‘We’re coming for you’ landlords warned by big Midlands council
West Mids mayor says his staff will be cracking down on bad landlords when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force on 1 May.
Landlords have been warned that West Midlands Combined Authority will use its new powers under the Renters’ Rights Act to launch a major crackdown on those who fail to obey the rules.
Mayor Richard Parker (pictured) says: “Everyone deserves a safe, secure and decent home – it’s a fundamental right, and essential for people’s wellbeing and their ability to get on in life.
While many landlords do right by their tenants, there are others that don’t, leaving young children in damp, unhealthy homes.”
“While many landlords do right by their tenants, there are others that don’t, leaving young children in damp, unhealthy homes, and their parents living in fear of losing their home through no fault of their own.
“We must keep driving up the standard of private rental accommodation in our region and protect vulnerable people and families.
“That’s why I will be working with our local councils in using these new laws to support fair-minded landlords so they are ready for 1 May, but also crackdown on those rogue landlords who have blighted too many lives for far too long.”
Local councils will be legally responsible
Local councils will be legally responsible for overseeing the new laws, backed by increased enforcement powers and support from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
The new regime gives councils the power to issue higher civil fines and seek rent repayment orders directly, with penalties as high as £40,000 for repeat or serious breaches.
According to WMCA, there are 225,000 privately rented homes in the West Midlands, but a quarter fail to meet minimum standards of decency due to damp, mould and cold.
Pic: WMCA
Sinister thinking here. If I buy goods or services I have full property rights over what I have bought. I pay the market price, I own it, I can do what I want with it. If I don’t pay to buy something, I have no rights over it.
Now our Progressive politicians (Progressive because it sounds better than Socialist) give voters the welcome message that they have a fundamental right to very expensive things owned by someone else. You deserve it, these lovely politicians tell people. So that means that those of us working in property have a duty to supply that right, and not to allow any infringement of that right through a property being less than perfect. We are lucky if we get paid for our work, that is a bonus, because the important thing is that people’s fundamental rights come before our greed. Tenants have a fundamental right to a great property even if they stop paying for it.
Lucky we have virtuous Progressive politicians like Mayor Parker. He clearly has compassion, he has high moral standing, as he sticks up for people’s “fundamental rights”. May he crack all the whips over us that the Renters Rights Act gives him, as he makes us do our duty in supplying other people’s rights. Don’t thank property professionals, thank the politicians, that is the message, and vote to give them more power so they will give you even more rights over other people’s property.
It is like saying that most people don’t use a phone in a vehicle but we’re going to stop every driver in the street. Open up the car and check out the mounts, get everyone to show their handset and call log, fine thousands if the cradle looks a bit wobbly.
The way things are going, Mr Pompous is going to come looking and no one will be left around..
Why the constant war on landlords? Phrases such as “While many landlords do right by their tenants” dont help the vast majority of landlords “do right” by their tenants the boot is actually on the other foot there are far more bad tenants than bad landlords. In fact some of the worst cases I hear are from the Housing Associations who would appear to have a lower average standard than private landlords.
We need landlords, yes good ones, but we need landlords and they are leaving and it is causing housing problems for many families so please lets not have council officials gunning for landlords.