Housing Act, it is not an eviction. To evict, landlords must correctly serve notice but still need a court order for possession to evict tenants.

From: jeremy clarke 16 April 2021 08:03 AM

jeremy clarke
The man is an utter fool. Constantly looking for photo opportunities and headlines whilst London falls further into chaos.

From: jeremy clarke 17 September 2020 01:47 AM

jeremy clarke
Come to an agreement? Simple really, tenants oew rent, everyone agrees that they must pay or lose their homes. The property belongs to the landlord, not the tenants, not the government, the landlords. Unless this is resolved very soon, I foresee landlords taking possession into their own hands and I hope the courts back them every step of the way!

From: jeremy clarke 24 August 2020 07:58 AM

jeremy clarke
If they do and they are caught they are prosecuted, wouldn't it be great if landlords could successfully challenge the thieves that do not pay rent in court?

From: jeremy clarke 21 August 2020 11:05 AM

jeremy clarke
Usual snowflake reaction, blame someone else when surely putting your hand in your pocket as a buyer and employing a surveyor would be the simple answer? At that stage the buyer has "bought" nothing and if the discrepancy is significant there is time to resolve rather than buying blind and then winging?

From: jeremy clarke 10 August 2020 10:22 AM

jeremy clarke
Did anyone watch the parliamentary debate the other day with the woman from shelter and one from some left wing anti landlord group, they didn't have a clue about life in the real world! The guy from NLA had so much patience with them despite their lack of knowledge!

From: jeremy clarke 02 July 2020 10:25 AM

jeremy clarke
Question:- would you like to live in your property free of charge? Answer:- yes please! Surveyor:- quick, publish the results, gov are so anti landlords that they will believe it!

From: jeremy clarke 15 April 2020 08:03 AM

jeremy clarke
Usual crap from the red corner. Gov has gone out of it's way to ensure that incomes are replaced wherever possible. Everyone is at home which must be reducing outgoings such as petrol, meals out, internet shopping and travel costs. Just because takeaways are available doesn't mean you have to keep having them. We just need to budget better and carry on.

From: jeremy clarke 30 March 2020 08:04 AM

jeremy clarke
What must be factored in are our fees, they are my income my staff income and cover the overheads. If less or no rent is coming in then we as agents are in trouble.

From: jeremy clarke 23 March 2020 07:59 AM

jeremy clarke
What must be factored in are our fees, they are my income my staff income and cover the overheads. If less or no rent is coming in then we as agents are in trouble.

From: jeremy clarke 23 March 2020 07:59 AM

jeremy clarke
So, where were all these organisations when we as letting agents predicted this and pleaded with government not to restrict tenant deposits? Yet again a knee jerk vote grabbing bid is proven pointless and, along with other draconian measures aimed at the PRS should be reversed without delay by government.

From: jeremy clarke 03 March 2020 05:00 AM

jeremy clarke
Unbelievable! Councils don't hesitate in introducing anti landlord policies and then have the cheek to ask for help!

From: jeremy clarke 07 February 2020 07:32 AM

jeremy clarke
And yet, government, shelter and the tree huggers keep telling everyone that landlords need more policing and control!

From: jeremy clarke 29 January 2020 08:04 AM

jeremy clarke
Good, this needs to happen more often. Perhaps Shelter will consider funding landlord's legal bills to sue the bad tenants that they seem to think do not exist??

From: jeremy clarke 10 October 2019 09:31 AM

jeremy clarke
At least 2 enquiries this week from tenants who have been given notice by their landlords who are selling up. In both cases the tenants have pets and are still of the impression that by offering a higher deposit they will be housed. Just another example of gov meddling in a problem that did not exist. Prior to June the 1st we would have insisted that tenants took out damage insurance against pet damage, taken a larger deposit and would have written into the agreement that carpets would need to be treated and cleaned by our cleaners at end of tenancy; in 15 years, never had one tenant with pets object!

From: jeremy clarke 10 October 2019 09:14 AM

jeremy clarke
I watched this programme and as an agent was horrified but what I do not understand is why agents and landlords allow the arrears to build up? As far as I'm concerned if a rent is unpaid, tenant is in arrears and I am putting landlords on notice that they need to get all the paperwork ready either via us themselves or via a lawyer to be ready to submit to court on the day after the next rent is due and doesn't come in. This is a business for landlords and it doesn't matter how nice the tenants seem and how appealing their excuses are, get a possession order and stick to deadlines. The other thing that I couldn't understand was the owners of the flat engaging in arguments with their tenant - just walk away and let the process happen! There is of course rent & legal insurance which could save everyone a lot of hassle and heartache!

From: jeremy clarke 23 July 2019 10:47 AM

jeremy clarke
And yet gov are happy to regulate and licence agents leaving landlords like this to just carry on!

From: jeremy clarke 18 July 2019 08:22 AM

jeremy clarke
We now issue an in depth questionnaire to all online enquirers before arranging viewings, over 50% do not respond Those that then view get a further questionnaire if they express interest, so far since June 1st over 30% have lied and then fail referencing!! Main reason are the self employed who either declare virtually no income or have no accounts at all and those who fail to disclose ccj or bankruptcy after being asked twice! They have nothing nothing to lose whereas before June 1st they stood to lose a fee for lying.

From: jeremy clarke 27 June 2019 08:10 AM

jeremy clarke
And in other news landlords are given up to 4 months to pay their mortgages!

From: jeremy clarke 01 April 2019 10:20 AM

jeremy clarke
Please can we stop calling them "eviction notices?" They are not eviction notices, notice served under Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act is the first part of the legal process used by the landlord to advise the tenants that the landlord requires possession of the property. If the tenant fails to move out then the landlord has to apply to the courts for an order of possession; even when that is granted it is not an eviction notice, eviction only comes when the tenants ignore the court order at which point the landlord goes back to court to appoint a bailiff who will ultimately attend and evict if necessary. on another note, Fergus is right, the property belongs to the landlord who should be able to choose the tenants, the more "outsiders" such as shelter and gov interfere and impose conditions the more landlords will react by selling up and getting out which will greatly restrict the market.

From: jeremy clarke 19 March 2019 10:25 AM

jeremy clarke
Hey tenants, if you don't break things and if you clean properly there will be no issues! How difficult is that?

From: jeremy clarke 26 November 2018 07:29 AM

jeremy clarke
Another legal mess, not exactly designed to encourage people to become landlords is it? Someone in government will one day wake up and wonder why the prs is in such a mess, by which time it'll be beyond repair!

From: jeremy clarke 25 May 2017 07:42 AM

jeremy clarke
Remove tenant fees, reduce the amount spent on background checking, increase claims on landlord insurance policies, increase costs of landlord policies, higher rents for tenants! Brilliant, who thought that one out then?

From: jeremy clarke 28 March 2017 08:04 AM

jeremy clarke
Even now when running landlord training days I encounter landlords who have failed to register or protect deposits. On some days I would say it's the majority rather than some; 2 weeks ago 3 from 8 had failed, 1 thinking it was okay because he kept the deposits in a separate bank account!

From: jeremy clarke 02 March 2017 08:03 AM

jeremy clarke
I just spoke to a solicitor as I'm looking to sell a little flat - a list of charges and other costs as long as my arm! What choice do I have, the fact is that if we want something we have to pay for it. If government stopped loading the work that agents had to do the charges might be less. I agree that some take the p*** but there is room for a reasonable charge to be levied for the work involved and believe me it isn't just a matter of tippex on an agreement. When dealing with several hundred properties management software is an essential tool to ensure nothing gets missed - factor that it at £5,000+/- along with office rent etc and you start to see the costs that need to be covered. As a tenant I was once asked by a landlord to meet in a pub to sign papers and hand over money!! Suffice to say i steered a wide berth and was happy to go to an established letting agents office in town and pay for the privilege.

From: jeremy clarke 19 September 2016 16:11 PM

jeremy clarke
So HSE chose to ignore their own guidelines? MUPPETS! Penalties for Breach of Gas Safety Regulations Breach of the regulations is a criminal offence with the Health & Safety Executive empowered to bring proceedings. * Landlords and/or managing agents can be convicted for non-compliance. *The standard penalty is a £6,000 fine for each item and/or 6 months imprisonment. *In the most serious cases charges of manslaughter could be brought. * Insurance cover could be invalidated for non-compliance to the regulations.

From: jeremy clarke 08 December 2015 16:06 PM

jeremy clarke
Can we see the questionnaire presented to these landlords? In over 20 years I do not recall more than a couple of landlords complaining about fees - the key is to explain fees and what they will get for that fee whilst they are in the office!

From: jeremy clarke 16 November 2015 12:55 PM

jeremy clarke
What's the problem? Why on earth have any landlords even considered letting properties without a smoke detector? Common sense to me. Since we opened here in 2013, we have insisted on a smoke detector on each floor, electrical check and gas record before we would consider putting a tenant in a property. To the best of my knowledge we have never had a landlord refuse - it's not as if this just happened, it's been on the cards/agenda for a long time. IMHO if a landlord hasn't got the basics in place he deserves the full weight of the law to come down on him from a great height!

From: jeremy clarke 22 October 2015 14:08 PM

jeremy clarke
Define rogue! What's to stop a landlord with a banning order just transferring the property to brother cousin etc. etc.?? What needs to happen is that the property is subject to an order as well as the landlord. Mind you, how often do we hear of directors being banned from being directors only to discover that they were already banned - who keeps a tab?

From: jeremy clarke 15 October 2015 15:19 PM

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