x

Algarve Investor

Full-time overseas investor

16467 Profile Views

About Me

Spend half my time in England and half my time in Portugal, where I own and let out a number of properties ranging from apartments to villas.

my expertise in the industry

Wouldn't say I was a property expert, but my dealings with the industry in the last two decades have given me a great insight into both the good and bad sides of estate agency. Most people I've met have been professionalism personified, but not all. Which is why I get annoyed by rogue landlords and agents who live up to the greedy estate agent stereotype - it tars everyone with the same brush!

Particularly annoyed by high house prices and the inability of successive governments to build enough new houses. Very keen on innovation and entrepreneurial spirit - estate agency has the tools to lead the way when it comes to new technology (embracing this doesn't mean a rejection of traditional methods!)

Algarve 's Recent Activity

Oh dear oh dear. Feel sorry for the staff, but this has been inevitable seemingly from the off. There seemed no point to Boomin, which didn't challenge the established three in any conceivable way or offer any point of difference. It spent a lot of money on adverts and then seemed to go very quiet for a long time. I wonder what this means for Agents Together - hopefully that can remain as a separate entity, because it does seem to have done a lot of good.

From: Algarve Investor 31 October 2022 14:48 PM

Shambles. Chaos. Farce. And many other words beside. She still didn't say sorry for nearly tanking the economy. And she's tried to let her Chancellor carry the can for everything. Great leadership qualities there. The mini-Budget was Kwarteng and Truss's doing. She banged on about cutting taxes throughout her leadership campaign and then tried to implement that, not realising it would spook the markets if it was unfunded. She's completely incompetent and needs to go right now.

From: Algarve Investor 14 October 2022 14:55 PM

Another one bites the dust. Sad to see any company fail, but another example of a low-cost service being unsustainable in the long-term. You have to wonder where all that money they raised went - and what those investors who ploughed the money in now think about that move?

From: Algarve Investor 22 February 2022 10:41 AM

Total mess of a company - seems to be one disaster after another lately, with this arguably the biggest of the lot. It is probably right that she has fallen on her sword, as is the dignified thing to do in this situation, but I doubt it was her alone who was responsible for this and smacks of a much deeper malaise. PB, having been out of the limelight a bit for a while, came back with a bang earlier this year with a flurry of PR-friendly stuff, but it's all gone wrong pretty quickly. It wouldn't be surprising if it went the way of Emoov, Hatched and others.

From: Algarve Investor 30 November 2021 17:28 PM

It's a myth that being in the office more, and being more present, boosts your chances of getting promoted. And in places where that is the case, the work culture is all wrong. We have a real chance to change work for the better - more flexible, more dynamic, more tech-led. Just returning to the old ways of 9-6 in an office (a lot longer in the case of estate and letting agents) won't cut it. What's the point? Who still visits agent offices in person? Why does the phone need to be manned 12 hours a day from a costly office with hefty overheads?

From: Algarve Investor 08 June 2021 12:15 PM

It's just a bit of fun - it's possible to do more than one thing at once, isn't it? Given football is our national sport and a big deal to a lot of people, it makes sense that many estate and letting agents will be interested in the Euros.

From: Algarve Investor 03 June 2021 10:37 AM

The £3,000 he claimed each month? What on earth is that for? Even in and around plush Westminster, I'm sure you can find somewhere that doesn't charge £3,000 a month. And I fail to see how he could have there every month from April to November given the pandemic.

From: Algarve Investor 12 April 2021 14:57 PM

Fair play to him for responding, but not sure he has much of a leg to stand on here, given his well-known wealth. I get that none of his rental properties were in London, but between April and November 2020 how many trips was he taking to Westminster given the pandemic regulations and various lockdowns? Was it really necessary for him to come down from Yorkshire? Was he spending each month in London? If not, why was he claiming nearly £3,000 from the taxpayer each month? Is that proportionate or justified? You could get a rental property/Airbnb in London for cheaper than that, even in Central London. Plus, with the money he will made from the Hunters merger, I'm sure he could pay back all this money claimed on rental expenses.

From: Algarve Investor 12 April 2021 10:27 AM

But some are far worse than others, and Jenrick tops that particular list. A man who arguably shouldn't even still be in government given the planning scandal and who once lost an election when the only person he was running against was himself, because everyone voted for anything but Jenrick. Still not entirely clear what Pincher does, other than to occasionally do Jenrick's dirty work by answering questions in the Commons, although he seems like a decent guy.

From: Algarve Investor 07 April 2021 14:19 PM

In what sense has it been ruined? There must be a reason why Brighton keep voting Caroline Lucas back in, and a Green mayor. Khan is going to be re-elected, that is not in doubt, but rent controls are an empty, vote-winning threat. The government would have to allow it and that won't happen in a month of Sundays. Despite hammering landlords in recent years, the Tories wouldn't completely destroy the landlord vote by doing that. As I said before, the Tories should be asking themselves why they've put up such a bad candidate against Khan that means he is 25 points ahead in the poll only a few weeks away from the vote.

From: Algarve Investor 29 March 2021 13:52 PM

Undeniably slick and aesthetically impressive, as all Rightmove ads are, if also a little bit annoying and irritating, as most Rightmove ads also are. Has that annoying, jaunty, McDonald's style voiceover in the background. Still likely to be 100 times better and more memorable than the Boomin advert, though, unless they can pull something spectacular out of the bag. They do have some previous in that, with their Commisery ads hitting home (albeit for the wrong reasons for some), but they could go the way of OTM's expensive ads which were either totally forgettable or annoyed people (that Chas & Dave monstrosity still haunts my dreams!). And had no impact on brand awareness, because most people outside of property still have no clue who OnTheMarket are. Money well spent.

From: Algarve Investor 24 March 2021 15:09 PM

There's a reason why Unite are the UK's biggest PBSA operators!

From: Algarve Investor 23 March 2021 17:10 PM

It's the go-to impulse and natural reaction from most landlords when in this case the sole focus of blame and anger should be on the letting agent.

From: Algarve Investor 15 March 2021 15:13 PM

Quelle surprise. Shock horror. I can't believe it's not butter! Could see this coming a mile off and at least the government has acted more decisively this time, rather than leaving it until the last minute, building up speculation and uncertainty for those affected. Most sensible landlords, investors and letting agents will have already baked this further extension into their plans. I can't imagine anyone was banking on a March 31 end date, given the current restrictions still in place. I think this probably will be the last ban, but will be interesting to see how quickly the government move on abolishing section 21. The courts are going to be an almighty mess from June, so a tapered end is definitely more sensible. There is going to be a huge backlog to work through and I imagine it will still be very difficult to get anything to court before September, if a case isn't already in the pipeline. Alternative means are necessary to ensure cases don't get there in the first place - haven't seen much info about the government's mediation pilot. Anyone know how that's going? In a proper, well-functioning system, the number of cases actually progressing to court would be miniscule, but the systems of redress, deposit dispute and managing arrears aren't really good enough at present. The Breathing Space scheme could further complicate things too. Landlords and agents in for a rocky ride, potentially.

From: Algarve Investor 10 March 2021 15:26 PM

An app publicised by Gemma Collins of Towie fame? Count me out! In all seriousness, it does seem to be doing a good job in signing up some big-hitters, but I'm not sure using social media influencers is the way forward if they want to be taken seriously.

From: Algarve Investor 26 February 2021 10:19 AM

It's clear in this case what he did was completely wrong and he pleaded guilty to it. I'm all for balance, but you can't defend the indefensible and it's only right that landlords are called out when they act against the law. There was no reason for him to do what he did, and he has been punished. Doesn't automatically mean all landlords are evil or all tenants are angels, but it's very hard to defend his actions here.

From: Algarve Investor 15 February 2021 11:20 AM

Goodlord! They've generally received pretty good press, but this doesn't look good. I thought PropTech was supposed to be thriving right now?

From: Algarve Investor 12 February 2021 09:39 AM

You should in theory be allowed to still evict as apparently evictions can still happen in those cases where serious anti-social behaviour is happening. However, proving that and in reality actually evicting anyone seems nigh-on impossible right now. Landlords can still progress an eviction, but in most (nearly all) cases the bailiffs can't enforce it, so a bit of a blunt tool really. I'd say landlords should get used to the idea - as I'm sure many have - that they won't be able to evict for at least another six months, maybe even longer. I don't know why the government hasn't already announced the extension, absolutely everyone knows it's coming.

From: Algarve Investor 10 February 2021 10:16 AM

Have you had a bad experience with lawyers? You seem very angry and bitter about them. I agree that some are only out for themselves, to make money, like a minority of people in all professionals, but some will want to do good or help their clients or prevent potential eviction cases from escalating. Some of the fees they charge do seem a little outrageous, and the cuts to legal aid are shocking, but I'm not sure solicitors are the bad guys in all this. Plus any attempt to prevent a case from going to court, especially at present, should be welcomed. I still think the NRLA's call for most eviction cases to be dealt with outside of court is the correct one. I wonder, stats-wise, how many cases are currently in the system in the UK, and how many potential cases there are? We hear a lot from angry landlords, and frustrated letting agents, about the need and the right to evict without severe barriers, but we rarely get any actual stats on how many people are affected.

From: Algarve Investor 09 February 2021 09:57 AM

Seems a tad optimistic, even by October 2021. Last summer, things calmed down quite substantially with the virus, and that lasted into the early parts of September, but I don't remember many (or any) indoor events with large groups of people taking place. All conferences and awards events were cancelled, and even larger work events were criticised for being unnecessary. They would have been better off trying to hold it this summer, in an outside venue, I would have thought. I suppose you could ask that everyone has been tested negative before they attend, but I can't imagine everyone in the country will have been vaccinated by then - but who knows? Here's hoping it can go ahead, but I think a virtual event this year with a return in 2022 would have been more sensible.

From: Algarve Investor 08 February 2021 14:16 PM

I think they are pushing for a rental market which is much closer to Europe - ironic given we're attempting to cut ties in every other ways, thanks to Brexit. In the Netherlands, it's something like 50% buy-to-let and 50% Build to Rent, while in Germany it's 60% to 40% in favour of BTR. These countries have always had far more established and regulated rental markets, but the UK seems to be heading that way, and the government seems to be encouraging as many large institutional investors as possible into the market at the moment.

From: Algarve Investor 08 February 2021 10:43 AM

It's the future, particularly among younger generations and more so post-Covid. Those who embrace it early will benefit the most long-term.

From: Algarve Investor 03 February 2021 09:45 AM

That's what I thought. But the assumed right is coming with Andrew Rosindell's Bill, about to reach its Second Reading in the Commons and with cross-party and public support. That will be much harder to ignore and makes pets in rental properties much more of an inevitably, whether landlords like it or not. I'm sure this is not the last we've heard of the issue, though, with many landlords so unhappy about the move. I wonder how it's worked for all the BTR schemes which make a virtue of being pet-friendly. Have they suffered any damage to their interiors? Or problem with noise and other things? Even if they have, I'm absolutely sure they won't be making that public. There must be some landlords out there who allow pets and make it work, so maybe other landlords can learn from them. But I can absolutely see why landlords don't want to take the risk with pets in homes because of all the risks attached. Higher rents could arguably be charged, but the ability to charge a higher deposit is no longer on the table. Maybe asking for some kind of insurance as standard is the way forward, with the tenant needing to meet these costs - as well as showing they are responsible and their pet is, too.

From: Algarve Investor 29 January 2021 10:07 AM

Just shows again what a farce Right to Buy was and still is. Everyone said this would happen - companies and buy-to-let landlords buying up the stock, which was never replaced - but still the ideology wins out. It's no surprise there is a massive issue with social/council housing. RTB was, is and always will be a disaster of a policy for the housing market, thinking long-term.

From: Algarve Investor 25 January 2021 10:09 AM

Yeah, it makes sense for the government to feed the current ban on evictions - which would appear to be indefinite - into a ban on section 21. It knows it has massive public and cross-party support for this, so it's an easy win. But it surely would cause huge problems? At which point do you cut it off? Who could still evict and who couldn't? Will cases stuck in the backlog now, or ready to go after the eviction ban ends, be able to follow through with their evictions? Section 8 doesn't really seem to be a very strong replacement, from what I've read.

From: Algarve Investor 14 January 2021 11:06 AM

Surely this was absolutely inevitable given the current situation? The majority of tenants aren't feckless, just as the majority of landlords aren't greedy and amoral, and some will have been out of work for the best part of a year, or maybe they've lost their job, or are struggling in some other way through no fault of their own. Landlords should definitely be supported - and have packages in place to help them - but I can't see how this was anything other than inevitable, given the actions in the previous lockdowns.

From: Algarve Investor 08 January 2021 13:35 PM

Colour me surprised! This was about the most predictable thing in a year of very unpredictable things, and should have been announced when lockdown 3.0 was announced. As others have said, the government were never going to be seen to evict tenants during a global pandemic - and the backlog of cases is huge anyway. The government should have been more honest from the start, rather than giving landlords false hope. But, as usual, management of expectations is far from this government's strong suit. I imagine most landlords and agents have planned for this, expecting that they wouldn't be able to evict until much later in the year, if at all.

From: Algarve Investor 08 January 2021 13:32 PM

'Under review' almost certainly means extended in Boris speak. Seems inevitable. They would be better off just saying there will be a ban on evictions, other than in the most serious cases, until a point where things are far more stable again and the pandemic is back under control (or the rollout of the vaccine has been considerable). At least that way people would have more clarity and certainty rather than these rolling extensions for eternity. But this government doesn't do sensible or pragmatic, it does slow, bungled, complicated and confusing.

From: Algarve Investor 07 January 2021 10:10 AM

Doesn't do the stereotype of greedy agents and landlords any good, even if the situation is more nuanced than it seems. Does sound like an excessively high amount of money and a rather clever bending of the rules surrounding the Tenant Fees Act. I wonder how much that goes on?

From: Algarve Investor 26 November 2020 16:27 PM

Excellent gesture. Apparently this government can afford to spend billions on HS2, Eat Out to Help Out and planning for a no-deal Brexit, but it can't find the £20m or so to feed children during the holidays. So it falls to communities, companies and individuals to do the legwork for them.

From: Algarve Investor 28 October 2020 11:37 AM

Are we sure this isn't the Revolution Will Be Televised boys having us all on again? Tobias and Big V, Rent Like a Boss, hmm! Then again, for all the good programmes it produces, BBC Three does produce a lot of tosh - such as Eating With My Ex and other similar nonsense - so a programme called Rent Like a Boss, lead by Tobias and Big V, is actually entirely plausible!

From: Algarve Investor 20 October 2020 09:35 AM

While I agree with the general sentiment of your point, landlords letting a home aren't doing it out of the goodness of their heart, for entirely altruistic reasons. For most, it's a business first and foremost, and they want to make as much money as possible. Landlords aren't investing their life savings just to give tenants a roof over their head, they are doing it to make good returns and provide a healthy retirement pot (in many cases). Agree that the government has failed to address housing issues for decades and landlords have become a popular scapegoat as a result. The days of Rachman are long gone, and belong to another world, but as we see regularly on these pages and Landlord Today, there are still a fair few rogue operators who need to be stamped out.

From: Algarve Investor 09 October 2020 12:20 PM

Evicting someone on Christmas Day?! You sound like Scrooge! I think we all know you wouldn't do that. Maybe you need to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and the Christmas Yet To Come to give you a more charitable outlook on life. In these highly unusual and difficult times, maybe you could choose to have a more charitable viewpoint on the people who pay your mortgage. Unbelievably, not every tenant who can't pay their rent is a feckless layabout who spends too much on presents for their kids.

From: Algarve Investor 24 September 2020 10:06 AM

He's still a vast improvement on his predecessor, whose various vanity projects - the Garden Bridge, anyone? - are still being paid off by the taxpayer. Boris was also responsible for signing off all the many luxury developments - with apartments mostly sold to overseas investors who never use them - which are everywhere you look in London. The 2012 Olympics could certainly be hailed as a success in bringing the country together and providing some great sporting moments, but its legacy has been appalling and again we're still paying for it. How much does the slide tower thing cost to run? I don't happen to agree with Khan on rent controls, and do find him a bit insincere and slippery at times, but I think he has the best interests of Londoners at heart and has introduced some good initiatives, especially surrounding transport, since coming to office. He is also a dead cert to get re-elected because the Tories have put up a Brexiteer in a Remain city. London is also very much a Labour stronghold these days, and I can't see Shaun Bailey reversing that.

From: Algarve Investor 17 September 2020 11:30 AM

Yes! Even the most conservative estimates suggest that more than 41,000 people died in the UK in the space of four or five months, way above the usual average. I, like many, was one of those who was thinking the threat might be overblown when it was being discussed in January and Feb. It was easy to dismiss as another Sars or Ebola, which didn't turn into a full-blown global pandemic. I'm amazed people can still dismiss the threat level and danger of Covid-19 - it was much more deadly than flu and is something that still needs to be treated with the utmost seriousness to avoid a second lockdown or the devastating scenes we've been seeing across the world, none more so than in the NHS. Fortunately, the signs suggest that the recent rise in cases is not leading to more hospital omissions and death, with young people in particularly seeming to be less affected. Hopefully the virus is also starting to lose some of its potency. But it would be madness to become complacent again - that's what caused so many of the problems in the first place!

From: Algarve Investor 27 August 2020 17:04 PM

But who will you realistically vote for instead? The Tories bank on the landlord vote, and Boris and co know they can go after Generation Rent - which is very much the domain of Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens - while still relying on most landlords voting blue. Ukip are beyond a joke these days, even more so than they were before, and the Brexit Party has had its time and served its purpose. You surely aren't going to vote Labour, and the Tories know that, which is why they know they can come down hard on buy-to-let landlords - who aren't exactly held in high esteem by the general public.

From: Algarve Investor 24 August 2020 12:42 PM

'Housing costs as a percentage of income are historically low' While I agree with some of your comment, I have to pull you up on this one. What is your evidence for this? I thought housing costs as a percentage of income were actually very high, with renters in some cities paying nearly half of their wages on rent in some cases. That is mostly the case in high-cost cities like London, but renting is generally more expensive in the UK when compared with other countries in Europe.

From: Algarve Investor 24 August 2020 12:38 PM

Surely it's in your interests for your home to be more energy efficient, if that isn't already the case?

From: Algarve Investor 31 July 2020 09:05 AM

Seems sensible. Finds a use for land/buildings that could become derelict and neglected, and could also provide front of house jobs for those John Lewis employees who have lost their jobs because of the store closures triggered by the pandemic. As the high street continues to decline, alternative uses for buildings and land will need to be sought so we don't fall into the trap once again of many deserted brownfield sites across the country - as was the case when many industrial buildings no longer had a purpose anymore. I appreciate conversion isn't easy or cheap, but seems better than doing nothing.

From: Algarve Investor 31 July 2020 09:03 AM

If you're going to criticise someone else's grammar, get your own in order first. Grammatical has two m's. There should be a comma after god and after Graham and your sentence overall requires more punctuation. See, easy to criticise. For what it's worth, I can see no major typos in the piece. Maybe you're seeing something else?

From: Algarve Investor 24 July 2020 17:20 PM

@David Crisp - he would have got back in comfortably. The polls had him way, way ahead. Rory Stewart was doing a good job of splitting the Tory vote, the Lib Dem candidate and Sian Berry - while impressive - weren't cutting through, and Shaun Bailey was a Brexiteer in a Remain city. London is a Labour city these days, whether you like it or not. In fact, all major cities tend to be Labour, so they must be doing something right in those areas. Also, I'm interested to know your alternative to Khan staying on after the mayoral elections were cancelled. What should have happened? Should he just have been kicked out of office? And replaced with who? He has a free pass, but I'd be very surprised if that didn't turn into another four years in City Hall (or three years, if they decide to keep to the usual terms).

From: Algarve Investor 14 July 2020 16:39 PM

It definitely does stink. At any other time he'd have resigned or been sacked long ago. The fact he's still clinging on says it all about this government. He's a Brexiteer and a Johnson loyalist - who will do and say exactly as he's told - so that means he'll be staying in place no matter how incriminating the evidence gets.

From: Algarve Investor 22 June 2020 09:28 AM

Your comment suggests, while not trusting Corbyn one bit, you trust Boris, a proven liar - so much so he's been sacked twice for it and even got admonished in the highest court in the land for lying to Her Maj. What makes you think you can trust a word uttered by Johnson? Because he says he'll get Brexit done - the latest in the long line of meaningless political slogans. He won't get Brexit done, because Brexit will be dominating our lives for decades. The uncertainty will linger on for years because of a needless, reckless and weak decision made by a certain Mr Cameron.

From: Algarve Investor 01 November 2019 16:41 PM

What do you say to a post-Brexit system that is messier than before? I thought one of the reasons for leaving the EU was for a less bureaucratic system - of course, it will be the absolutely opposite of that. Then again, another of the reasons was to take back control of our sovereignty and give Westminster the final say over any decision we make - but certain MPs now seem much less keen on that as well.

From: Algarve Investor 12 September 2019 14:54 PM

Bet all those landlords who voted to Leave might be having second thoughts when (if) it happens and the system becomes even more regulated and bureaucratic - something the Leavers said very much wouldn't be the case. A lot of the promises (lies) made by Vote Leave and senior Leave politicians are about to come home to roost. A lot of people are about to be very disappointed that what they've been promised was fantasy, not reality.

From: Algarve Investor 12 September 2019 14:51 PM

Free movement won't end - the modern world relies on it. And if free movement ends, what happens to the million or so Brits living in the EU? What happens to the rights of EU citizens? Those with settled status? Those without settled status but married to someone British? What happens to people who rely on easy trade and links between the UK and the EU? What happens to all the subsidies farmers rely on? What about all the initiatives enacted by the EU to clean up our beaches and prevent us from overfishing? What about food regulations? Food supplies? What about students from overseas? Are they disallowed from studying here? How do you solve the NI border problem? As for trade deals, history tells us these don't happen quickly. They happen very, very slowly, and if you're in a weak negotiating position - as Britain will be after Brexit - you get walked all over. Trump's America will make looser food regulations absolutely central to any future trade deal. That means chlorinated chicken and hormone-induced beef making its way into our supermarkets, you understand. What about the trade deal with the EU? How will that be any better than what we have now? And if we want to trade with them, we'll have to abide by EU health and safety laws/regulations. They won't change things just for us. What's more, with no deal, what's the plan? Do we stay on WTO rules forever? What about when sterling plunges to even lower levels? These are the questions Brexiteers like you have no answers to. You just say it will be alright on the night, the world and his uncle will want to do deals with us. You point the finger at the EU as this unelected, sinister body out to screw Britain and its people over. In what way is the EU a ridiculous political construct and Westminster not? Its elections are fairer, for starters. We have plenty of representation there, even if they refuse to look out for interests most of the time thanks to Farage and his merry band of wallies. What is the plan post-Brexit? Still, three years down the line, the Brexiteers have no answer to that? Making yourselves poorer, less significant on the world stage and like a petty little child who walks away when they don't get their own way doesn't seem like a very good plan. Why, after us walking away without a deal, will the EU suddenly come up with a better one? How long will the UK-US pact take to iron out? What will we get out of it? I await your answers with bated breath. Believe it or not, there's a whole country out there and most of them didn't vote for no deal. That wasn't on the ballot paper, was it? Leading Brexiteers, including Gove and BoJo, have promised, time and time again, that we would get a deal. We shouldn't be beholden to the will of a few extremists who say Brexit must happen at all costs, even if it damages the economy, our standing in the world (even further than it already has been) and causes job losses, uncertainty for residents and more and more issues.

From: Algarve Investor 03 September 2019 13:28 PM

Don't worry, Boris and co will get there way before them at this rate! His government actually offers a genuine threat to our democracy, to our easy trading with the EU, to the collaboration between scientific institutions, to food and medicine supplies, to peace in NI, to Parliament's sovereignty (ironic given many say that was what Brexit was all about), and to the rule of law. Billions spent on no-deal planning, something the PM says he absolutely doesn't want. He's made numerous election pledges despite insisting he doesn't want a general election. He says he wants a deal with the EU but refuses to engage with them. £100m spent on a PR campaign to get people ready for Brexit. What a mess. We know he's a serial liar and opportunist, but his recent actions are taking things to the extreme. If anyone who voted leave now complains about roaming charges in the EU, or longer queues at the borders for trains, ferries and planes, I will laugh my head off!

From: Algarve Investor 03 September 2019 10:38 AM

Generation Rent are Labour's main target base - and this will play very well with them. As we saw at the last election, Labour were very good at attracting the youth vote. They will be relying on that base in an increasingly fractured electorate. Some people will simply never vote for Corbyn, even if he offered landlords free houses and guaranteed rent for eternity. The industry is already against him, and he isn't going to win them back. But I guess he, and Labour, are relying on the youth vote and the non-voters to get out in greater numbers than ever before, enough to offset the grey vote and those who would never, ever vote for him anyway.

From: Algarve Investor 02 September 2019 17:03 PM

You don't really think Corbyn and McDonnell would overthrow capitalism and become a communist state like China, do you? Because that is hyperbole in the extreme. I'm assuming you were against the Thatcherite Right to Buy policy as well? Also, with the current actions of Boris and co - proroguing Parliament because you don't want MPs to have their say, threatening MPs with deselection if they don't fall in line, banging on about sovereignty and then removing that from MPs for five weeks at a time of national crisis, sacking advisers against the will of their boss, careering towards a no deal that most of the population doesn't want. I'd say they were all far more dangerous and chilling moves than a couple of old socialists with mostly tame centre-left policies. I appreciate why people see Corbyn and co as anti-investment, anti-business and anti-free market, but the idea he is the devil incarnate - or as dangerous as a Communist dictator - is plainly ridiculous. The current actions of the PM and government suggest we have a far more dangerous cabal in charge at present. As someone with a sound command of business, I thought you would be horrified at the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, which every respected body says will cause an economic shock to Britain and almost certainly cause a recession. Not to mention more chronic uncertainty and problems for people like me, who trade and live in both the UK and EU. How can you defend BoJo's actions?

From: Algarve Investor 02 September 2019 16:56 PM

Sorry Ros Beck, but that's ridiculous hyperbole, especially when you consider who we currently have in charge and the cliff edge they are taking us towards. Whatever you think of Corbyn, he is not the devil incarnate and nowhere near as dangerous as you make out. Boris Johnson, on the other hand, is happily leading us towards economic misery and potentially thousands of job losses by pushing for a completely undemocratic no-deal Brexit.

From: Algarve Investor 19 August 2019 16:30 PM

Didn't Monzo have a massive data breach the other day, with the online bank urging all of its customers to change their passwords? The headache-inducing orange colour of the card would also annoy me - not that such minor things should matter!

From: Algarve Investor 08 August 2019 15:43 PM

It's true that Johnson favours a non-interventionist approach when it comes to private renting, but it's also true that most of his speeches on housing have favoured home ownership over renting. So I think your hopes could be misguided, particularly when it comes to a serial liar and incompetent like Johnson.

From: Algarve Investor 06 August 2019 16:21 PM

Doesn't the fact they refused to pay - to see what would happen - suggest they were actually the opposite of snowflakey? They took a stand - which you can agree or disagree with - but it was the agency who gave in in this case. Not too snowflakey if you ask me. It seems, in this case, the agency were wrong to give in under the conditions of the fees ban, but it would help if the legislation was clearer in how it's being phased in. Quite a lot of confusion still surrounds the fees ban, I think, despite all the coverage it's received.

From: Algarve Investor 06 August 2019 16:19 PM

I'd imagine most of generation rent wouldn't be voting Tory anyway, if it's anything like the last election where the youth vote went heavily towards Labour, so all seems a bit redundant and pointless anyway.

From: Algarve Investor 01 August 2019 16:16 PM

Just going with your gut hasn't worked out too well recently, has it? A lot of people said they voted Leave on gut feeling alone and look where that's got us. A blonde buffoon ready to drive us off a cliff-edge just so Brexit can be achieved, and billions being wasted on no deal planning that could surely be put to better use elsewhere. Anyway, that rant aside, I agree with you that in the case of tenants and buyers it can work well, but surely it helps to know that your tenants have a good reputation and have been thoroughly referenced for their ability to pay their rent and what have you?

From: Algarve Investor 29 July 2019 16:40 PM

You really don't think there is a link between massive cuts in police numbers, not to mention the closing down of many youth centres and youth facilities, and years of austerity, and the current problems with knife crime and the like? That's not to excuse the current spate, but these things often have root causes. Glasgow, previously one of the crime capitals of Europe, found those root causes, successfully remedied or stamped them out, and has seen crime fall significantly. I'd also be casting an eye at our soon-to-be next PM, whose terrible legacy of failed vanity projects and a massive bill for the Olympics - not to mention a drastic cut in police numbers - have certainly had an impact on London's current issues.

From: Algarve Investor 22 July 2019 15:53 PM

Anything is a better alternative to Brexit, in my view. So even their main policy is massively flawed - again, in my opinion. But it's not like Farage doesn't have form for this. Ukip were notorious for never having any policies, and the ones they did were backwards-looking and in some cases completely reactionary. Farage is the sort of bloke who would bring back smoking in pubs and see vital health and safety regulations as the work of the PC elite and nanny-state brigade. He's the bore down the pub who loves to rant when he thinks he's got an audience. Unfortunately Nige has that platform on a national scale because, like any good slippery snake-oil salesman, he has stepped in when people are looking for simple solutions to highly complex problems. Spivs and con-artists always thrive in times of crisis - funny that, isn't it?

From: Algarve Investor 04 June 2019 15:56 PM

Could you point me in the direction of any of Farage's policies on the PRS? I must have missed them. Far as I can see, his only policy is to advance Nigel as much as possible, in much the same way as one Boris Johnson only looks out for the best interests of Boris.

From: Algarve Investor 04 June 2019 09:08 AM

@John McKay - what are Farage's policies on housing exactly? What are his policies on anything other than Brexit? And even that's not a policy - 'leave the EU at all costs, even it causes catastrophic issues." Yeah, nice one.

From: Algarve Investor 30 May 2019 11:15 AM

He's painting an incredibly complex issue as an easy and problem-free one. "Let's just Brexit' is his mantra - but then what? How long do we trade on WTO rules for? What will the economic damage be in the short, medium and long-term? How will business and investment be affected? You can't just say "Brexit, no if, not buts" with no plans. You can't promise unicorns and a land of milk and honey without anything to back it up. Farage has absolutely no interest in running the country - the man couldn't run a bath, and has no experience of high office. He can't compromise or collaborate, he's a terrible diplomat, and when questioned he has no answers. "Which other country trades purely on WTO rules, Mr Farage?" "Look, democracy, Brexit, independence, anti-elite...they've let you down." "Yes, but which other country trades on WTO rules alone?" "Bluster, bluster, bluster...look, a squirrel! The evil, undemocratic EU." People putting their faith in Farage are about to get a short, sharp shock.

From: Algarve Investor 30 May 2019 11:13 AM

Given the fact he's failed to get elected seven times, even in Brexit strongholds such as South Thanet, he's got about as much chance of becoming PM as I have. I think he's more than happy for the situation to remain as it is, so he can continue claiming his lucrative MEP's salary while also railing against what an awful institution the EU is.

From: Algarve Investor 30 May 2019 09:08 AM

Policies? Who needs policies? Much easier to rabble rouse, sow division and offer incredibly simplistic solutions to complex, nuanced problems. He says Brexit must be delivered, but what does that even mean? Should it be delivered at all costs with a crash out, incredibly harmful no deal just because the people (well, 51.9% of those who actually voted) said it should happen? And what are his plans post-Brexit, on workers rights, the environment, trade, the economy, services, citizens rights (both for EU nationals here and British nationals living in Europe), health, security, etc, etc? How are the various science projects and initiatives that rely on EU funding going to be funded? How are places like Cornwall, Wales, the North West and seaside towns going to be supported given they all receive high levels of EU funding? What about the Irish border? What will our immigration policy be? How long will it take to create new trade deals with the EU and the rest of the world? How will the trade deal be better than the one we have now? What will happen to farmers, who rely heavily on EU grants and subsidies? How long will we trade on WTO rules for? Will we keep the same regulations, food standards and health and safety rules as the EU or turn to chlorinated chicken from the US instead? These are the questions that need answering, but of course you won't hear Farage or any of the arch Brexiteers coming up with any solutions. They just shout loudly from the sidelines. Where did Farage disappear to once Brexit had happened? Oh, that's right, he was lording it up with Trump and hosting his own talk-in show. Farage doesn't give a monkey's about anyone other than Farage. He's like Boris in that respect. Only in it for himself and his own ego. The fact that so many people - including posters on these very pages - have fallen for his posh snake-oil salesman act is immensely depressing. Nigel 'Dulwich College alumni, city stockbroker, part of the establishment for years' is so far from being a man of the people it's not even funny. A charlatan, a serial liar and an expenses cheat to boot - yes, he's definitely the man to run our country!

From: Algarve Investor 30 May 2019 09:01 AM

And what is Brexit? People seem to have a hundred million different viewpoints on what that means. Some want a clean break, some want a close relationship with Europe, some want to pick and choose the best parts and leave behind the parts they don't like, others don't want to Brexit at all, some want to try and appease both Leave and Remain voters (as arguably should be the case after an incredibly close vote), and others want a Norway, Canada or bespoke deal. How can you possibly please all of those people? It's why a simple yes/no binary question in the referendum was so breathtakingly stupid and irresponsible. Equally hare-brained was not making it clear whether the government was advisory - i.e. the government doesn't have to pay attention if it's going to cause economic disaster - or legally binding. This lack of clarity has allowed 'the will of the British people' nonsense to take over and dictate all our lives. May and the Tories have done a spectacularly awful job of negotiating Britain's exit from the EU, but I don't envy them one bit. It was an impossible job, made even more impossible by May losing the Tories' majority. If, God help us, Boris gets in, he'll come up against exactly the same problems - and Boris is an even worse diplomat than May. He's also far less intelligent. What have we really gained from this silly, needless and idiotic referendum other than three years of division, uncertainty, speculation, misery and chaos - not to mention making Britain a laughing stock on the world stage? I blame David Cameron for all of this. Can we all please boycott his upcoming book as payback for him screwing over the country and then swanning off into the sunset? Least he deserves. Anyway, Brexit rant over!

From: Algarve Investor 20 May 2019 15:59 PM

You've got to feel sorry for Heather Wheeler - she's not even the official Housing Minister, and yet is doing all the work that Malthouse should be doing and copping all the flak. The real question we should be asking is - where has Kit Malthouse gone? Another Housing Minister more interested in Brexit and doing disappearing acts than the actual portfolio he's been handed. I don't agree with all that Wheeler has done, but I don't doubt her diligence and work ethic. She is the go-to spokesperson for anything to do with housing. Again, the question has to be, where is Mr Malthouse? The only time he's been in the news recently has had nothing to do with housing and everything to do with Brexit.

From: Algarve Investor 14 May 2019 14:29 PM

Ah yes, those halcyon days when PTSD was written off as shellshock and anyone not willing to join up for the fight was vilified. Happy days. I'm also not sure you've read the story - they had every right to be aggrieved in this case. There was no faux outrage or Twitter storm. Also, in my experience, I've found the so-called 'snowflake generation' to be no more prone to faux outrage than the older one. Plenty of baby boomers who can give it out but can't take it. Anyway, stories like this do no good to the reputation of the lettings industry and they should be called out as such. That doesn't automatically mean that all landlords and letting agents are dishonest sharks, it just means that in this case wrongdoing was carried out. Mistakes can be learned from and procedures put in place to stop it from happening again. Seems fair, no?

From: Algarve Investor 23 April 2019 15:13 PM

Completely plausible? Really? I'm all for landlords and agents getting a fair hearing - and I don't think they do from the press or certain campaigning groups - but in this situation I find it hard to believe it was mere human error. Even more so when you consider the agency involved! I also wonder if you would be so forgiving of an honest error if it was, say, an MP involved. We can't have it both ways.

From: Algarve Investor 23 April 2019 15:07 PM

From: Algarve Investor 02 June 2016 10:05 AM

In what way? Buy to leave is a disgrace. And I say that as someone who has investments overseas. Difference being, I let my homes out throughout the year to tourists and holiday makers. My properties are very rarely empty, especially in the peak summer and early autumn months. The people who buy up properties in London just to sit on them and watch their value grow are only there to make a quick buck. You could argue that is what any investor is doing - speculating to accumulate - but that's only because Boris Johnson is making London such an attractive place for wealthy investors who have no interest in working, living or spending their money in the capital. They simply want to mine their assets for all its worth and then move on. Why can't these properties be let out at affordable rates? What is the point of them sitting empty for 11 months of the year? There are whole tower blocks springing up that will be purchased by the Buy to Leave brigade. What's the point? There is a housing crisis in London, yet there is plenty of housing to go around. There are so many empty and uninhabited properties in London that could be used for rental purposes or, at the very least, as somewhere for people to stay when the visit. At the moment these homes have no use. That's not good enough. It's got nothing to do with Big Brother. It's exactly the right move to clamp down on this sort of thing. Other countries have far stricter rules on foreign investors buying up property - as it should be. It's the same in places like Cornwall. Rich folk from the city buying up homes that don't serve a function for most of the year - a bit like Wimbledon or the Olympic Stadium (until West Ham move in, that is).

From: Algarve Investor 11 April 2016 13:01 PM

That's being rather kind, Ian!

From: Algarve Investor 11 April 2016 12:54 PM

You mean to the consultation? I doubt Mr Osborne paid any attention to that whatsoever. He doesn't really do listening to the advice of those who know better, he just ploughs on regardless whether he's right or wrong (and it's more often a case of the latter! See his climbdowns over Google and tax credit cuts, his failure to pay down the deficit, his continuing austerity drive and his ability take our debt into the trillions for evidence of that).

From: Algarve Investor 17 March 2016 13:15 PM

I thought it was quite witty, if a little risque. Not sure it should be taken down. As much as I hate the phrase, does smack of "political correctness gone mad!" As Barry X says, I seriously doubt young children would understand the innuendo or be harmed by it. It's a little bit close to the bone, but it's targeted to a particular demographic and I doubt that they or many other people would be offended by it. Sometimes outrage for the sake of outrage can go too far.

From: Algarve Investor 28 January 2016 12:40 PM

Agreed, Rob. It's quite clear the information needs to be disseminated better. At the moment, it's too haphazard and fuzzy. Landlords need to know, once and for all, what their obligations are. This is why licensing and training seem like a good idea to me. How else will landlords know what all the latest rules and regulations are?

From: Algarve Investor 25 August 2015 09:35 AM

This is just ludicrous! Quite a change from my student days.

From: Algarve Investor 11 June 2015 11:22 AM

They really don't do themselves any favours. You can see why they're arguably the most hated agency in Britain. Everything about them, from the Minis to the shop fronts, screams brash, in-your-face excess

From: Algarve Investor 08 June 2015 17:09 PM

"average weekly rent for students at £95" Not in London, I'd wager.

From: Algarve Investor 28 May 2015 12:16 PM

Yes, it's nonsensical. More fuzzy thinking from our apparent government.

From: Algarve Investor 27 May 2015 10:21 AM

Some people just like burying their heads in their hands on a permanent basis, Rob. These stats are pretty shocking and should be treated with the seriousness they deserve. Not representative of every single landlord, no, but that doesn't mean it should be completely ignored. Otherwise the issue will never go away.

From: Algarve Investor 22 May 2015 16:25 PM

Pretty poor form, to be honest. Surely letting agents should be independent from this sort of electioneering? Seems very unfair somehow. Whatever you political preferences, it doesn't seem right to make attempts to influence how your landlords/tenants vote. Is there not some rule against this sort of thing?

From: Algarve Investor 11 May 2015 11:08 AM

Breaking News