Landlord with 1,000 homes evicts tenants on benefits and say Eastern Europeans are better tenants. | Discuss
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9:39 am
20/05/2011
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QuoteLandlord with 1,000 homes evicts tenants on benefits and say Eastern Europeans are better tenants.
A portfolio landlord has sent eviction notices to 200 tenants on housing benefit and said he would not accept any more welfare applicants. Mr & Mrs Wilson built their portfolio over the years from starting in 1986 and now 28 years later they have nearly 1000 properties, and have now decided the most reliable and financially sound tenants are Eastern Europeans.
The UK is all about democratic entrepreneurs and we open our doors to the world to come here to create a better life, we want people like the Wilsons and all our other hard working people to boost our economy and pay taxes, so I was quite surprised at the comments of the people on the Daily Mail thread.
I have never understood the reason that just because people have to ability to create a good business and provide homes for others that they are treated with such distain. What happened to the British bull dog spirit of he who dares wins? Why has our country gone into such a decline that because you have created a successful business over 28 years with ups and downs, you are called such awful names.
It is not just about the people on welfare it’s about the mentality of so many of those people that do not want to climb out of the pit they want everyone else to fall into it. I say good on them let your properties to the people that pay the rent and maybe MR & Mrs Wilson you will send a clear message out to those who want to rely on benefits and hand outs that if you don’t contribute to society there will be no place for you to live in it.
Read The full story at;
Landlord-1-000-homes-evicts-tenants-benefits-He-claims-Eastern-Europeans-better-paying-rent.
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Paul Routledge CEO
Tenant Referencing UK.Com
12:27 pm
I read the comments
Such short sighted people
No business evolves free nada
Add up how much that couple have paid as deposits on the places they rent out.
I always point out to my awkward tenants that they are living in a property that I have personally put down x amount of my own money into
Regardless of how a landlord raises the money for the deposit, it comes out of his own pocket
1:02 pm
20/05/2011
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Amy,
I think that is what I find so distasteful, I have invested my money which I earned and paid taxes on to invest into giving good homes to others and I work 12 hours a day 7 days a week to manage and run my business and just because I do not give my tenants free or subsidise accommodation I am seen as a wretch.
The socialist upbringing of some in this country has given rise to far too many people being given far too much for far too long for nothing, it is time for those who people to understand that you get nothing for doing nothing and that if you want something then you have to get off your arse and earn it and we must stop bowing down to political correctness at fear of telling them so.
I have just had a young couple in my office who are both unemployed and having their first child together and of course they are not married, they have asked if they can move to a two bedroom flat when I asked how they could afford it they said “the council would pay” when I asked about the deposit they said they had “none” so when I asked them if they wanted to make up their deposit by doing the cleaning and rubbish for the block they said “No thanks”. Case ended -
Paul Routledge CEO
Tenant Referencing UK.Com
1:47 pm
07/10/2013
OfflineAt Rybec homes we are seeing a influx of good British professional tenants with our online service, everyday more landlords advertise with our online advertising and we are introducing good tenants to good landlords, we understand that the most important thing about giving landlord a good tenant is good referencing and when it comes to Europeans we sometimes struggle to get a good history.
In our opinion it is better to put forward a tenant that you can get a good history from rather than someone just because they come for a certain ethnicity. A Polish tenant does not make a better tenant than a English person who supported through genuine need just because they are Polish a bad tenant is a bad tenant and if you are relying on ethnicity to judge your referencing methods are a little scew wiffy J
Kayleigh Tewkesbury
Rybec Homes on line partners with landlordreferencing.co.uk
Advertise your 'let' until 'let' on Rightmove and Zoopla for £25+vat
4:48 pm
21/12/2012
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I have to be honest, what the devil does ethnicity have to do with whether or not somebody is a good tenant? A good tenant is a good tenant, no matter where they come from in the world. However, I do confess that today I am feeling in not a good place with regard to DSS tenants in general today, but that will be subject of another post later on this evening and when I have calmed down a bit!
However, I guess he is free to let to who he wants, so if thats what he wants to do then its his choice. I did read some of the comments and to be fair they were rather unpleasant.
Cathy
http://www.heritage4homes.co.uk
5:34 pm
12/10/2011
OfflineI too have had unpleasant comments made about me, "He should not be allowed to own so much property", I have left out the expletives. I believe that it is all to do with the success of the accused and the lack of success of the accuser.
Fergus Wilson and his wife are very successful (but I would not like their mortgages) and will attract catty comments from the less skilful.
My attitude to those more successful than me is to ask myself what they are doing which I am not and then to emulate them. Why waste energy being jealous when that energy could be profitably used to further your own business?
2:01 am
12/10/2011
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I have to be honest, what the devil does ethnicity have to do with whether or not somebody is a good tenant? A good tenant is a good tenant, no matter where they come from in the world. However, I do confess that today I am feeling in not a good place with regard to DSS tenants in general today, but that will be subject of another post later on this evening and when I have calmed down a bit! However, I guess he is free to let to who he wants, so if thats what he wants to do then its his choice. I did read some of the comments and to be fair they were rather unpleasant. Cathy http://www.heritage4homes.co.uk
Couldn't agree more; as a LL I am NOT concerned about ethnicity of a tenant.
All I want is a RGI qualifiable tenant who pays rent on time and in full and complies with the AST terms.
Also the ability to be able to boot out quickly a tenant who does not comply.
Is that so unreasonable!!??
It would seem I am expected to provide a service at my expense and with me losing money to house the feckless.
It just ain't gonna happen!
The feckless fail to realise that HB tenants are no longer needed; this will come as a shock to the feckless who have previously been able to source rental accommodation pretty easily.
NO longer is this the case.
The feckless are now competing with a better class of tenant and so LL take the pragmatic choice of choosing ostensibly the better tenants.
You can't really blame them.
The law so comprehensively protects the feckless that it is no wonder than LL are running scared of these feckless.
Given a supply of good tenants which abound why should LL wish to deal with the dregs of society!!
There is now no need to.
About time the feckless woke up to this reality and stopped being feckless.
Then LL might be a bit more predisposed towards them!!
2:28 pm
".. eviction notices to 200 tenants on housing benefit .." more of this to come? ... : http://ow.ly/slcnV #UKhousing #news #views
That's a worrying trend if it continues!
3:09 pm
12/10/2011
OfflineLet us hope that Fergus Wilson has sent the appropriate message to HMG and that they react in a manner which ensures that Housing Benefit is used to pay for housing.
10:46 am
12/10/2011
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David Price said
Let us hope that Fergus Wilson has sent the appropriate message to HMG and that they react in a manner which ensures that Housing Benefit is used to pay for housing.
I'm sure if Fergus knew he could boot out a tenant who was in rent arrears effectively immediately; he would retain those HB tenants.
The HB tenants would magically pay the rent..................................funny that.
ONLY the eviction system allows the tenant to make a decision NOT to pay the full rent.
You have those 14 days in Australia to pay rent arrears otherwise the police come along and boot you out if that is what the LL wants.
They don't have any rent arrears problem in Australia............................................................wonder why!!!!!!??
Will HMG get it through their thick heads that LL need instant eviction for rent arrears situations as this is the only thing that will force tenants to pay rent before ANYTHING else!!
ONLY then will LL take on HB tenants.
6:49 pm
12/10/2011
Offlinethere are good and bad tenants everywhere. however eastern european is no better or worse than the british / it is an individaul thing and how well these people have been brought up. I had one good polish person and one bad. the bad wanted absolutely everything and constantly argued with you. she brought her family over for months on end, worked partime and claimed the rest on benefits (even for herchild in poland). it will only be a matter of time that others will adopt or lazy attitude irrespective of race etc if the can get away with it. It all comes down to motivation, immigrants send money home to their family..we dont. There is no fear in this country as there is always someone mouthing off about bad landlords. No fear means no motivation. One of my tenants on dss who didnt pay the rent even contacted me for a reference to get another let.!!! i try not to take DSS tenants now, it is too much trouble.
since i have taken early retirement (on my own money..nothing from the state!) i realise how easy it is after 3 months or so not to work. please myself, floating around the shops , going to friends, out for coffee with no accountability or deadlines. It doesnt surprise me if you dont want to work when you have enough benefits coming in.
having said that about the bad tenant she came back after a short time in another let realising how good she had it. i didnt take her back.
1:26 pm
12/10/2011
OfflineFollowing Fergus Wilson and the proposed introduction of Universal Credit I decided to do something which I hope will galvanise my local council into action, in particular for them to lobby parliament and get some changes to Universal Credit. If I get a reply I will post it here.
Dear Mr xxxxxx,
With reference to the recent decision by Fergus Wilson and his wife to evict all benefit tenants I must put you on notice that, if under Universal Credit direct payments to landlords are discontinued, I may be forced to give notice to some 60 single tenants. I would regret having to do this but can see no alternative as the tenants whom I house are generally unable to cope with managing their finances and I cannot afford to lose any rent.
You will be aware that earlier government cuts to housing benefit have reduced payments to the 30th percentile thus marginalising benefit tenants and severely reducing the margin for losses due to non-payment.
Should you have any suggestions as to a way forward I would appreciate, and take on board, your ideas.
2:01 pm
20/05/2011
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David,
You say- "You will be aware that earlier government cuts to housing benefit have reduced payments to the 30th percentile thus marginalising benefit tenants and severely reducing the margin for losses due to non-payment. -
and then they add this into the mix which costs us all more ….
Selective Licensing – Councils try and stick another plaster over the anti-social behaviour wound. -
Paul Routledge CEO
Tenant Referencing UK.Com
7:06 pm
12/10/2011
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David Price said
Following Fergus Wilson and the proposed introduction of Universal Credit I decided to do something which I hope will galvanise my local council into action, in particular for them to lobby parliament and get some changes to Universal Credit. If I get a reply I will post it here.
Dear Mr xxxxxx,
With reference to the recent decision by Fergus Wilson and his wife to evict all benefit tenants I must put you on notice that, if under Universal Credit direct payments to landlords are discontinued, I may be forced to give notice to some 60 single tenants. I would regret having to do this but can see no alternative as the tenants whom I house are generally unable to cope with managing their finances and I cannot afford to lose any rent.
You will be aware that earlier government cuts to housing benefit have reduced payments to the 30th percentile thus marginalising benefit tenants and severely reducing the margin for losses due to non-payment.
Should you have any suggestions as to a way forward I would appreciate, and take on board, your ideas.
Dave
I think you should be OK cos your tenant demographic is the one that would allow 'safeguarding' of UC.
But one issue is if the HB element of UC is all that is paid and the OBC restricts your HB element.
What should happen is the UC is paid; but before the tenant can touch what remains the FULL AST rent should be paid.
This is NOT how UC or the OBC is working presently.
7:45 pm
12/10/2011
OfflinePaul if your quick eviction and Mary Latham's reforms were adopted then there would be no problem in the housing market. Why is our government so blind to the obvious?
I hope that you are correct about my tenants but in any case I will continue to campaign for direct payment for all landlords, in fact I think it should be the norm not the exception. And I agree with you the full rent should be paid before any money is given to the claimant, this is the only way to galvanise the feckless into action.
As it is currently portrayed Universal Credit will be an abject failure, especially for the vulnerable members of society, those for whom 'care in the community' was considered a good thing.
8:57 am
12/10/2011
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I think Fergus Wilson was generalising which is reasonable. Good & bad in all races but a simple question Would you let your whole portfolio tomorrow to single mothers on LHA/UC or let to eastern europeans who work. Its that simple.
Oh & anyone who chooses the former will end up with no portfolio in a matter of months. Since I stopped letting to this group life has been bliss compared to before. Less wear & tear, less hassle, less disrespect, better communication, more rent & oh yeah more profit am I allowed to say. For entertaining reading try reading the comments section in The Guardian on this article.
9:39 am
12/10/2011
OfflineI still let to DSS tenants, although I am VERY selective and I never take them without doing full references on them. I do steer clear of young single mothers as I have in the past 15 years NEVER let to one without them not paying rent or their boyfriend trashing the property.
I also let to Eastern Europeans who are good tenants, but so indeed are plenty of British tenants, provided you select carefully and do all the right checks - thanks to LRS.
4:55 pm
12/10/2011
OfflineI have received a very positive reply from my local authority concerning Housing Benefit and Universal Credit, at least as positive as it is possible to be given that direct payment will no longer be the prerogative of the local council. My initial letter is at post 13.
Dear Dr Price,
Thank you for you letter dated 8 January 2014 regarding Universal Credit
direct payments. As I am sure you are aware, there have been delays to the
national implementation of Universal Credit as the Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP) continue to develop the scheme. Once introduced the
payments relating to rent will no longer be within xxxxxxxx District Council's
control.
Please accept our assurance that the DWP are working with their pilot areas
on the concerns that you have raised. Currently there are plans to protect
vulnerable tenants in a similar way to Housing Benefit which could include
some direct payment options.
To have your concerns heard I would suggest sharing your views with the
DWP, further details can be found on the website below:
http://www.gov.uklgovernmentlp.....sal-credit
As an authority we will also be working with the local DWP office and partners
on the Local Support Service Framework document to highlight areas of
support that will be required for the customer. There is also some guidance on
Universal Credit alternative payment; this can be found on the link below:
https:/Iwww.gov.uklgovernmentlpublications/universal-credit-Iocal-supportservices-framework
I hope that this will help you to understand the current situation. If you have
any further questions regarding this please let me know.
Yours sincerely
********* *******
Housing Benefits Manager
10:14 am
23/07/2012
OfflineFergus Wilson has been found guilty of hitting a letting agent in a dispute about a boiler ... : http://www.landlordtoday.co.uk.....ent-attack
OH DEAR!! 
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