Are tenants second-class citizens?
The question is posed in today’s blog by agent (and landlord) Crystal Horwood.
She says that landlords are commonly made responsible for the condition and upkeep of their properties, and how their tenants behave.
Yet, she says, no such controls apply to owner-occupiers who can behave as they want and let their homes fall into dilapidation.
In her home town of Southend, she says: “We have one situation where the tenants have raised concerns over their owner-occupier neighbours.
“There is evidence of broken, fallen fences and aggressive dogs terrorising their children when they attempt to play in their well-maintained, rented garden. We have consulted with the local authority but have been told there is nothing they can do because the occupiers own the property.
“So does this make tenants second-class citizens? If you own your home it would appear you can pretty much do whatever you like.”
Read her other comments, including her account of what she and other agents and landlords are doing on a voluntary basis to try and counter the threat of a selective licensing scheme being imposed.
Comments
But tenants have to remember without the hardwork and finance of Landlords they could be living in a cave (if there were enough) or indeed a field!
Unfortunately some landlords treat their tenants as a means to an end and are only interested in how much rent they can get. However we should all remember that without tenants we do not have a business just empty properties!