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Alistair J McMurdo

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About Me

BTL landlord with over 30 years experience

my expertise in the industry

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Alistair J's Recent Activity

From: Alistair J McMurdo 24 March 2020 09:25 AM

From: Alistair J McMurdo 24 March 2020 09:25 AM

I’ve just checked led the calendar to make sure it’s the April the 1st. The disturbed have taken over the asylum! PS..why not social landlords, I.e Councils and Associations too?

From: Alistair J McMurdo 05 March 2020 09:35 AM

Absolutely makes my blood boil. If you want to help renters...build some feck'in new council houses! DONT try and control a responsible persons personal investment who has worked tirelessly to build up for their future security and take less off the state in later life" AAAARRGGHHH

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 March 2020 12:51 PM

Jeeezzusss....I’m almost giving up. Some great posts above summarising the position well. Half of these guys are actually “Housing Prevention Officers” themselves with comments like this

From: Alistair J McMurdo 26 February 2020 10:14 AM

Good lord, am I sick of hearing Shelters name!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 13 February 2020 08:14 AM

Yup..we’ve had the “no fees” scenario in Scotland for many years now. Rents have definitely gone up more than normal, despite telling the Scot Gov, Shelter, etc this would happen..they have no idea!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 29 January 2020 09:35 AM

I agree 100%. Been a landlord for 40 years, 13 years as a letting agent. This type of self promoting article wastes credible industry news.

From: Alistair J McMurdo 28 January 2020 08:51 AM

“No deal could be agreed with any of the”! Well there were no buyers then!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 23 January 2020 07:59 AM

I don’t have any Air BnBs but what about the revenue they bring to the area. Invariably they are used for short breaks? Just a thought

From: Alistair J McMurdo 17 January 2020 08:12 AM

Morning all, I follow LAT regularly. As a landlord for 41 years and a Scottish based letting agent owner who sold out last year, I am quite surprised at the new regulations that have been introduced in England, that we have had to comply with for many years. Given the number of properties we managed we negotiated c.£150 for the Electrical checks which had to be carriers out by Select or NICEIC contractors. These were around 8 pages *There is no question landlords do complain but I do feel this is one which should be in place The only question mark we came up against was some electricians said these needed to be done 1) after every tenancy 2) every year or 3) however long he deemed it should be retested depending on the condition..which I think is reasonable Their point was, damage could be done during the 5 years by a tenant, which will go unnoticed. Landlords were never agreeing to pay this often Yes..another day in the life of an agent/landlord and another regulation to add to the “50 Shades Of Grey Book”!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 15 January 2020 09:53 AM

I have to say these words “screamed at me” almost spate out my tea with rage! The tail is wagging the dog here!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 08 January 2020 09:59 AM

I am actually beginning to wonder who these rented properties belong to? The landlord or the government? It’s a hard enough job ensuring we are selecting well behaved tenants, never mind pets. Presumably this will start to apply to all hotels and BnB’s too then. Housing prevention officers!!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 January 2020 09:01 AM

I have absolutely no words for this scumbag! I sincerely hope the people who are making the decisions against the PRS are watching, as he is far from the only one! This is the risk/reality of renting property

From: Alistair J McMurdo 13 September 2019 08:54 AM

Presumably they will move onto people who purchased their council houses years ago for c.£7k, put new windows, kitchen and bathroom in and sold for £90k, with a tax free, easy profit? Or are we going to forget about them...

From: Alistair J McMurdo 11 September 2019 10:28 AM

Many private landlords see this as pension income or funds to cover nursing home care later in life. This will leave more in the chancellors pot for those who need it more. Logical you would think!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 11 September 2019 09:45 AM

This us the same guy who proposed this..is the economy not in a bad enough state! “In early September, he made a splash with a radical scheme that would require companies to earmark part of their profits to purchase a chunk of their own shares for their workforce.”

From: Alistair J McMurdo 03 September 2019 08:34 AM

Properties which are not being maintained by landlords is a completely different matter from giving sitting tenants the RTB. There is no logic in this proposal whatsoever...surprise, surprise. Do you honestly think tenants who are in poor condition properties are going to buy the house then suddenly fit new kitchen and bathrooms..with what££. Free cash from Corby ?

From: Alistair J McMurdo 03 September 2019 08:28 AM

I wonder what Labours views were when Maggie T allowed thousands of sitting council tenants to buy “the governments” council houses at Knock down prices. Many c. £7k The owners upgraded, new kitchen, bathroom, windowed etc. Property then worth c£80k! Where were Labour then when these people netted around £60k profit overnight? Not a cheap!!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 02 September 2019 09:24 AM

Good lord...not another PB’s!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 23 August 2019 09:13 AM

Another total mess by the Scot Gov...help!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 08 August 2019 08:50 AM

More accounts...more bank charges! Duh

From: Alistair J McMurdo 08 August 2019 08:47 AM

Absolute hypocrisy. We used to run a very successful letting agency and called Shelter many times for advice on behalf of vulnerable applicants who we felt needed additional help and support. On “every” occasion we were told “we don’t talk to letting agents” it needs to be the person direct. Makes my blood boil. I am a constant charity giver, but would not give to Shelter or walk into one of their shops. If the homeless only realised what they were doing!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 05 August 2019 09:21 AM

Tenant from hell shamelessly destroys rented property causing £20,000 damage BREAKING NEWS 21 June 2019 1127 Reads 11 Comments By Marc Da Silva Tenant from hell shamelessly destroys rented property causing £20,000 damage A private landlord in the Staffordshire was left horrified after nightmare tenants trashed her property and turned it into a drugs den. Jean Fox had to spend £20,000 on repairs and cleaning the property after it took five months to get the nightmare tenant evicted.

From: Alistair J McMurdo 21 June 2019 09:53 AM

All it needs is a fake random call or a revenge and an innocent agent/landlord could be dangerously targeted . Plus, if every situation is investigated by the group prior to action, why an emergency button?

From: Alistair J McMurdo 21 June 2019 08:08 AM

Absolutely, a complete lack of understanding or willingness to accept on their part

From: Alistair J McMurdo 21 June 2019 08:06 AM

Was an absolute disaster in West Lothian with very low take up by agents. Council were unable to give many assurances at a meeting with local letting agents, leaving them with little confidence

From: Alistair J McMurdo 14 June 2019 08:07 AM

Morning Angus, yes, that about sums things up. We have just sold our large letting agency after receiving a very good offer out the blue. All your points hit a nerve but the real stinger was re Shelter. “Home prevention officers” - on numerous occasions we had applicants we were unable to help due to various reasons. Whilst we were under no obligation or duty to help further, we felt that being a good honest, kind caring agency we contacted Shelter to ask for advice on specific situations, mental health clients, homeless etc and were told “every time” they did not speak to agencies or landlords! I cannot tell you to this day how much I despise a so called charity who do not practice what they preach. We were calling to say HELP, but there was no help coming. That is why I feel so sorry for the invisible homeless when you have an organisation like this

From: Alistair J McMurdo 05 March 2019 09:33 AM

The matter is not only payment, my understanding is the chance of damage is greater with benefit clients, not generalising

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 March 2019 15:16 PM

Having just a sold my large letting agency, at that point the rent “could be paid directly to the landlord”. HOWEVER, this could be reversed at the tenants request at any time, as it’s their money! Most wont take the chance. Anyone know if this rule has been changed?

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 March 2019 09:36 AM

The 2 are separate issue here Neil. I honestly believe your family are very decent. The very real concern is that many landlords have had bad experiences with “many” benefit clients. The stats are there to see for non payment, damage and a complete disrespect for someone’s home. This is the reason that most lenders stipulate this in their lending T and Cs. The landlord has no option. It should be the government your family are shouting at to build more council houses to eleviate the problem, not expecting private landlords to pick up the pieces. I genuinely wish them well

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 March 2019 09:30 AM

100% agree. These rental are our “investments”. It’s like the government tampering with your stocks and share. Should be illegal

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 March 2019 09:24 AM

Many lender stipulate as part of their T and Cs, no benefit clients. Presumably the government need to change this legislation also then? Just wasting everyone’s time, creating more hassle on the day of viewing, for a tenancy that possibly “ain’t gonna get the house”!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 March 2019 09:21 AM

This has to STOP NOW! What other industry is being obliterated with continual additional regulation. Too much because of a few bad landlords. We urgently need more “named” exposure of bad, non paying, disttuctive tenants. C’mon landlord bodies let’s see you standing up for us. We’re being steam rolled here whilst most of us are trying to do a bloody good job!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 25 February 2019 09:06 AM

100.% agree, terrible

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 January 2019 20:04 PM

Nothing new with this “LL checking initiative”, that’s what an agents job is supposed to be. All hype!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 January 2019 10:21 AM

What we need is an open and transparent public register of tenants who are serial non payers, cause thousands of pounds worth of damage and walk away without the slightest recourse toward another unsuspecting landlord claiming “oh, we’ve never rented before, we’ve been staying with parents” Will never happen..too many goodie goodies at the human rights department and data protection, but it seems to be ok to publish bad agencies details! way too soft in this country

From: Alistair J McMurdo 04 January 2019 10:04 AM

Brilliant post. Very well said!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 27 November 2018 08:52 AM

Hi S1, would need to check, but my understanding is this is available in some areas. But it is def needed

From: Alistair J McMurdo 23 November 2018 08:14 AM

Find this article unbelievably inaccurate. Ran a very well respected, triple award winning agency for 13 years and there is no way the rate is below 1% Keen to hear it others feedback

From: Alistair J McMurdo 22 November 2018 09:36 AM

Very well put, nailed it!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 01 November 2018 09:44 AM

If they are gong this why not make it law? Are rental tenants lives more important than home owners? Not thought out at all. Plus...do the councils need to do it to their own stock. Doubt it, current private landlord regs don’t apply to council houses. WHY...because they say they don’t have the money, but they expect landlord to find it!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 26 October 2018 14:34 PM

Just cheered my day up....100% true

From: Alistair J McMurdo 19 September 2018 09:00 AM

Just hired a motorhome at the value of one third of a first time buyers house and paid for damage waiver. Still had to pay a deposit of £750 No deposit renting! Really!!

From: Alistair J McMurdo 18 September 2018 08:55 AM

Excellent post! Thank you and amen.

From: Alistair J McMurdo 18 September 2018 08:13 AM

Interesting article, but why “is it time to put the tenants first”? It should be a system of fairness and balance for both parties and not a one sided deal.

From: Alistair J McMurdo 12 September 2018 08:37 AM

Will letting agents be involved in validating the tenants information? If not the system is open to misinformation and inaccuracies. This is a welcomed idea, but not without transparency and the facility to expose serial non payers

From: Alistair J McMurdo 16 August 2018 08:58 AM

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