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Wendy Copsey

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About Me

my expertise in the industry

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I own a mixture of Victorian terrace houses and 1930-1960's houses with 1 1990's one. I've upgraded to EPC C on the newer ones as CWI, topping up loft lagging, new boilers and radiators with temperature control valves and room thermostats, energy saving light bulbs, and double glazing. The Victorian terrace houses are all EPC D and it would take internal wall insulation and underground insulation to achieve EPC C. I know for a fact the way these houses were built this would undermine their damp proofing. I'm not doing it. The tenants would save £23 per year I'd rather just let them pay £23 less and not gain damp issues. My worry is Labour will put it back on agenda. Why can't they just say all housing push up to a EPC D standard to include owner occupiers too?

From: Wendy Copsey 17 April 2024 07:24 AM

As so many landlords are selling up councils should buy these houses up and rent them directly as social housing.

From: Wendy Copsey 15 April 2024 08:39 AM

Sandra, last time I advertised a 3 bedroom house I had 47 applications in 72 hours. At that point the estate agent suggested she take advert down. There are fewer rentals available and more applicants so I don't think rental houses will sit empty.

From: Wendy Copsey 15 April 2024 08:24 AM

That's the problem if you try to keep rents low for good existing tenants. When you want to sell they can't afford to rent anywhere else. I put up rents by a small amount each year like social housing does but keep them about £100 below market value. This means if you do need to sell the tenant can find somewhere else perhaps paying a bit more but they don't have to find too much more.

From: Wendy Copsey 09 April 2024 20:02 PM

These are my thoughts too. I sold a house last year before CGT halved. Most LL's I know are in their late 50's and 60's. They will be all sold up within 7-10 years as they retire. Very few young LL's entering the market. Mortgage rates are high for new entrants. Legislation is prohibitive, profits are lower.

From: Wendy Copsey 09 April 2024 19:56 PM

If the government wants to control the houses it should be social housing that they built not try to takeover houses belonging to private individuals and ltd companies. All the new rules and legislation will push prices up higher as more LL's make their escape.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 April 2024 10:58 AM

I just dread to think what will happen once Labour get in. Can we expect rent caps like Scotland?

From: Wendy Copsey 28 March 2024 18:17 PM

If licencing comes in it will mean more cost for landlords so in turn higher costs for tenants. A tenant can view a property and if it doesn't meet their standards then they should not rent it. It's that simple.

From: Wendy Copsey 28 March 2024 09:29 AM

I always do a 12 months fixed term contract. If the tenants are good I simply renew for a further 12 months. Some of my tenants have been with me for 8 years but they are still on a 12 month fixed contract. I like it because I know it's a years guaranteed rent. They like it as they have a whole year guaranteed too.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 March 2024 10:09 AM

They were already furious because CGT was reduced in budget. Nothing wrong with a fixed term contract lasting 12 months both tenant and LL know where they stand.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 March 2024 19:35 PM

What will GR rant about if all LL's sell up? Who will they blame for the ills of the world then? Too stupid to realise their campaigns make LL want to sell up. If the tenants have deposits and want to buy the house at market value fine. I don't think many LL's would turn a good offer down. The reality is many tenants have bad credit and wouldn't be able to get a mortgage. That's not the LL fault.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 March 2024 08:26 AM

I'm sure Heath would have done a much better job.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 March 2024 17:14 PM

If the Green party didn't want LL to sell up they should stop hounding them and bogging them down with legislation. The register they refer to has a lag period. Soon they will see the newly sold houses appear on it. They are just too dim to know how the register works.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 March 2024 07:43 AM

It's not fair some councils have these licenses and others don't. All I can suggest is buy I areas which don't have the licence scheme. I'm in Staffordshire and I've not heard of any there. I have houses in Hull and none of them have to be licensed either. If they did I'd sell and buy somewhere without licensing.

From: Wendy Copsey 05 March 2024 10:37 AM

Another reason not to vote for Sunak.

From: Wendy Copsey 03 March 2024 11:38 AM

Everyone knows Section 21 is used frequently when a Section 8 should be used. Give will find Section 8 use goes up once he abolishes Section 21.

From: Wendy Copsey 28 February 2024 09:21 AM

That's the point LL's sell up. Where will LA house all these evicted tenants?

From: Wendy Copsey 20 February 2024 09:51 AM

This just proves that LL's can't win. Damed if they do and damned if they don't.

From: Wendy Copsey 16 February 2024 14:10 PM

If they had 2 years at the start of a tenancy they'd have no LL left. None of us could put up with that. Imagine you get the tenant from hell and cannot get rid for at least 2 years. Utter madness. Everything skewed to favour the tenant as it is a tenant gives 1 month's notice but a LL must give 2 months, now they want 4 months. Crazy.

From: Wendy Copsey 12 February 2024 09:18 AM

Exactly, much quicker and easier for judge to agree a tenant can be asked to leave. Even then many won't move out because councils tell them to stay put until bailiffs arrive.

From: Wendy Copsey 10 February 2024 12:34 PM

Exactly John. No documents means you can't check. There are penalties for not checking. Who would want to house these illegal immigrants anyway?

From: Wendy Copsey 07 February 2024 21:11 PM

They will rob you again David, with CGT when you sell too.

From: Wendy Copsey 05 February 2024 09:40 AM

My tenants have told me they like the certainty of the 1 year fixed term that I renew for them each year. They are worried in future a LL can just sell a house at any time.

From: Wendy Copsey 05 February 2024 09:39 AM

I had tenants who put hard board over the gas ventilation grilles. The gas engineer told me when he went to do a gas certificate. He took the hardboard down and explained he couldn't issue gas certificate unless gas grills were clear. I did an inspection 1 month later and the tenant had purposely blocked the cover again. I got a witness statement from the gas engineer and put in a section 21. Tenants gone now. New tenants much better and both air and heat the house properly.

From: Wendy Copsey 31 January 2024 12:06 PM

Not airing it and not heating the property too.

From: Wendy Copsey 31 January 2024 12:01 PM

If they wanted them by 24th then they should have set deadline of 24th. I've got mine ready to press send and will press the button one day before deadline. It's been ready for ages.

From: Wendy Copsey 26 January 2024 08:24 AM

I can't help thinking if the government did not persecute LL over many years, they would not be selling up in their thousands. Thus avoiding the exodus of LL. Maybe that's just too common sense for a government?

From: Wendy Copsey 16 December 2023 06:55 AM

I think Newham council should have been fined. In the same way they would have fined a private LL.

From: Wendy Copsey 13 December 2023 20:44 PM

I feel sorry for the people who want to rent a home because government and councils are doing their best to stamp out the PRS. If Labour win I wouldn't be at all surprised if all private LL were required to sell. Labour are slaves to Generation Rent.

From: Wendy Copsey 11 October 2023 10:55 AM

Instead of building or buying their own houses to rent out, councils will do almost anything to try to get hold of LL's properties. I say to them build or buy your own property.

From: Wendy Copsey 09 October 2023 10:06 AM

It's a rediculous bill giving all rights to tenants and all responsibility to LL. We need a balanced approach. Section 21 is most often used even when tenants are far behind with their rent because if section 8 is used just before court date the tenant miraculously finds just enough of the arrears to stop the case from proceeding. Then they fall back into further arrears forcing LL to repeat the process. Much easier to just do the section 21 and tenant moves out. LL can clean up properly and rent to a tenant who will pay their rent on time.

From: Wendy Copsey 05 October 2023 08:51 AM

Finally Sunak makes a sensible decision. Generation Rent can't care about private renters or they would recognise their actions dire tly impact on a shortage of private rental houses. EPC C should be a goal of LL's who own houses that it is easy to upgrade. Unfortunately Victorian terrace houses are difficult and expensive to upgrade and I don't see government offering LL grants to upgrade the internal cavity walls. When they do offer a full grant I expect lots of LL would apply and get the work done but I have quoted £13.8k to do internal cavity walls on a 3 bedroom terraced house and it would need redecoration afterwards costing a further £1500. All to save £8.28 a month on fuel. It's just not cost effective. All easy options such as thick loft lagging, double glazing, valves on central heating radiators and energy efficient lights have already been done by most LL.

From: Wendy Copsey 05 October 2023 08:46 AM

Instead of the huge focus on EPC C just for LL I have always thought trying to get everyone up to an EPC of D would be a better target and grants made available to help.

From: Wendy Copsey 21 September 2023 16:50 PM

Does the Baroness not realise most Section 21 evictions are because of rent arrears but easier to get than Section 8.

From: Wendy Copsey 15 September 2023 22:06 PM

The government needs to create more social housing and stop blaming LL for everything.

From: Wendy Copsey 11 September 2023 12:24 PM

The most likely reason a tenant is asked to leave their tenancy is because they fall behind or simply stop paying their rent. Over time this mounts up. LL still has to pay the mortgage. Ben would you expect to still go to Tesco and leave with a trolley of food if you could not pay for it?

From: Wendy Copsey 11 September 2023 12:14 PM

If EPC C becomes mandatory and LL will sell tens of thousands of houses as it is not economically viable to spend £13,600 so a tenant can pay £3 less a month on utility bills. In some areas like the North terraced houses are the majority so if these houses are sold there simply won't be enough rental houses in PRS so LL can charge whatever they want if they have a C rated property.

From: Wendy Copsey 11 September 2023 12:03 PM

You sound quite smug @Simon Logan,but you'll be stung with CGT if you sell them all at once.

From: Wendy Copsey 08 September 2023 08:43 AM

I sold a house this year but got stung with CGT having owned the house for 17 years. I bought 2 new btl but in limited company. Gradually as they come out of 5 year fixed I'll sell each one to ltd company but only 1 a year as CGT crippling.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 September 2023 10:56 AM

If the minimum EPC standard becomes C in 2025 I suspect 40 percent of rental properties will disappear overnight. Where will the government house these people? I have 10 rental properties. 4 are C and the rest D. I can get 1 of the houses up to a D by installing external cavity wall insulation. All my houses have decent boilers, gas central heating individual radiator valves, good loft lagging, energy efficient lights, good double glazing, thermal blinds and thick curtains. The other 5 houses are Victorian terraces so can't have external cavity and installing internal walls and cavity would be approximately £14-17k each. To save tenant about £12-15 per month. The houses will be made smaller too. It's not cost effective and I'd be forced to sell. In those 5 houses live 11 adults and 13 children. What is ridiculous is that if those tenants owned those houses they could carry on living in them. This government attacks LL insisting the standard is higher for them (C) than the general public who only have to have an E. It would make much more sense to say we need to get D across the board and say 50 percent grants will be available to get property upgraded from either a E to a D or a D to a C for everyone.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 September 2023 10:03 AM

Surely it makes sense to mandate all homes, not just rented ones, to improve to a D rating. That would be better but this government just wants to drive LL's out of PRS. It's strange because it's not like government have alternative accommodation to put these people into.

From: Wendy Copsey 10 July 2023 10:26 AM

I prefer tenants where there are 2 adults working full time. I just think if one of them loses their job the other can still pay the rent on time. I don't mind children. I let out 3 bedroom houses so expect children, but I'm not keen on people who don't work and always chose to rent to workers.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 July 2023 11:42 AM

Accommodation, whether it be paying mortgage or rent has always been between 33 and 40 percent of joint earnings for most people. Nothing new here. The reason rents are increasing is because supply is reducing and the government is to blame for this. My tenants see this and blame the government not me.

From: Wendy Copsey 30 May 2023 10:02 AM

I'm part way through buying a new btl and my letting agents are ringing me every 3 days asking when it's available to let and telling me they have a list of renters waiting for it to come on the renting market. They have told me there just aren't enough rental properties to go around those who want one.

From: Wendy Copsey 30 May 2023 09:47 AM

Sadly I'll have to put rents up by 10 percent this year. Mortgage rates have gone up month on month. I can't sell due to CGT. I'm selling one this year but next year CGT goes to 3 measly percent so won't be able to sell anymore.

From: Wendy Copsey 26 May 2023 06:48 AM

John I don't know any LL who will rent to tenants who do not work. I only rent to house holds with two people working to ensure If one might lose their job the other can still pay their rent. So no trousering of tax payers money here. At the moment there is a balance between rights of tenants and LL. A LL has to give two months notice to the tenant whilst the tenant has to give 1 month notice to the LL. The new bill is suggesting LL have to give 4 months notice whilst tenants only have to give one month. This is rediculouly unbalanced and will result in an even bigger exodus of LL than before.

From: Wendy Copsey 09 May 2023 20:06 PM

Could the government finally be seeing that the very unbalanced Renters Reform, would see even less private rental accommodation available than there is now?

From: Wendy Copsey 09 May 2023 19:54 PM

I'd like to know in new legislation under Section 8 how much rent arrears before you can take court action.

From: Wendy Copsey 09 May 2023 10:39 AM

It must be so obvious LL are not being treated fairly when some of my tenants have commented on it and asked if I am considering selling due to government pressure. They know the more LL that sell up the higher the rents go. Gove just don't want to see it.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 May 2023 10:48 AM

Whenever I read a newspaper story with images of truly disgusting mouldy accommodation it is Housing Association stock not private rentals. It always amazes me when accomodation is not kept well repaired and maintained because the work is tax deductible.

From: Wendy Copsey 16 April 2023 10:55 AM

It always amazes me how dim some of the ministers are. They can only see very short term. They can't consider the impact there policies will have on the long term PRS. We need smarter ministers.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 April 2023 11:18 AM

Sad to see rent cap in Scotland. Many more LL's selling up. If a rent cap comes to England I'll be selling up too. I increase rents each year a small amount as tenants have told me they don't like big jumps in rent every 3 years. I have not increased rent in line with inflation 10.6 last year. I only increased by 5 percent. I aim to increase by another 5 percent this year regardless of inflation rate. If rents had been frozen Ifor 18 months I'd have made very little profit and would be selling up.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 April 2023 11:09 AM

I really don't believe 38 percent of English LL have heard of How to Rent booklet. I also don't believe only 29 percent of LL provide this booklet each time a new contract is issued. For a start all contracts issued through EA come with.How to Rent Booklet.

From: Wendy Copsey 27 March 2023 12:02 PM

I agree with Andrew, I only let to families where both parents work full time as less likely they won't be able to pay rent when due. If one parent loses their job there is still one working parent to pay rent. I don't let to single parents simply because higher risk if they lost their job no one left working to pay the rent. I never rent to people on benefits who don't work. I can't stop my taxes being given to these people but I can stop them getting into one of my houses.

From: Wendy Copsey 27 March 2023 11:53 AM

If rental properties have to conform all properties owned by anyone should have to conform. Anything else is targeting the already weakened Private Rental Sector.

From: Wendy Copsey 27 March 2023 11:43 AM

The fire shortage of good quality rental properties is down to government legislation, pure and simple as that. Proposed EPC changes are going to state rental properties must be at C standard yet privately owned homes can be any rating they wish. Section 21 is generally used to get rid of tenants who are behind with rents or causing a problem or because LL wants to sell property. Scrapping it will mean more LL leaving the sector. Where will Gove house the families that are casualties to his new bill?

From: Wendy Copsey 27 March 2023 11:33 AM

Last time I let a 3 bedroom with small garden I had 13 people wanting to rent it within 2 days of being advertised. All sounded suitable tenants, families with Children. 2 of them offered 3 months rent up front. Estate Agent asking if I'm likely to buy any more houses as all rentals are in high demand and they don't have enough supply. I was assured by EA tenants are having to pay top rents as shortage of supply. Rachel needs to go to EA and try to rent a house.

From: Wendy Copsey 23 March 2023 08:50 AM

And yet when interviewed about why they are selling property and leaving the sector LL's all say they have been forced out of sector by Tory policy. The figures speak for themselves.

From: Wendy Copsey 23 March 2023 08:37 AM

When I sell a btl this March to minimise paying so much CGT a family with 2 children will become homeless. I feel bad because both children born in that house and parents rented from me for 9 years and I don't want to see them homeless. Young couple with no children buying my 3 bedroom house with garden from me. Council have told my tenants they will be put up in temporary accommodation.

From: Wendy Copsey 25 January 2023 12:35 PM

Hunt reducing Capital Gains Tax also makes it painful to sell up as huge chunks of profit have to be handed over to Hunt. I see no way out. Sell up and hand over huge chunks of your equity or carry on and be screwed paying tax on gross rather than net profits and to top it all have to splash out reserves to get ECP C certificates. I have 8 btl and 6 now have ECP of C. The other two are lovely large Victorian terraced houses with D ratings. They will need huge investment to bring up to C rating to save about £80 per year for tenant.

From: Wendy Copsey 25 January 2023 12:28 PM

I am sure LL would willingly upgrade their housing stock if grants were made available to them. At the moment they can not be making a profit because mortgages have gone up but rent caps prevent LL increasing rents. If you don't get paid the money you can't use it to upgrade property. Less profit made also means less taxes paid. Nicola needs to think before she agrees stupid policies.

From: Wendy Copsey 25 January 2023 12:18 PM

If I was a LL in Scotland I would sell up all of my btl properties making 8 families including 15 children homeless. Nicola does not have a sensible long term strategy.

From: Wendy Copsey 25 January 2023 12:09 PM

Better too hot than have tenants who refuse to either heat or ventilate. Then drape wet washing around house to dry. These tenants cause damp and mould.

From: Wendy Copsey 30 November 2022 07:50 AM

I also had so many apicants for 3 bedroom house in Hull. I told estate agents to stop advertising it when I reached 30 on second day it was advertised. At least 23 good potential tenants, I would have been happy with. I predict the figure will treble or quadriple if Renters Reform bill goes through. Many experienced LL will be lost.

From: Wendy Copsey 18 October 2022 17:25 PM

Christopher, stop giving the government ideas. This government can't think ahead and forsee what their disasterous policies will make happen. We only have to look on at Loopy Liz and Crazy Quarteng having no thought their policies would spook the money markets and millions of people would be left paying so much more for their mortgages. Getting rid of Section 21 will make many LL sell up and reduce supply still further. Can Loopy Liz see this? Of course not. She only need look what is happening in Scotland where the number of tenancies vacant are right down, so high demand but low supply. This government needs to wake up and consider how they can increase rental house supply. Instead they do opposite and kill supply further. Pathetic, a primary school child would be more competent.

From: Wendy Copsey 18 October 2022 17:21 PM

Lucy knows nothing. LL have to pay 3 percent stamp duty on all btl properties. As Lucy does not mention this, I assume she does not even know it. LL are not always rich. Many just keeping heads above water.

From: Wendy Copsey 18 October 2022 16:58 PM

Anyone know if btl will also enjoy no stamp duty? Or will LL be penalised again?

From: Wendy Copsey 23 September 2022 10:37 AM

As usual Shelter quoting figures but no source. I think they make their figures up. LL are only allowed to increase rent once a year. So if 20 percent raised rent in August then their will be only up to 80 percent rent rises between all other 11 months and some LL don't increase rent each year.

From: Wendy Copsey 23 September 2022 09:09 AM

Current Energy Performance is E yet government want to jump up to C but only for btl properties. If you live in a property you own they don't care what the energy performance is. Common sense would state make target D for all homes. I wish they would stop picking on btl houses and LL.

From: Wendy Copsey 14 September 2022 08:19 AM

Not sure I agree. I am retired and I will be selling up 1 property in April, then another the following April. Both 3 bedroom houses that are currently housing a family with children. The new energy requirements will be too expensive on older Victorian terrace properties to get to a C level. I have already had additional loft insulation, have boiler less than 5 years old, double glazing windows and doors, individual radiator thermostats, LCD lighting in every room, but without a cavity in wall I would need internal cavity wall work costing £8,200 on one house and £9k on the other. Just to get 2 or 3 additional points to get into C band. Seems like too big an outlay so I'll be selling up 2 of my properties. I have 6 more but they are at C standard now. Still have not decided whether to sell 1 house a year, give money to my children to pay towards paying off their mortgages. The thought of having to go to court if I want to get my property back is not appealing.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 September 2022 06:48 AM

I have been fortunate by very carefully vetting my tenants and have never had to go to court to evict any of them. However it gave me great peace of mind knowing if any of them refused to pay rent, were unsocial and annoyed neighbours or let my property go into disrepair and not inform me of issues that I could apply using section 21 and get repossession of my property without having to produce lots of evidence a judgeay or may not accept. Same as fixed term of 1 year meant any tenant annoying neighbours or continually late in making rent payments could be terminated with 2 month's notice. I would notind stretching to 3 months notice. No LL would want good tenants to leave unless they wanted to move in themselves or sell up. I feel very uneasy about unlimited tenancies that mean it will be so much harder to get rid of bad tenants. I have 2 two bedroom and 6 three bedroom houses let to families and for those reasons I have decided to sell one house this year and another after April 6th. I would not be at all surprised if government recognise the private rental sector is rapidly shrinking thanks to their unfair policies and try to prevent sales by increasing Capital Gains to punish LL leaving the sector. I would advise any LL considering selling to do it sooner rather than later before CG tax is increased.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 August 2022 06:55 AM

Pretty much, so few 2 and 3 bedroom houses for rent in West Midlands. As soon as one goes onto Rightmove it is snapped up. I have a waiting list made up of friends and family of my current tenants who text me almost every month asking if any of my houses have become empty yet.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 August 2022 06:29 AM

I have had of enough. I am selling off one 3 bed family home this year and another next year. I will have 6 left then. They all home good tenants who have been renting from me for many years. However if any of those current tenants leave those houses will be up for sale to. Generation Rent will be responsible for forcing many happy tenants on to the streets or into temporary accommodation when LL sell up en masses.

From: Wendy Copsey 05 August 2022 09:32 AM

And yet the government do all it can to snuff out the private rental sector. What is happening in Torquay is just a glimpse of what it will be like when we have all sold off some of our houses and then there will be severe shortages in all towns up and down the country.

From: Wendy Copsey 05 August 2022 08:43 AM

I have 8 btl properties let to families with children. I have invested in 5 of them to bring up from a EPC D to a C grade. I was intending to do the rest but have now changed my mind and I am selling one each year. I don't like the idea of not being able to terminate a tenancy if it does not work for me. I have never had to use Section 21 but knowing it was there if I needed it was good insurance. I just dread getting in awful tenants who spoil property but pay rent and you just can't get rid of them. Some of my tenants have been in my houses for 10 years with annual fixed term contracts. It will be up to the council to findy tenants suitable alternative accommodation which they will find almost impossible where I live as very few 3 bedroom houses with gardens come up to rent and usually £100 -£150 more per month than I charge them. Renters won't thank government, Shelter or Generation Rent for ending up in temporary accommodation. I can only hope now Give is sacked a new minister might reconsider the impact of scrapping Section 21. If tenants are no problem and paying rent on time I would imagine very few LL would issue a Section 21 just for the fun of it.

From: Wendy Copsey 28 July 2022 12:49 PM

Let us hope they have started to see the downsides of this plan.

From: Wendy Copsey 28 July 2022 12:34 PM

When I advertised a 3 bedroom house that I had come vacant the estate agent had 12 different parties interested and 8 made an offer to rent. To be honest any of 5 would have been suitable as passed credit checks and had jobs. Certainly no shortage of people wanting to rent. The couple I rented it to had to move out of previous rental as owner sold and move in with a parent for over 3 months until they could find another suitable rental near to children's school. If government force LL to sell up there will be many other families in this predicament.

From: Wendy Copsey 17 July 2022 06:06 AM

I've had enough. I have 8 three bedroom houses which I let to families but always on a 1 year fixed term contract which up to now I have been happy to renew provided rent has been paid when due and they notify me of any issues with property and don't try fixing things themselves. I have decided to sell 1 house per year. I feel sorry for these families, some have been with me for 10 years but the odds are now going to be stacked so far in favour of tenants that I want out. Let us hope the government will be finding houses for these tenants to live in because they don't earn enough to save a deposit and there seems to be a shortage of PR properties as government have already driven out many btl LL. Tenants will not thank the government when they are made homeless and put into temporary accommodation.

From: Wendy Copsey 17 July 2022 05:49 AM

I have been a LL for 18 years and 6 out of 8 of my houses already meet EPC level C. I was intending on staying in the btl market and bringing remaining 2 houses up to C standard but with scrapping of section 21, which I have never had to use, and the Section 8 not robust, with tenants being allowed to fall into arrears 3 times in 3 years before you can serve a Section 8 I am selling up 1 property a year and leaving market. I have had good tenants in most cases. Some tenants have stayed for 10 years and it will be difficult to ask them to leave and these will be last houses I sell but I can't be in a position where tenants fall behind on rent twice but I still can't serve them notice.

From: Wendy Copsey 08 July 2022 08:36 AM

I am selling 1 property in autumn and a second after April. Then 1 a year until all 8 are sold and 6 are already at a C standard for EPC with other 2 at a D.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 July 2022 14:54 PM

At the moment this white paper is stating tenants who don't pay rent on time can fall behind 2 month's rent three times in 3 years before LL can go to court to get them out. 5 weeks deposit won't cover 6 months unpaid rent. It is disgraceful and encourages tenants to fall behind on rent. If a tenant has not paid rent for 2 month's they should get written warning and if fall further behind they should be made to leave so property can be let to tenants who keep to terms they signed up to.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 July 2022 14:51 PM

When this comes in I shall start selling my portfolio of 8 houses all accomodating families with children. I will sell 1 each year. Hope government can find my tenants a new home. Some have been with me for almost 10 years.

From: Wendy Copsey 16 June 2022 06:51 AM

If no section 8 how would you get house back if tenants stopped paying rent.

From: Wendy Copsey 30 May 2022 14:15 PM

How can rents be frozen when mortgage rates continue to rise? This person is deluded. The chancellor said £400 towards utilities per household. Tenants in HMO don't pay utilities so can't be intended for them.

From: Wendy Copsey 30 May 2022 08:30 AM

LL's are the scapegoats for all the ills in the housing market. It has to stop. It is discriminatory and unjust.

From: Wendy Copsey 18 February 2022 09:39 AM

I am an experienced LL with 8 btl houses. Over the last 2-3 years I have made sure all houses have led lights, 270 loft insulation, upgraded a few condenser boilers and fitted individual thermostats to ch rads. All have DG. 5 out of 8 are now C. 2 need cavity wall insulation which I will get done after April tax year. The final house is an older larger Victorian house, my favourite as it looks so grand. However it is a D and without either internal cavity walls or external cavity walls can't get to a C rating. The cost for this £10-14k. This is to save tenant £36pa. I am hoping for a partial grant to do this work. If I don't get it I will have to sell the house making homeless a family of 6 with 4 children and one of them is disabled. Let us hope the council can re-house them. They are very happy in house as it is. Easiest option would let me pay family £36 pa towards their energy. It is very strange because if they had deposit same family could buy house from me and remain living there as only btl houses targeted by EPC of C. Make more sense to target everyone in an E standard home first, and not just btl LL.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 February 2022 10:33 AM

In the long term putting your money in bricks and mortar is a safe bet. More people want to buy their own home in UK. than not buy. People will prioritize their rent over most other things.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 February 2022 10:17 AM

George I have a waiting list of families wanting to rent a house from me.

From: Wendy Copsey 04 February 2022 10:10 AM

I think bricks and mortar are a better investment than the markets. If only the banks would offer a decent rate of interest on savings. Whilst banks won't offer a fair return on interest I shall continue to invest in more houses.

From: Wendy Copsey 04 February 2022 10:07 AM

I don't mind a LL register but Gove needs to reconsider the time gre for getting btl properties up to Energy C rating by 2025 whilst allowing owner occupied homes to be below C. 10,000's of LL will sell so less revenue for government and far more families becoming homeless.

From: Wendy Copsey 01 February 2022 07:33 AM

Well if LL about get in and Rachel Reaves gets her way this ladies experience will be common among many families who rent. See how the electorate like that Rachael Reeves. More bits of Labour policy that is not joined up.

From: Wendy Copsey 24 January 2022 08:18 AM

So, will Labour take full responsibility when btl LL sell up and there is then a housing crisis of massive proportions, as there will be so many fewer btl properties to rent? How will Labour deal with black hole of not enough private rentals to fill gap? Or would they prefer more families in temporary one room accomodation or on the streets?

From: Wendy Copsey 24 January 2022 08:13 AM

I have raised rents in anticipation of energy upgrades from D to C. Some properties already a C grade. All properties have double glazing, newish boilers under 4 years old, loft insulation, draft proofing and energy saving lights so now only expensive improvements left to do. I suppose I will have to have cavity walls in the properties that don't have it or solar panels next. Tents wi increase dramatically if that is the case. In West Midlands I have a waiting list for my properties.

From: Wendy Copsey 21 December 2021 10:01 AM

Lucky LL in North East Lincolnshire, what about the rest of us living in different areas? we would like this scheme too.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 December 2021 10:48 AM

I don't understand why LL are expected to bring rental properties up to a higher standard than home owners. A sensible approach would be for all properties both btl and owner occupied to push up to a D rating. If the government want higher than this then they should make grants available for the work.

From: Wendy Copsey 01 December 2021 18:27 PM

I followed government red tape on electric certificates. I had all new consumer units in metal box. Then I had to put rent up to help pay the cost. Tenants were perfectly happy with old consumer unit in hard plastic box. I still have one in my own house. Government legislation forces tent rises not LL's. Now inflation is high and mortgages set to go up. That will mean a further rent increase.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 November 2021 11:02 AM

A friend of mine who is also LL had a tenant in arrears due to Covid. He kindly agreed tenant could pay half rent for the month he was off work sick. The following month he asked to pay half rent again even though he had worked a full month. Friend agreed but was then furious when he found out tenant had paid for enormous tattoo covering large section of his back. He has learned his lesson he won't ever help this tenant out again.

From: Wendy Copsey 15 October 2021 09:43 AM

I have tenants of 7 years moving out at end of August. I'm having house repainted, new laminate and a few other upgrades then have a waiting list with 3 couples all wanting to moving in in October. Will let them view end of September then vet and let on October. Happy days for LL.

From: Wendy Copsey 04 August 2021 08:34 AM

I have had to put my rental prices up purely because I have now had to pay for an electrical report and energy certificate. The consequence of imposing ever more hoops for LL to jump through is the cost will rise for the tenant. Previous to this I had not increased cost for 3 1/2 years. I have told all of the my tenants in my 6 btl houses this price increase is down to government increasing legislation and costs for me.

From: Wendy Copsey 08 July 2021 08:02 AM

It is a small island there is no more suitable land to build. That is why property.is do high. There are lots of bungalows and people take roof off, build up a layer then put roof back on.

From: Wendy Copsey 14 May 2021 12:28 PM

My sister lives in Jersey and she says basically those who work in finance can afford to buy but those who work in other sectors generally can't. There is a very large finance sector in Jersey.

From: Wendy Copsey 14 May 2021 12:26 PM

In March I had the obligatory Electrical Certificate done. Even though I had the nly had a new electrical consumer unit/fuse box 3 years before this I had to have another new one installed as new building regs say metal fuse box case is now required. My own home has the older one with strong rigid plastic but btl must have new one. There really was nothing wrong with 3 years old one. This has resulted in me increasing the rent by £30 pcm whereas otherwise I would not. It is time pointless legislation is upgraded to make it fit for purpose. Clearly any electrical box fitted by a qualified electrician in last 5 years should be fine.

From: Wendy Copsey 11 May 2021 11:24 AM

If Staffordshire council are so confident these tenants will pay their rent they would pay 6 months rent in advance to LL and collect rent back off the tenants themselves.

From: Wendy Copsey 10 May 2021 09:49 AM

LL's offer many solutions to those who can't or don't want to buy their own home. They can accommodate families in houses, couples in flats and singles in HMO, something government and councils fail to do. LL should be celebrated not condemned.

From: Wendy Copsey 17 February 2021 10:15 AM

I have moved away from carpets and now laminate rooms if there is damage I just get the damaged planks swopped out and keep receipts for carpenter. That along with photo date stamped whenove in should be sufficient.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 February 2021 09:29 AM

If you have an extractor fan in bathroom and kitchen over cooker tenants have absolutely no excuse not to use them and prevent mould. Some tenants never open windows. No ventilation causes mould.

From: Wendy Copsey 29 January 2021 09:57 AM

Typical SNP acts before it thinks through the consequences.

From: Wendy Copsey 29 January 2021 09:37 AM

I could just about tolerate a rabbit if kept in a hutch in the garden, never to enter the house. Will LL be allowed to charge a bond for these pets? Luckily I rent to couples who both work all day do I would decline requests for pets on basis it would be unfair to leave pet alone all day. I believe rehoming charities will not rehome a pet unless someone at home with them at least part of the day.

From: Wendy Copsey 29 January 2021 09:34 AM

If this becomes law new tenants will need a guarantor in future before moving into one of my properties.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 January 2021 13:48 PM

Forgot to add rents having to go up to cover additional costs and new energy efficiency certificate too. Next the government will be complaining tents are too high when they are pushing up the costs.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 January 2021 11:20 AM

I have got an electrician on one of my btl as I type. They did inspection then said I needed new fuse box unit to meet new building regs. Last week same happened on another of properties. As all are of similar age and in.samr area I am expecting other 2 properties will need to be done as well. I also had a few single plug sockets made into doubles whilst he was there. Not cheap but at least can be written off against tax bill as essential maintenance and must be done to let properties. I thought electricians might be hard to get hold of end of March with rush to comply.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 January 2021 11:18 AM

I would not rent to students. Not particularly near a University so not an issue for me.

From: Wendy Copsey 11 January 2021 10:48 AM

I bought a property with tenants insitu.anouy 6 years ago. I asked LL to see passport numbers of tenants and gas certificate. He could produce neither. I went to speak to the tenants and told them I would need to see passports and I would have a gas certificate done. After I bought it I had new double glazing, new front door, a fridge freezer and microwave put in too. They stayed there for 4 years.

From: Wendy Copsey 01 January 2021 22:08 PM

After years of squeezing LL's to the bone and forcing many out of the sector they have the audacity to ask for LL help. Unbelievable. When the government reverses some of the punitive measures taken against LL only then will they encourage a partnership between councils and LL's.

From: Wendy Copsey 15 December 2020 15:31 PM

You work hard and scrimp and save to buy properties to get a pension investment and you get taxed to the hilt whilst providing much needed housing for the rental market. At the same time consequtive governments pander to the left and give our hard earned taxes to those who can't be bothered to get a job or cap their hours at 30 to enable them to claim benefits.

From: Wendy Copsey 11 December 2020 11:41 AM

I put a sealed smoke detector on each floor as tenants can't take batteries then and a CM detector by boiler and by gas hob. These are checked every year by gas engineer.

From: Wendy Copsey 23 November 2020 10:34 AM

I have four properties all with excellent tenants that have stayed with me for years. I have one property empty and I will not let it out until Covid 19 is gone. I don't want the problem of not being able to evict if they damage the property or do not pay rent. I am having a new kitchen and garden decking installed whilst it is empty.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 November 2020 14:12 PM

It is about time this government realised it needs private LL and without them there would be a huge homelessness problem. The mortgage interest payment is a legitimate expense, every other business claims expenses. Sunak needs to look at this again and realise the more he drives LL to sell their properties the more of a homeless problem the government will have.

From: Wendy Copsey 08 October 2020 08:59 AM

I don't object to a register of Landlords and a council inspection every 3 years to ensure accommodation is up to decent standard with gas and electricity certificates. This would eliminate rouge Landlords. We also need a Tenants register where tenants who do not look after rental property, cause damage or do not pay rent on time can be listed. This would mean good Landlords were less likely to end up with bad tenants. To be fair we should not have one without the other.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 October 2020 14:07 PM

It is about time the government realised that without PRS far more families would be homeless. They do not have enough housing stock to home them all. They should be grateful that LL provide a service to keep families off the streets but this government is hell bent on shutting down b2l they bring in as.much.legidlation as they can yo make b2l less profitable. They have only themselves to blame when LL decidr enough is enough and sell up. I am considering doing this but it would make 6 families with children homeless.

From: Wendy Copsey 07 September 2020 10:13 AM

I shall be issuing 6 month notice period every time a new renter moves, just in case I want them to leave after 6 months.

From: Wendy Copsey 24 August 2020 12:11 PM

From: Wendy Copsey 21 August 2020 10:11 AM

Government like to forget LL have to pay their bills too. They did not say due to pandemic LL do not have to do gas checks. Not extensions but not gas check extension. Hard as it was to find a gas engineer to come out in April I had to pay extra.

From: Wendy Copsey 21 August 2020 10:10 AM

I have added paragraph at end of lease I now use making tenants sign to say they received has cert, How to tent booklet, property has working smoke detectors on each floor and CM detector is in place, deposit is paid to deposit scheme and now adding electrical cert too. I also take passport number for illegal immigrant check. I am sure the list grows in the hope some LL may slip up and forget one. I let 6 houses and it is like a military operation keeping everything compliant and the insurance current too. I am early retired so have time now but when also working full time it was hard.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 June 2020 10:00 AM

I have already turned one family away as if there were issues I could no longer give them two months notice to leave at end of year. I have had to become far more picky about who I let to and I will no longer let to families with children because of new legislation about to be implemented. From now on professional couples only.

From: Wendy Copsey 20 May 2019 10:01 AM

This government is doing all it can to drive private LL out of business. The families will lose out as LL will sell properties and then they will be homeless and stuffed into a B&B as local authorities do not have enough houses to home them all.

From: Wendy Copsey 20 May 2019 09:57 AM

The only bad tenants we had were two little old aged pensioners. They kept ringing us in the night to tell us heating was not working but when husband went to see they had just turned it off. It happened about seven times in one month. They also set off fire alarms regularly and neighbors complained about their domestics. They had rented for six months and cleared all checks. We gave them notice just before four months and luckily they moved out. We always check employment record, past LL and ask to see latest bank account statement. Only had one bad tenant out of about 40. We try to let to families or professional couples if possible.

From: Wendy Copsey 11 January 2019 13:10 PM

If the government want these properties improved then they should give a grant of 50% for those landlords that make the improvements and allow the landlord to claim for loss of rent whilst repairs were carried out.

From: Wendy Copsey 06 November 2018 17:03 PM

If all Landlords sold up tomorrow the number of homeless families would spiral out of control costing LA millions in B&B charges. The government needs to wake up and show good Landlords some appreciation not drive them out the market.

From: Wendy Copsey 01 November 2018 14:17 PM

John that would mean in many cases Landlords would be letting out property for less than mortgage cost. I look on Rightmove and see average cost of rent for property similar to mine then charge that rent. I only increase rent every second year to cover inflation provided tenants are good tenants. If bad tenants I would raise rent higher for second year to nudge them to leave after end of one year lease.

From: Wendy Copsey 01 November 2018 14:15 PM

I won't take tenants on benefits in any of my rental properties. However if a tenant with a good history of paying rent of time is made unemployed and has to go on to UC I would wait for payment rather than evict. I rent to families with children so unless rent seriously behind would not evict.

From: Wendy Copsey 01 November 2018 14:09 PM

Very useful if you are just looking at interest only. Hoping they bring out a similar product for remortgages and repayment mortgages.

From: Wendy Copsey 24 October 2018 10:54 AM

Many mortgage lenders do not allow a Landlord to let for more than a 1 year fixed contract. I would be prepared to let a property on a 3 year lease to tenants who I have already let to for two years or more and had no problems with which would offer them more security, but I would not take a risk on a new tenant. I don't want to sell my houses at the end of three years though. Would there be any intensive to extend tenancy contract if I did not want to sell?

From: Wendy Copsey 08 October 2018 14:45 PM

Without rental properties the country would not be able to home families with children. Councils have not got enough housing stock to do so.

From: Wendy Copsey 26 June 2018 12:57 PM

This idiot forgets that not all people can save deposit needed to buy a home. Where i live in Midlands there are pages and pages of houses for sale on Rightmove and no one is stopping potential buyers except they do not have deposit saved.

From: Wendy Copsey 26 June 2018 12:50 PM

Renting out a shed for a person to live in is clearly not acceptable but the council say they will stop it but do not say they will house people. There is simply not enough accommodation in some areas and this is the sorry consequence. As Barry says the small fine will not be a deterrent to others contemplating doing the same thing. Councils need to build more affordable housing. Governments need to stop trying to reduce number of good B2L landlords by heavy taxation.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 June 2018 11:13 AM

My tenants tend to stay a long time. One family stayed for almost 10 years until they saved deposit for their own property. On average about 7 years.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 June 2018 11:05 AM

One full day per week, really? I have 5 B2L properties and 3 let to family and 2 let to couples. Apart from the annual gas certificate and an occasional maintenance repair, which a workman will be instructed to do, I would say on average I only spend less than 1 hour on per week. I vet thoroughly before I let to a new tenant move in and most new tenants come from relatives of those who I am already renting to. They sign agreement and inventory, get given renters guide, and sign to say they have received it, I do reading of gas and electricity and they sign to say they agree. They pay money and bond into my account and are given keys and alarm codes. I cannot understand why a landlord would need to spend over a day each week for each property.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 June 2018 11:03 AM

It is worth having good insurance as that is one of the few cost that is still deductible against tax.

From: Wendy Copsey 22 June 2018 10:52 AM

I always take 1 months deposit in case tenant trashes property or skips off without paying last months rent. 3 weeks is not enough unless the tenant provides a guarantor that will pay rent if they leave without doing so or pay for property to be reinstated to standard it was when they entered property.

From: Wendy Copsey 20 June 2018 11:19 AM

I have 5 B2L and only raise rents every third year but have had to warn tenant families that unless government reverses tax changes I shall have to raise rent in line with inflation every year. I hate to do it as nice families with children and on not so high incomes but I have to pay mortgages. There are plenty of people wanting to rent and I have a waiting list but hope my current tenants not priced out of their home.

From: Wendy Copsey 14 June 2018 09:23 AM

I have 5 B2L houses on mortgages and have up to now only raised rent in line with inflation every third year. I have tenants who have rented with me in one property for 8 years and the others for 4 or 5 years. I have had to warn them that in future I will have to increase rents by inflation every year which I really don't want to do as nice families living in houses with children on limited incomes. I am certain it is the kids of family who rent who will miss out as left money left for their activities and treats.

From: Wendy Copsey 14 June 2018 09:13 AM

If everyone who was here legally was issued with a National Identity Card Landlords would know who they could rent to and who not to rent to. Government to blame for wooly situation.

From: Wendy Copsey 14 June 2018 09:03 AM

Government did this in bid to allow less competition for first time buyers but what stops first time buyers from buying their first home is not competition from buy to let, they cannot afford the deposits or satisfy the tougher new regulations to buy.

From: Wendy Copsey 12 June 2018 10:06 AM

I really hate how this government is making Landlords do their work; like checking for immigration and handing out booklets on how to rent. I don't think it should be up to Landlords to give tenants booklet on how to rent. Tenants should get it for themselves from places like library or CAB; they are after all the renters. Government should pay agents to check immigrants and those here legally should be given a card.

From: Wendy Copsey 31 May 2018 11:12 AM

I am a Landlord and I don't charge anything for vetting tenants, contract, inventory or changes to lease or lease renewal. I know a lot of other Landlords don't charge for these things either This legislation change will not affect many Landlords.

From: Wendy Copsey 31 May 2018 08:46 AM

Lou thank you for useful link. I did not know about it but will be using in future.

From: Wendy Copsey 03 May 2018 11:31 AM

I agree there are a small number of rogue Landlords who provide sub standard accommodation, but there are also a few rouge tenants who go from property to property trashing the property or leave owing rent and unless they have a CCJ they do not show up on credit referencing to warn future Landlords. By having both bad Landlord and bad tenant list it is balanced and fair to both. I am fed up of all legislation being in favour of tenant.

From: Wendy Copsey 03 May 2018 11:16 AM

This is horrendous for the Landlord who has clearly tried everything within her power to access the property. The tenant seems to have mental health issues. A pity there is not a bill allowing guaranteed access for Landlords to do a mandatory annual checks that tenants cannot refuse entry. If a tenant refuses a Landlord entry to do these checks it is really difficult and a Landlord has to seek legal help to gain access.

From: Wendy Copsey 03 May 2018 11:08 AM

We normally only charge 4 weeks deposit. However after reading about new Bill maybe in future we should move to the 6 weeks to standardise with other Landlords. New legislation works two ways.

From: Wendy Copsey 03 May 2018 11:01 AM

We pay letting agent to reference and financial affordability check potential tenants for us. We pay for that service. The letting agent charges individual tenants to reference check and financial affordability test. This may not be charging for the same service twice but simply splitting costs between Landlord and tenant. If Landlord get higher bill from agent as they can no longer charge tenant their share of bill we will simply put rent up to cover our additional costs as I am sure any business would do. Not very bright in parliament are they!

From: Wendy Copsey 03 May 2018 10:54 AM

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From: Wendy Copsey 02 May 2018 09:24 AM

A pity landlords don't get equal protection from nightmare tenants who don't pay rent and trash property.

From: Wendy Copsey 08 February 2018 16:48 PM

Councils had houses and then they sold them all off. They created a housing shortage as they no longer had enough homes to house the needy families. Landlords fill a void and without Landlords there would not be enough accommodation to house people and many would be homeless. Let us not forget Landlords pay tax on earnings so contribute to economy.

From: Wendy Copsey 02 February 2017 11:11 AM

I have 3 2 bedroomed and 1 3 bedroomed property that are very well maintained and have had the same hard working tenants for several years; one couple stayed for six years whilst saving a deposit for their own home. I could charge more but up until now I have only raised rents every 3 or 4 years as inflation has been very low and I have made a fair return on my investments however I am going to raise rents for January and will continue to raise each year to offset some of my loss due to Osbournes punitive tax changes. Hammond will find out BTL investors will either raise rents or sell up. Neither of these will help tenants who often rent for a few years whilst they save a deposit.

From: Wendy Copsey 03 November 2016 10:58 AM

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