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Peter Lewis

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About Me

my expertise in the industry

Peter's Recent Activity

In the 1960s they would sit around dingy coffee bars listening to jazz, wearing aran pullovers, long hair and worn out Levi jeans, with a dog eared paperback titled the “ Life of Karl Marx”, in the back pocket, smoking roll up cigarette's and sprouting tatty goaty beards, whilst the putting the World to rights. Today they wear ties, earn good salaries, and work in offices, but the result is the same. Low achievers, who will always seek out a cause to champion, whilst not having enough guts to take a gamble, risk their own money and be an entrepreneur themselves. To sum up, “they haven’t got a clue”.

From: Peter Lewis 20 February 2024 08:37 AM

Up go the rents in a City that already has some of the highest rents outside of London.

From: Peter Lewis 13 February 2024 06:39 AM

At the end of the day it is up to the landlord who he houses in his/her HMO as long as they remember that it should not be for racist reasons, as they cannot use racism as an excuse. However if it is because you require references or history of a bank account etc just refuse and choose somebody else. At present the government has a job on it’s hands trying to house way to many people and save itself a whole lot of money. Well you might think that it is worth it, or you may not, just remember that once you've made your decision you counld be stuck with it for longer than you wish, because the government or local authority will definitely not be sympathetic towards the landlord no matter what the circumstance.

From: Peter Lewis 07 February 2024 22:07 PM

I’ve discovered that one of the reasons tha EPCs are incorrect is that if you have a property of an awkward shape the assessor has to calculate the internal area of the property If their maths is incorrect then so can the EPC. The 6;apartments in my block are identical but when advertised all have different areas.hence different EPCs.

From: Peter Lewis 07 February 2024 19:38 PM

I’m sorry but how the hell, did they let gibbo out of the asylum.

From: Peter Lewis 07 February 2024 14:33 PM

I think Martin must have one of the following, either he owns a energy company that installs heat pumps or he is completely off his head.

From: Peter Lewis 07 February 2024 14:30 PM

Modern gas boilers that are already hydrogen ready are the way to go. Heat pumps are less efficient in 95% of the places where they are being retro fitted. Heat pumps are just an inefficient, poor alternative. They might go a long way to meet the governments net zero targets. But they will make a huge hole in your bank balance for absolutely no increase in efficiency.

From: Peter Lewis 07 February 2024 14:27 PM

Unless you have an extremely modern highly insulated home that is devoid of drafts and has some sort of airlock, ie porch, for your entrance, have a large spare cupboard for a water tank and emersion heater, are willing to replace your radiators for larger ones, ready to increase your electricity bill to heat your water, have a space outside for the compressor, and are willing to shell out at least three times as much money even with your grant for your system against replacing a gas boiler, are prepared for at least three times as long for installation time. And even after all that to be colder in your home, don’t bother. Now on the other hand ground source heat pumps are much more efficient, but you will need a decent sized garden and about double the money.

From: Peter Lewis 07 February 2024 09:24 AM

And that is the way it should be done, if you have a rogue landlord you prosecute that landlord and penalise him. You don’t bring in unnecessary rules for the other thousands of excellent landlords out here. I also note that the prosecution was taken by the “ Private sector housing manager” at the council. There appears to be no equivalent post that can prosecute the Social housing sector.

From: Peter Lewis 06 February 2024 08:13 AM

I had a new one done ready to sell because i had had the extra insulation put into the attic thinking that i might get a ‘b’. Unfortunately it went down to ‘D’.

From: Peter Lewis 03 February 2024 20:45 PM

I dare say that if Sheffield Council sent their inspectors to their own social housing estates and inspected their own properties that they would find an equal amount of fire hazards in 50% of them.

From: Peter Lewis 03 February 2024 11:04 AM

With landlords running for the hills, it is going to get a lot worse. Only once the powers that be see the light and instead of seeing landlords as the enemy they should be working with us.

From: Peter Lewis 03 February 2024 10:07 AM

I’ve just had an epc done on my ex rental property ready for sale. The top floor flat is sixteen years old from new, has cavity wall insulation, double glazing, improved attic insulation, low led light bulbs, since new it has always had two ratings of C, however the latest epc has been rated a D. As the flat is in Wales who’s Senedd still intend to bring in epc ratings of C or above into law I would have not have been permitted to carry on renting out what is practically a brand new flat. How can an epc go from C to D overnight on a flat that was only built sixteen years old beats me. Perhaps the cheapest way of getting an epc rating upgrade is to change the person who is carrying out the epc survey? As a footnote the other five flats in a building consisting of six identical flats are all rated C.

From: Peter Lewis 01 February 2024 08:08 AM

I suspect that the increase of landlords giving tenants notice to quit is driven by a number of things, 1. The impending removal of section 21 notices. 2. The threat by councils to introduce rent controls in the private sector. 3. The ever increasing proposed legislation acting against PRL. 4. The fact that private landlords are sick and tired of being demonised by every political party, just for wanting to make an honest living. 5. The fact that interest rates have increased in the banks, and that the government have made it almost impossible for some landlords to make a decent profit due to the tax changes that have already been introduced and future changes in the pipe line. 6. The fact that the huge majority of landlords are completely Peed off.

From: Peter Lewis 29 January 2024 08:07 AM

Maybe Councils should let out one bedroomed properties for nothing and not charge them for damage that may happen during their tenancy. So that these tenants can save to get a mortgage. After all, that is what most Councils expect Private Landlords to do.

From: Peter Lewis 24 January 2024 10:10 AM

I think that anyone who says they can’t afford to pay their rent should not have to pay it. I also think that any one who doesn’t pay their Council tax should be let off. I think that any one who has five children and can’t afford to feed them should be given the food for nothing from the shops. I think that anyone who can’t afford to pay their energy bills should have energy given to them for nothing. I think that the rest of us should support these non payers for the rest of their lives. I think that I am going mad.

From: Peter Lewis 24 January 2024 09:58 AM

I’ve got to admit that i am guilty as charged, not visiting enough, and although i haven't had a reckless tenant it has always cost me at least £500.00 to get the property back to a let able condition. I’m sorry to say that the majority of tenants don’t care a bout condition until they want their deposit back

From: Peter Lewis 20 January 2024 10:24 AM

A social landlord lets it’s tenant down, it’s poor communication and an administrative error, with maybe a small fine. A Private Landlord lets their tenant down, it’s hang the Bas***d.

From: Peter Lewis 17 January 2024 08:12 AM

My two rentals that i let out are in Wales where the Labour Welsh government brought out a law some eight years ago called “Rent Smart Wales” supposedly to improve the way that the PRS behaved and rented out their property. All landlords in Wales have to abide by the new rules or they are not permitted to let out property. Firstly all landlords must register with “Rent Smart Wales” and pay a fee for doing so that is renewable every few years. Secondly if they wish to manage their properties themselves they then need to take a course and pass an exam and of course pay two extra fees that are renewable every few years. The alternative is that they can let their properties through an agent and we all know that using an agent can add up to 15% of any rent that may be asked, so of course the rent gets put up by 15%. For my registration fees and courses and exams In all of those eight years i have never been contacted by “Rent Smart Wales” to inform of new ‘Best practice’ any forthcoming legislation, or any new laws. I also have never been spot checked to see that i am abiding by these rules. Recently Wales has introduced a new way that private landlords can let their properties, no longer can landlords let on a short term lease, only on what is in effect an open contract that allows any tenant to stay as long as they wish, however with the forthcoming end of section 21 and proposals and in Wales to give tenants the right to purchase their rental property at a knock down price, you can understand why landlords in Wales are heading for the hills, as am i. I was contacted recently as one of my properties was becoming vacant by a lady whos son and girlfriend wanted a place to stay for a few months as they were expecting a child and looking for somewhere more permanent to live. Although i know the lady well i had to refuse as it is illegal for me to set a time for them to vacate the property. If i had agreed under Welsh rules i would be breaking the law and they would be entitled to enormous amounts of compensation. So they are sofa surfing as a direct result of the new legislation, and i am selling up.

From: Peter Lewis 10 January 2024 09:05 AM

I do see that having an inspection done on the property by a third party can be a good idea, however I also think that it should be able to be requested by either the tenant or the landlord and the inspection should be paid for by the requester. I also think that the tenant should be forced in law to allow access to the property for such inspections, as we all know that at the moment landlords have no such right and can be prosecuted for attempting to get access. It should also state that a representative of the landlord, tenant, and the inspection team should be present at the time of the inspection and that the whole inspection should be documented with video evidence. Failure by the tenant/landlord to attend after having suitable notice given should also be noted and the offender made to pay for any out of pocket expenses by the other parties as well as for the inspection. Now i know that this idea won’t be put in place by Mr Burnham because it is fair and not bias towards the tenant, and we can’t have fairness now, can we?

From: Peter Lewis 05 January 2024 11:04 AM

Happy New Year to all of those forward thinking hard working small landlords out there who just wanted to either leave something for your Children/Grand children, or who put their money into property rather than a pension. You do realise that it is you’re fault that there are not enough rentals around, You do realise that because the government have failed to build enough homes, that it is your fault. You do realise that because there are too many people chasing too few homes that you caused it. You do realise that, you and people with foresight who like you who planned for the future for your families will get blamed. You do realise that if Politicians tell people without a home that it is not their fault and blame another group for the problem that they can still, get elected again and can keep a very good wage and pension. You do realise that if your quick and sell up, put the money in the Bank, that you will be off without the hassle. Do you realise that you are public enemy number one.

From: Peter Lewis 02 January 2024 10:06 AM

Up goes the rent,

From: Peter Lewis 29 December 2023 07:29 AM

Karen, you have just given every landlord a reason why not to let their properties to people on benefits.

From: Peter Lewis 21 December 2023 08:06 AM

Remove section 21 and you will remove 20% of private rental properties over night. Put rental controls in place and bang goes another 20%.

From: Peter Lewis 21 December 2023 07:18 AM

How about getting rid of the YES MEN, who pretend to represent Private Landlords, only to agree with politicians that want to cost the rest of us a fortune and demonise any of us that don't agree with them.

From: Peter Lewis 16 December 2023 11:35 AM

Wales has had a license scheme for over five years now, for my eight hundred pounds that i have had to pay for registration, licence’s i have had nothing in return. However my tenants have had to pay extra in rent because i added the cost’s plus 20% on to the rent to pay for it.

From: Peter Lewis 16 December 2023 08:03 AM

Jo Westlake, so how many children live with him full time and how many pets do they have and what is the state of the garden and when the house is inspected by yourself what are the walls like in the kids bedrooms?

From: Peter Lewis 15 December 2023 13:21 PM

And the next move will to be to. force owners of large homes that are under occupied, to take in lodgers to their homes at a fixed low price because there is still not enough accommodation. We all know the real answer, “ build more social and private homes.”

From: Peter Lewis 15 December 2023 08:24 AM

I think a lot of us landlords and the Councils miss a huge point, to be able to qualify for one of the “ new council homes “ you will have to be either homeless, or on the waiting list for up to ten years. Where are the places for single people wishing to leave home or newly married couples, or people migrating to the area going to live? Private landlords house all. The Council won’t accomodate any of those mentioned, so all they are doing is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Newly built housing is what is needed and it is obvious that the private sector are ones with the money to do this. Cut out the private sector and the housing crisis will last for many more years.

From: Peter Lewis 15 December 2023 08:13 AM

Freeholding should be called Freeloading, not content with taking a rent for doing nothing, then raising the ground rent each year for no reason, they also charge astronomical amounts for answering simple questions if you can get an answer out of them at all. And if and when you do get a decision you can bet it will hit your pocket. The majority of English, Welsh, Irish, but not Scottish flat owners are ripped off. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask, but most freeholders are big businesses making huge profits out of the little man for doing absolutely naff all And no matter what some say on here, if your young, want to get on to the property ladder, live in the city and want a nice shiny place. You can only buy leasehold flats, and no they are not cheaper.

From: Peter Lewis 09 December 2023 16:30 PM

If that is the case as you say, then why do all the lenders either insist on a variation of the lease ( which can cost thousands and take months to arrange because freeholders are just not communicating with the lease holder) or an expensive indemnity insurance, which does not protect the leaseholder but only the lender. I have known quite a few property sales that have fallen through due to this exact reason. The law does not require a freeholder to communicate with the leaseholder. And there are hundreds if not thousands of disgruntled leaseholders out there that are getting fleeced weekly by greedy freeholders who drag the whole process out so that they can up the anti.

From: Peter Lewis 08 December 2023 11:32 AM

I wonder how many landlords on here know that if they are paying over £250, per year in ground rent, or £1000, per year if the property is in London. That if they fall just three months behind with the ground rent or just over £80, in arrears, that the freehold company can without warning take repossession of the property without going to the courts no matter how much or how long you have owned the property, and the law can do nothing about it. For that reason Lenders won’t lend on leasehold properties without a variation to the lease. Easy, now try to get that variation, it can cost you thousands. And you wonder why leaseholders of flats hate the freeholders. Big business rogue's.

From: Peter Lewis 08 December 2023 08:40 AM

Tenants should be protected from dreadful landlords like this and the landlords should be prosecuted with the full weight of the law and the sentences should be draconian. Can someone please remind me of the sentences that the landlords of Grenfell Tower got?

From: Peter Lewis 07 December 2023 08:38 AM

Don’t forget the low cost light bulbs, and oh yes who is supposed to do all of this work to all of these properties in such a short time frame? My son recently had a heat pump fitted to his own home, it took seven tradesman one whole working week to carry out the work required and a completely upside down house with floor boards removed, holes in wall, and dust up the ying yang, the result, he was £15000 out of pocket and now has more expensive fuel bills, that are one and a half times as much as they were previously, only to be told that the rest of his central heating system needs to be replaced with larger radiators because heat pumps don’t give out as much heat as gas boilers at an additional cost of £4000. No doubt Mr Khan and Twomey would also require Landlords to financially compensate and put existing tenants up in the Savoy whilst all of this work was being carried out? Landlords live in the real world, whilst Mr Khan and Twomey live in the mythical world of sugar and spice. God save us from these do gooders and bring back some realists.

From: Peter Lewis 05 December 2023 07:57 AM

My son booked an Air B&B In Cornwall last Summer for a Three bedroomed bungalow, it cost him £3000.00. For just six nights. Council Deputy “ Margaret Clancy”, give yourself a pat on the back, I’m sure the other Air B&B owners are quaking in their boots.

From: Peter Lewis 30 November 2023 09:12 AM

After talking to a number of builders, i understand that the majority of them are just not interested in all of the form filling, red tape and jumping through hoops that schemes such as these create, particularly when they are as busy as they are at this present time. This just goes to show that even with the best intentions Politicians and Civil Servants are just not equipped with the right knowledge to make decisions unilaterally. And that they should maybe take some advice from those in the industry before making their ( in this case) ill informed strategies. However, i fear that these desk jockeys will always know better.

From: Peter Lewis 28 November 2023 07:45 AM

I suspect if the “Social Market Foundation” were to take other surveys they would find that 80% of Landlords would be in favour of halving rents, think that other landlords should be prevented from requiring deposits, there should be a twelve month rent holiday for all tenants, that landlords be held responsible for non paid Council Tax, and an automatic 50% discount be offered to existing tenants off the price of a property should the landlord wish to sell up.

From: Peter Lewis 27 November 2023 07:12 AM

So if you are a Council home renter in London you can still buy your Council property in London and get a £130,000 discount, but the Council is then going to buy another property at full price to make up for a shortage of homes ? Seems like a great idea for wasting public money.

From: Peter Lewis 20 November 2023 10:39 AM

From: Peter Lewis 14 November 2023 07:05 AM

So Shelters Polly Neate calls it “unfair no fault eviction's”, and Landlords call it “no fault eviction's”. I call it being able to spend my money and do what i want with my own property. If Shelter think that the housing crisis is bad now, just wait until they try to control rents, or allow private tenants the “right to buy” rented properties at discounted rates. Do they not realise if it hadn’t been for “ Right to buy “ that there would be millions of more social homes available to rent in the UK today.

From: Peter Lewis 10 November 2023 08:04 AM

The Government are sending this message to all landlords. Do not improve your properties, only replace appliances if you really have to, keep just within the law, decorate your property only when completely necessary. Replace carpets only when thread bear, bodge jobs, and pay the minimum on essential repairs only, when the property is on it’s last legs get rid so that you pay as little capital gains as possible. By imposing unfair tax burdens on the average Landlord they appear to want more of us to join the rogues.

From: Peter Lewis 24 October 2023 07:43 AM

I would like to think that at last that the Tory Government have started to see things the way that Landlords do? However could it just be a ploy to slow down the exit of PRLs from the industry? And what happens if Labour take control at the next election, be warned and look to Wales and Scotland where those Governments there are already well ahead of England with their outlandish onslaught against PRLs and holiday lets. If you were thinking of jumping ship and are now changing your mind I suggest you look at draconian rules already in place in those Countries.

From: Peter Lewis 20 October 2023 19:40 PM

As for bed bugs. If the accommodation is furnished, supply the bed frame, but not the mattress.

From: Peter Lewis 20 October 2023 07:02 AM

Nooooooooooooooo.

From: Peter Lewis 16 October 2023 09:11 AM

So as Landlords 95% of us know that unless there is an obvious cause. that the main reason for mould is lack of ventilation. As Landlords, 95% of us also know that you can explain until your blue in the face to tenants that they need to open windows to allow adequate fresh air into the home, and also use the expensively installed central heating to keep the mould at bay. Simple isn’t it? And as Landlords we also know that the minute that you walk out of the door the information that you have conveyed has gone straight over their heads and the tenant carries on doing exactly what they were doing before the mould was inspected. i.e. Drying clothes indoors, keeping windows tightly closed in every room, and not using the extractor fans in the Kitchen or Bathroom. Oh what a wonderful way to make a living, guilty until proven innocent.

From: Peter Lewis 16 October 2023 09:04 AM

From: Peter Lewis 13 October 2023 15:53 PM

Lets call a spade a spade, what we are talking about is a rough, run down area with low cost, low quality housing. Blackpool has more than it’s fair share of these type of buildings. It also has a lot of single young people who work in minimum wage jobs, that may even be part time and have to claim benefits. These people don’t wish to pay a fortune in rent. So landlords who own these type of properties have a responsibility to ensure that the properties let are Safe, Dry, and meet the many governmentregulations that are

From: Peter Lewis 13 October 2023 15:28 PM

You can also write the property needs to be treated with respect and on vacating should be in as clean and good condition as when you moved in. Unfortunately the majority take no damn notice

From: Peter Lewis 12 October 2023 23:23 PM

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Politicians are like a ‘Lighthouse in the Desert”, Bright but absolutely useless.

From: Peter Lewis 12 October 2023 13:46 PM

One minute a minister is in charge of the nhs, and the next minute in charge of defence. Just shows what a public school education can do for you. NO TRAINING NEEDED.

From: Peter Lewis 07 October 2023 22:18 PM

It’s no good Labour playing the holier than thou stance, Welsh Labour combined with Plaid Cymru who are in charge in Wales are in the same boat, and in a far worse position. However they appear to blame all of their woes on immigration from England and second home owners, and take no responsibility for the lack of new social housing or draconian planning rules. Because as we all know that it is never the Politicians fault and the new whipping boys of the day are Private Landlords.

From: Peter Lewis 07 October 2023 10:43 AM

Simple solution, let the Landlord claim the grants.

From: Peter Lewis 06 October 2023 08:31 AM

Just wait until the government of the day attempt to bring in rent controls. If they think that things are bad now, there would be another huge exodus of private Landlords. The trouble with the government is that they compare everything with London, when most Landlords with properties in the province’s are just making an acceptable return against the money that they have invested.

From: Peter Lewis 06 October 2023 08:12 AM

Want to improve the quality of property in the rental section? Allow private landlords 100% of the cost spent on work carried out to bring the property up to standard, against all future tax bills until the money is 100% recovered by the Landlord. Alternatively make 100% grants available to Landlords for the improvements that are required to bring the properties up to a required standard, these grants would only become repayable when the property is sold through Capital gains tax allowances. Of course safeguards would have to be in place to prevent unscrupulous Landlords from profiteering.

From: Peter Lewis 06 October 2023 07:53 AM

What happens after the next election if Labour win? Landlords would be back too square one, villains and the enemies of renter.

From: Peter Lewis 05 October 2023 07:59 AM

Wanted, Naive, left wing, anti capitalist, persons with unrealistic ideas to join our backward thinking organisation. Only persons with no ambition and no idea, need apply. Please apply in first instance to Generation Rent, c/o Shelter house, Cloud Cuckoo land.

From: Peter Lewis 04 October 2023 09:32 AM

After relentlessly hammering Landlords for the past few years, Gove realising that the onslaught against Landlords has caused many to leave the sector and with others planning to either shrink their portfolios or sell up in the next few years. Are we now supposed to believe that he has all of a sudden seen the light? I don’t think so, all he is doing is trying to muddy the waters enough to stop or slow the mass exit that is going on. With a general election around the corner and Labour predicted to take over the reins don’t be fooled, they will have a whole host of new outrageous anti Landlord rules and regulations in their back pockets. I’m sorry to say it is time to take stock and make a decision, do you want to be a whipping boy for the Government of the day or turn your back altogether and invest your hard earned money elsewhere?

From: Peter Lewis 03 October 2023 07:49 AM

As the number of Landlords go down, available rental properties will decrease, rents will go up. Then the authorities will want to bring more legislation to control rents, causing more Landlords leave. Catch 22

From: Peter Lewis 26 September 2023 08:43 AM

Most of the Local councils in the UK are now running with a deficit, many owing millions of pounds, and politicians want to tell landlords how to run a buisness?

From: Peter Lewis 25 September 2023 08:02 AM

Yep’ thats right small and individual Landlords have either jumped ship or are about too. With over 5% interest available in the mainstream banks, people who purchased a rental property rather than having a pension are dumping their properties because they are not prepared to be dumped on by the authorities.

From: Peter Lewis 21 September 2023 07:11 AM

Too late for me already sold up. This decision must be the HS2 of the Housing Market

From: Peter Lewis 20 September 2023 19:06 PM

After coming out of rent smart Wales recently when i sold up. I can honestly say that after my initial three payments for registration fee, the exam fee, and the licence fee, I got absolutely naff all in return for my approx £500.00, outlay for the next five years. It just shows that the authorities are using it as an extra infusion of cash, because in those five years there were very few cases of enforcement or prosecution's of rogue Private Landlords in the whole of Wales. However there were many cases of social housing Landlords failing to supply safe homes, but no prosecutions. If the authorities wish to to charge private landlords good money, then they should give landlords something in return, it appears that all they are doing is using the fees to run an administration service that achieves nothing.

From: Peter Lewis 01 September 2023 09:48 AM

This news plus all of the other obstacles that the authorities appear to want to throw at private Landlords. If your fixed rate mortgage is coming to an end, or just ended there appears to be little option than to jump ship and put your hard gotten nest egg elsewhere. If you own your letting property outright there might be some worthwhile profit in it but even then with the coming changes it is probably the time to get rid.

From: Peter Lewis 01 September 2023 09:16 AM

Surely the seventeen million pounds would be better spent on dealing with genuine complaints against bad Landlords, rather than tarring in the words of the Councils own spokesman the majority of all good Landlords.

From: Peter Lewis 31 August 2023 09:08 AM

Looks like the down market Hotels are going to be busy over the next ten years. If the Government and Local Councils think that Private Landlord's have been profiteering with our housing. Just wait until they are presented with the over inflated bills for all of the extra Hotel accomodation that is going to be required.

From: Peter Lewis 31 August 2023 08:44 AM

And Generation Rent want the Banks to make things easier for renters if Landlords throw in the towel. Cuckoo land.

From: Peter Lewis 29 August 2023 09:17 AM

As the most likely reason for a Landlord to default on their mortgage payments would be unpaid rent from a tenant or setting the rent too low for the property, it just shows how ‘Ben Twomey’ of Generation Rent is completely out of touch with the real world when it comes to financial matters..

From: Peter Lewis 25 August 2023 06:42 AM

Then they will be able to afford and pay their ULEZ and Congestion Charge bills.

From: Peter Lewis 24 August 2023 06:37 AM

So Newham Council want to police private Landlords by sending inspectors to over 70% of the properties that are licensed, fair enough. But what percentage of Newham Councils own properties get a visit from the Councils inspection teams? Very few I suspect. There needs to be a level playing field. With local Councils up and down the Country failing to to maintain their own properties to a decent standard. Where do they get off Policing and fining the private sector ? I’m all for receiving advice and maintaining decent standards in the private sector but the same rules should be applied to the social housing sector, with inspections, and punitive fines imposed on housing associations and Council’s that don’t comply with their own set of rules or time frame’s.

From: Peter Lewis 23 August 2023 08:07 AM

Everyone in the whole of the UK knows that the trigger points for anti- social behaviour the entire length of the country are on estates where the Landlords are either the local council or the Local housing association, and it would also seem that according to recent instances reported in the national press that it is also the local councils and local housing associations that manage some of the very worst condition properties in the UK, so bad that some of their properties even lead directly to the death of some of their tenants, there are also cases where families of six are squashed, into living in a one bedroomed property, all caused by extremely poor management. If councils are so poor at being Landlords, how the hell do they have the audacity to request extra powers to take over the management of private properties?

From: Peter Lewis 22 August 2023 16:50 PM

I live in Flintshire at present it is run by the Local Labour party, there is a shortfall of over two million pounds in unpaid rent, even though these households receive payments towards their rent from the government. The council admit that they are not chasing the majority of the arrears as it would not be economical. A few years ago the council wrote off a few million pounds of rent arrears for the same reason. If these new laws are enforced then landlords will have practically no redress with the already lopsided law being taken full advantage of by every scrounging tenant, or do-gooder organisation, and their free legal representation, Every business person knows that if it ain’t profitable then it ain’t worth running. So my advice is, Give up, Sell up, because the coming storm is aimed directly in the landlords direction and there is not going to be any helping hand from the government which ever colour, whether it be Blue, Red, Yellow or Green. The private landlord has become public enemy number one.

From: Peter Lewis 21 August 2023 08:32 AM

It would appear that all of the political parties have one common enemy, the private landlord. Successive UK governments have failed and are still failing to provide enough affordable homes for the forever growing need of the population, at the same time much of the existing stocks are old, inefficient, and less face it not fit for purpose. Private Landlords need to be warned now, whichever party holds power after the next election the onslaught against private landlords will continue, bringing in even more draconian rules aimed directly at the private lettings section, blaming us for all of the Country's woes rather than taking responsibility for the huge errors that successive governments have made. In my opinion the biggest decision that Landlords need to make in the near future is when to sell up and get out of the industry and put their money elsewhere before this “Purple Patch” turns into a never ending black hole.

From: Peter Lewis 18 August 2023 08:35 AM

The Surname says it all.

From: Peter Lewis 17 August 2023 06:55 AM

Of course it is common sense that improvements to rental properties that make life better for tenants should be tax deductible, after all the government get their bit in capital gains tax if the property is sold, and if it’s not sold the tenant gets the benefit. But at the moment there is no commonsense from the powers that be. So I recommend that Landlords who find it uneconomical to improve the properties insulation, to just sell up that property and when there is an even worse rental property shortage. It will be the governments problem to sort out and not hard pressed Landlords.

From: Peter Lewis 09 August 2023 10:26 AM

We all know that rents in the capitol are extremely high, however it would appear that Labour, Shelter, Generation rent, and the likes are using London as an example of what is happening around the whole of the country, where we as landlords know that the huge rents and percentages of income are nothing like that in the rest of the country. In my area average local rent for a two bedroomed property is only £695.00 pcm. and far from being 50% of the household income it is less than 20% of the households income which in my opinion is easily affordable. It is about time that M.P.s and charity organisation's ceased trying to bring in legislation based on London and the affluent South East of England. Admittedly rents are increasing, but they are increasing because private Landlords ( me included ) are selling up and leaving the the industry in their droves due to the meddling of politicians and the uninformed ravings of the looney left wing activists.

From: Peter Lewis 07 August 2023 07:41 AM

The suggestion is the tenants should get a discount similar to that, that council tenants recieve.

From: Peter Lewis 05 August 2023 11:32 AM

Wrong, the primary reason for the Energy Efficiency Grant, it was introduced to improve the energy efficiency of a property and reduce carbon emission's that emit from heating homes in the UK. It was not introduced to reduce bills for consumers, if that was the case it would be simple to just increase benefits to the lower paid.

From: Peter Lewis 04 August 2023 06:57 AM

I’m really sorry, but with the onslaught from everywhere Central Government, Local Government, National Charities, The Taxman and the court system, my mind is made up. I’m selling up, taking my money and putting it into a high interest account, and the whole bloody lot of them can sort the housing crisis out between themselves as I am no longer going to be cast as an “Evil money grabbing landlord” just because I was trying to bolster my pension.

From: Peter Lewis 27 July 2023 07:11 AM

My advice is take no notice and carry on selling up before they make that illegal as well.

From: Peter Lewis 20 July 2023 11:35 AM

instead of being on huge estates that are lets face it are dangerous after dark, filled with drugs, break ins, muggings, and anti social behaviour on every corner, many private properties are located in private, respectable, safe areas, that is worth an easy extra 25% in rent. However Councils, and the government don’t take this into account when considering why private accommodation is worth a premium. Many social housing estates are unlawful places where violence rules, and anti social behaviour is rampant. And the police are unable ( because their hands are tied) to maintain law and order. If private land lords are forced out of the rental market, who’s to say that the estates that the banks will put in place ( high rise low cost, tiny flats will be any better in twenty years time.

From: Peter Lewis 06 July 2023 16:35 PM

Give the tenant some of the capital appreciation? The Government already take a large piece in capital gains tax, and now it is suggested that landlords give the rest of the gains to the tenant. Sounds like a tv program “ Who’s Money is it anyway”. Perhaps all the Banks, Supermarkets, Chain Stores, and huge property giants, should give the gains made on their properties to their employees?

From: Peter Lewis 05 July 2023 04:20 AM

And kids, and dogs and cats, and if you don’t pay your rent or the kids, dogs, or cats, wreck the house never mind they can stay for 18 months until at our expense take you to court whilst the tenant tells the court a jackonry.

From: Peter Lewis 04 July 2023 15:57 PM

After being a landlord for the past twenty years I have just sold up and am in the process of getting rid of my last property With interest at the banks going up ( just over 5% at the moment ) just for doing nothing with no hassle, Mr Gove, Shelter, and the four UK governments know what they can do. And the second word is —— off.

From: Peter Lewis 04 July 2023 14:58 PM

Well they know what they can do with their wonderful potential tenants.

From: Peter Lewis 03 July 2023 08:35 AM

I suspect that Landlords of older properties with expensive upgrades needed will sell those properties rather than attempt to upgrade them and replace them with fewer more modern properties. This of course will mean that there will be fewer rental properties available, which in turn will only increase the rents for those properties that are available. And as for being able to get single skinned 150 year old properties up to an EPC of b or above by 2030, well good luck with that.and your air source heat pumps.

From: Peter Lewis 03 July 2023 07:30 AM

What a laugh, seize and bring private rental accommodation property up to standard when at least 15% of Manchesters social housing is not fit for habitation not only that but have you seen the state of some social housing estates? I wouldn’t venture out after dark in many of them. Andy Burnham needs to put his own houses in order before he starts picking on the private sector, I’m not saying that there are not some crappy homes owned by some private landlords, but if he wants to bring the private sector into line it would be cheaper and far more efficient for the council to offer interest free loans to those landlords to bring those properties up to standard giving them a chance to improve their properties either that or shut them down. Pretty sure this is a publicity stunt to get votes knowing that it hasn’t got a hope in hell of getting support from central government of any of the political parties.

From: Peter Lewis 28 June 2023 07:23 AM

So 65% of the local Welsh population have been priced out of the local Gwynedd housing market.? What the Councillor omits to say is that just over 60% of the Welsh population are in receipt of benefits. Perhaps the single minded individual should complain to the banks for not awarding benefit claimants mortgages?

From: Peter Lewis 17 June 2023 16:49 PM

I encourage all smaller Landlords to Sell up, I have and with the recent higher interest rates that you can earn at the banks it is a lot easier than having to deal with the ever increasing hurdles and hoops that they expect us to jump through.

From: Peter Lewis 17 June 2023 14:29 PM

The answer is for tenants to pay their way in life and and to stop thinking that the world owes them a living. If rent has to go up and lets face it everything else is going up, why is it that it is Landlords are the only ones who are getting crucified for having to put their prices up?

From: Peter Lewis 16 June 2023 07:37 AM

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