Blackburn with Darwen Council in new landlord licensing row (From Lancashire Telegraph)

So if a local Council responds to residents' concerns about landlords who don't care about their properties or the behaviour of their tenants, the banks won't lend to landlords.

Yet again an example of our greedy, sociopathic banks. Profit at all costs. Who cares if people are terrorised by nuisance neighbours, if the bonuses which pay for my champagne Ferrarri and yacht are put at risk?

Yet another reason to take your money out of the banks and put it somewhere more responsible.

What do Landlords get in return for paying £500 a year (a months rent!)? Do they get better tenants? no, do they get guaranteed rent payments? no, in fact I cannot think of anythng that a landlord gets in return for this fee - its a tax!

And what happens when tenants complain to housing standards about shoddy or no repairs and abuse from landlords - oh yeah they get evicted.

jimpy0 wrote:
And what happens when tenants complain to housing standards about shoddy or no repairs and abuse from landlords - oh yeah they get evicted.

and how does licensing stop that? Theres no shortage of houses, if you have a landlord that isn't doing his job, move to another house!
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I have 28 houses that are all occupied, I haven't had a tenant leave for over 3 years. I do the repairs and they pay the rent, everyones happy.
.
I wouldn't buy a house in a licensed area, why would I?

and how does licensing stop that? Theres no shortage of houses, if you have a landlord that isn't doing his job, move to another house!

and thats the attitude

midas wrote:

jimpy0 wrote: And what happens when tenants complain to housing standards about shoddy or no repairs and abuse from landlords - oh yeah they get evicted.

and how does licensing stop that? Theres no shortage of houses, if you have a landlord that isn't doing his job, move to another house! . I have 28 houses that are all occupied, I haven't had a tenant leave for over 3 years. I do the repairs and they pay the rent, everyones happy. . I wouldn't buy a house in a licensed area, why would I?

I raise my hat to you and your honour Midas. If only every landlord was as honourable as yourself.

There where still 4,500 complaints about private landlords in the last four years, so it seems that the licensing scheme can be justified because of a few bad apple spoiling it for the rest

Interesting that our friendly local landlord here calls himself "midas". Just remember what happened to Midas.

Tony Greaves

Why are people allowed NOT to pay council tax?

tonygreaves wrote:
Interesting that our friendly local landlord here calls himself "midas". Just remember what happened to Midas. Tony Greaves

An unwarrented dig from a politician, well i never! You don't know me or my business, but when has a lack of knowledge ever stopped you?

makaveli96 wrote:
Why are people allowed NOT to pay council tax?

and if you are Tong Greaves the elected representitive perhaps you should spend more time getting the housing in your area sorted, rather than criticising me!
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How many prosecutions have Pendle brought against landlords who don't keep their properties maintained? How many tenants evicted for anti-socil behaviour? How many ASBOs or house closure orders have the Council got against unruly tenants?
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Perhaps you should spend more time getting your own house in order rather than criticising someone doing what you should be doing, providing good quality housing!
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My tenants are happy with me because I respond to them and sort things out and in return they pay their rent on time, its win win all round. Not looking after your tenants is just bad business. They stop paying their rent, they stop looking after the property and eventually they leave and not only have you lost 3 or 4 months worth of rent you then need to refurbish the house which has been left in a terrible state!

DO NOT GET THIS IT IS AN ID CARD BY THE BACKDOOR

http://www.infowars.
com/national-virtual
-id-card-scheme-set-
for-launch-is-there-
anything-that-could-
possibly-go-wrong/

midas wrote:
What do Landlords get in return for paying £500 a year (a months rent!)? Do they get better tenants? no, do they get guaranteed rent payments? no, in fact I cannot think of anythng that a landlord gets in return for this fee - its a tax!

You hit the nail on the head. This is just a money making enterprise for the councils - creating some more well paid - (overpaid) - positions within those plush council offices. Jobs for the boys ! Why should good landlords be penalised for a very small minority of landlords who do not keep their properties up to standard.
Logically - tenants have a choice whether they wish to live in a property or not - therefore the problem will sort itself out once bad landlords realise they are unable to let their properties because of the condition they are in !

workaholic wrote:

midas wrote:
What do Landlords get in return for paying £500 a year (a months rent!)? Do they get better tenants? no, do they get guaranteed rent payments? no, in fact I cannot think of anythng that a landlord gets in return for this fee - its a tax!

You hit the nail on the head. This is just a money making enterprise for the councils - creating some more well paid - (overpaid) - positions within those plush council offices. Jobs for the boys ! Why should good landlords be penalised for a very small minority of landlords who do not keep their properties up to standard.
Logically - tenants have a choice whether they wish to live in a property or not - therefore the problem will sort itself out once bad landlords realise they are unable to let their properties because of the condition they are in !

Yet the article clearly states that there where thousands of complaints. Therefore the poor council had to employ people to create a solution to the problem. Don't forget it's our tax that's used to pay housing benefit, and I for one would like to see some value for money.
The biggest flaws in your argument are that you have signed a contract which you can't easily get out of, and to move out of a bad place you need a deposit for your new house. Obviously, because your spare money is already with the feckless landlord anyway (who may find an excuse not to pay it back), it's difficult to do the obvious.

This almost feels like another advert by the LT dressed up as a news story.

Interesting that the council like their idea, the charity SHELTER like the idea, but the property management and solicitors don't.

Hmm, go figure....

The reason that house prices are falling is because some areas are being turned into slums due to absent landlords. They don't care about their properties or what tenants they allow in them, they only care about the money that is guaranteed in rents due to the benefits that are paying for it.