Landlord Insider

So, we’re here again, another month another newsletter article. What do I write? Simple, I open my pre-prepared list of ideas, choose the one I think is most meaningful for this month, and start typing words onto the page…

Life as a landlord means dealing with a lot of red-tape. From drawing up legal lease agreements to making sure your properties don’t fall foul of the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act, if you fail to meet your legal requirements, you could end up in court.

The COVID-19 pandemic is understandably causing a lot of people significant stress right now. From concerns over vulnerable relatives and the potential loss of work to panic buying and stripped supermarket shelves, these are uncertain times. But one landlord’s kind action has prompted thousands of people to share messages of support using the hashtag #ThankyouMrLandlord.

When BHS went into administration in 2016, the headlines focused on the thousands of employees who had lost their jobs. Not much was said about the 164 commercial landlords owed £4 million in unpaid rent, some of whom were also private landlords. Many of the properties were old, in poor condition, and too large for most prospective tenants.

The Residential Landlords Association is warning landlords that many tenants are living in their overdrafts. With the new FCA rules on overdraft fees coming into effect in April, it’s likely that many tenants will slide further into debt – which could impact their ability to pay the rent on time.