x

Jonathan Ash

Director

2277 Profile Views

About Me

38 years in the industry

my expertise in the industry

38 years

Jonathan's Recent Activity

What will happen when rent controls come in? This is the only way government can keep LHA rates reasonably close to market rents in many areas outside the capital, because they can’t increase the burden on the taxpayer to bump them up! Parties have more renters that vote than landlords and they don’t care if your mortgage is higher than the rent. We know this by how the courts treat landlords!

From: Jonathan Ash 18 April 2024 10:03 AM

I seriously think many commercial enterprise that increase charges do so unless it becomes a cartel. I note Tesco is reducing their profit on most items. No one is asking why now why not lobby government to tell these companies to cut their profit? It’s a human right to have food and water and fuel for your homes but no just lobby for landlords to cut their rent charge. Bearing in mind some landlords are actually losing money. Oh and don’t forget rent payments are optional tey that at sainsburys. Or tell them you will pay next week for your shopping, if you feel like it!

From: Jonathan Ash 06 October 2023 13:54 PM

I just came across one agent who went into liquidation 2 years ago and st trades and collecting rents now. Trading Standards don’t even reply to my emails. Probably working from home and busy!

From: Jonathan Ash 10 August 2023 17:38 PM

I had the same with ferrets and the DPS still allowed a full return of their deposit!

From: Jonathan Ash 10 August 2023 17:36 PM

I totally agree. Most landlords and a fair few agents are clueless of Legislation and really shouldn’t be in the job, but then again landlords usually want cheap and self let/manage landlords don’t want to pay full stop. I had a landlord recently selling a block of apartments where he still held all the deposits and proceeded to inform me agents are all crap and money grabbers!

From: Jonathan Ash 25 July 2023 10:13 AM

Easy. A moratorium, look at Scotland and Wales.

From: Jonathan Ash 21 July 2023 15:54 PM

I run an agency and ditto. Not only does UC housing element need to be increased (until rent controls come in and they will), but as an agent and landlord I actually find those on UC have fewer arrears than those in employment. HA need to step up as none profit entities.

From: Jonathan Ash 19 July 2023 15:02 PM

This has been a sticky issue for many years. Regardless of any changes, most perpetrators I have come across are in receipt of Legal Aid, so it’s extremely costly, if it is a discretionary ground then basically forget looking for possession, even with a criminal conviction it needs to be mandatory and use fair judgment rather than ‘the only way to prove antisocial behaviour is if their is a conviction’. Had many possession cases thrown out as the judge would not accept witness statements as evidence! Not fit for purpose!

From: Jonathan Ash 14 July 2023 08:19 AM

I sell a majority of properties as investments. I operate in a large rental area and buyers get income straightaway. Having 40 years experience I can evidence to the contrary. Your comments are area specific.

From: Jonathan Ash 12 July 2023 12:31 PM

What one says and what one does are two different things. I manage several hundred properties and experience shows that the worst tenants for recycling are typically under 30. It seems too difficult for them to separate their rubbish as too busy on their emails! The point about dealing digitally is interesting as again I find those especially in rent arrears are great at being keyboard warriors and don’t have to actually speak to someone. Ask the right questions please.

From: Jonathan Ash 07 July 2023 09:10 AM

Wait until the rent government decide to bring in fair rents and the rent officer sets it. I am sure this is already being discussed by those in or not in power their ideal way to reduce their expenditure oh UC or HB. Mark my words!

From: Jonathan Ash 06 July 2023 11:21 AM

One forgets that a landlord could report the agent to their redress scheme or even take out litigation against the agent for not acting in their best interests. In effect under renting it!

From: Jonathan Ash 15 June 2023 11:11 AM

So Roger you assume giving a good/clean/nice property and take care of it will always have a good tenant? Well 40 years as a landlord and agent can state categorically this is not correct. I’m not looking to get into a slagging match but my experience is to the contrary.

From: Jonathan Ash 04 May 2023 17:12 PM

Had a tenant that was ok. Decided to have a friend stay and the friend brought 4 ferrets with them. All carpets ended up chewed, doors and skirting boards damaged in every room, not to mention the smell that was left when they finally absconded. It cost thousands to put the house right. So in answer to your comment. Not all landlords are millionaires and not all tenants treat the property well. Funniest thing is that this tenant contacted me last week saying that they owed me some money (CCJ came up) and can we come to an arrangement because the Local Authority said that to go on their waiting list an arrangement to pay the debt must be in place. So being such a nice person I suggested that as it took them 5 years to get in touch with me then contact me in another 5 years. Unfortunately bad experiences are what people relate to so maybe preach to the people who cause the issues 1st. Or better still sublet to me and I will bring my pet and you can sort out any issues later as I will be off in the wind. Thanks

From: Jonathan Ash 21 February 2021 22:17 PM

I recall years ago the local council gave 5% deposit to 1st buyers interest free. It was a good scheme and this was when lending rates were 15%.

From: Jonathan Ash 05 October 2020 12:00 PM

What about tenants who just up and leave when they feel like? Or tenants that think giving a weeks notice (therefore breaking their contract) etc etc should the landlord pay their removal fees also?

From: Jonathan Ash 08 July 2020 07:20 AM

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.. more tenants as voters than landlords!

From: Jonathan Ash 06 July 2020 23:02 PM

Yep James’s show.....

From: Jonathan Ash 08 June 2020 22:32 PM

I heard a radio piece, I think Radio 5 or LBC. CAS/Shelter in disguise stated that whereas landlords get help as in deferred payments tenants get no financial help. I honestly thought it was jackanory hour!!

From: Jonathan Ash 08 June 2020 10:52 AM

I carried out a viewing exactly this way. Unfortunately later the current occupant called to something was stolen!

From: Jonathan Ash 25 May 2020 10:40 AM

Interestingly Sweden no deposit. Give the story please to go with the figures. I know in Sweden if you are in arrears the local Government collect the debt for the landlord. Hence not required!

From: Jonathan Ash 13 March 2020 10:56 AM

We had the local council do this for several tenants two years ago. They either have a paper bond and paid the first rent or cash deposit and the first rent. Helping the tenant through the Benefits claim etc. The ones with bonds (we took on 11 tenants and are now left with 2 who pay) we are still chasing the council for the bond money. Needless to say the 9 who were evicted were on S8. Some of these tenants were working also but on low incomes. This system does not work. It all looks good on paper but the system is not working. Better the old days where the council took the tenancy and sub-let. They are then responsible for chasing their tenants. I suspect this was scrapped as their tenants didn’t pay and it became too costly for the author?

From: Jonathan Ash 07 March 2020 08:48 AM

I went to see a tenant who has been in 1 months & 2 weeks. Not paid the 2nd month’s rent. Had a 65 inch TV which they had drilled into the wall brackets without permission, the brick dust still on the skirting and carpet. Some of these so called knowledgable people are brains heavy and commonly sense light!

From: Jonathan Ash 26 February 2020 22:23 PM

Maybe the Council should guarantee the tenant and not via a bond scheme but as a Proper Guarantor. Then they can deal with the issues or pay for them in entirety. In Manchester many years ago they actually took the tenancy and were fully liable with the tenancy allowing them to sublet they also were obliged to carry out repairs etc and hand it back decorated and in good order. It worked well. I let 3 properties to them for a fixed 5 years. Admittedly on LHA rates but I had no repairs! That’s the only way it could ever work. Otherwise pay triple and more fo B&B type accommodation for them!

From: Jonathan Ash 11 February 2020 18:55 PM

What I would love to know is when a tenant writes to say they are vacating on a certain date, allow viewings, I sign someone up for a week following the tenants vacation date ( to give me time to clean etc). Then they decide to stay. Which legally they can do. Then I’m being sued by the incoming ‘tenant’ as they can’t move in! Will the courts have in the new S8 that a tenants written notice can’t be revoked by them? I think not!

From: Jonathan Ash 05 February 2020 18:07 PM

Some people Aztec Missing the point. LA legally must have CMP, so the argument does not stick about LA running off with peoples money. However LL don’t have this. Also I suggest 90% of LL don’t have any GDPR in place or registered with ICO and follow their guidelines. So currently it looks like LL need more regulation rather than agents. However I do believe most LA don’t know what their doing and should have a qualification. This is not more regulation but a minimum standard of proficiency.

From: Jonathan Ash 20 December 2019 08:19 AM

How many regulated solicitors run off with clients money? I bet as many if not more than LA have and they are heavily regulated!! So regulation works does it? How many regulated banks and trust fund managers have misappropriated funds? And you think regulated LA/Estate Agents will fair better? Rogues are all around us and this will never change.

From: Jonathan Ash 19 December 2019 15:48 PM

I have come across many Enforcement Council Officers who nothing about building construction or have a background in anything to with building maintenance... they should have some qualifications. I consistently have to explain and the stock answer is HHSRS or outdated recommendations by you know who... which are recommendations not the bible! And outdated. The fire service say one think the police say fit 5 lever mortise locks and the Council get a book out!

From: Jonathan Ash 05 November 2019 22:31 PM

Exactly the same in Manchester. Just the fee is £200 cheaper! Think of a number and double it. Great accounting also!!

From: Jonathan Ash 28 October 2019 07:57 AM

What will happen when there are fewer LA.. prices rocket as little competition!

From: Jonathan Ash 28 October 2019 00:21 AM

What will happen regarding the how to rent booklet and epc? S8 it’s not relevant so will they be defunct?

From: Jonathan Ash 15 October 2019 23:02 PM

I have recently come across two agents who have no CMP. Firstly try getting hold of Trading Standards then when you do they have no idea of the Law and over a week and I have still not heard back! Had this before regarding no membership of a Redress Scheme and that went nowhere. Meanwhile agents who do what they should and pay all the fees accordingly are at a disadvantage. I note TS are sitting at their desks trawling the internet but not getting up to do some physical exercise. I suppose nothing new here. Best book another in-house meeting to discuss this and try to waste another day!!

From: Jonathan Ash 30 September 2019 10:27 AM

Several years ago I entered into a similar agreement with Manchester City Council. I was left with many tenants with serious drug/alcohol/mental issues and the Council were absolutely no help. Staff shortage so did not help whatsoever. I ended up serving over half with notice for damages, issues with neighbors, threats to my staff when inspecting and many who stayed after the initial tenancy fell into arrears. They had another scheme which worked better. The Council rented the property for 3 or 5 years then handed it back as found. That works...

From: Jonathan Ash 25 September 2019 19:22 PM

The housing minister should spend a few days with me. Get a reality check. Then look at the legal system.

From: Jonathan Ash 14 August 2019 22:56 PM

We have a snowflake younger society. I want, I deserve, it’s my right. But try working for it! I remember a famous psychologist (Jordan Peterson) asking a student who asked how do you expect us to get & make a difference. His reply was “do you think your grandparents were better off than you “. It’s not your right to ownership of a property. Food, water and a roof over your head yes but owner. Why? The social system should house you I agree but look after it! Same as you should yourself. Yet the amount of obesity is on the rise so how can one expect people to look after a home when they can’t look after themselves!! A bad day doing exit inspections and I am on a low ebb. Sick of tenants trashing other people’s p and thinking it’s ok!!

From: Jonathan Ash 14 August 2019 22:51 PM

Already happening in Manchester. Larger properties getting hard to let.

From: Jonathan Ash 12 August 2019 07:44 AM

I have a family who call the council every time they report a repair ( not to me ) I then get a letter from the housing team. The housing team don’t visit or check if the repair is required. This is so wasteful of time and resources. Needless to say items such as bulbs to replace or paint the walls the tenants children have used as a paint board. This is one of the reasons S21 is useful for. Unfortunately the S8 for tenant damages is discretionary and clever tenants can defend this with all the correspondence from the Council ( whether or not legitimate repairs). This is not the 1st instance I have dealt with where savvy tenants abuse the system, so if S21 scrapped there is pretty much no way to get rid of such tenants and will again push LL to throw the towel in.

From: Jonathan Ash 19 July 2019 11:09 AM

What about sale by vendor? Will the vendor have to be licensed etc?

From: Jonathan Ash 18 July 2019 13:22 PM

I have come across Manchester City Council who did the same thing with dwellings and it cost me over £15,000. They cancelled their contract stopped paying and left their sub-tenant in situ who paid nothing as this occupier had no contract with me the landlord. Try suing the Council!!! Then try getting possession. Be very cautious doing deals with Councils.

From: Jonathan Ash 17 July 2019 13:56 PM

I work in the Manchester area specifically student accommodation and we have seen the new purpose built blocks have taken a toll on the PRS. The local authority had this as a plan over 10 years ago. Move students to the centre and the outlying areas they wanted to be more family/proper communities. Allowing the planning for student accommodation new build in surrounding areas again planning stating not HMO and denying those who want the change C3 to C4 has achieved their goals. This is Causing a drop in rents and many landlords who have purchased in the last few years are being hit very hard. This will also reduce property values in certain areas. Exactly what the Council wished for.

From: Jonathan Ash 17 July 2019 11:13 AM

Well put. I do think the government are assuming LL should act like HA and this new nanny state does not help. They need votes. More tenants vote than LL. I think I like user better though. When I get Emergancy phone calls such as recently at 11.45pm to inform me of a frog in the kitchen that I must send someone to remove as it’s an emergency (which is entirely true) I just can’t put client in the same sentence as tenant. We all know many MPs are also LL. Boris I am informed has two properties. I expect not in the lower rental bracket. Shame as he’s probably not come across HB or UC etc.

From: Jonathan Ash 13 July 2019 08:22 AM

Sorry but tenants are not customers but end users. Customers pay you for a service that you make a profit on not a home.. paying for a home in this context are users/leasers of the product.. do HA or say Council see them as customers. No.. and I’ve been in the public sector in housing and the private sector for over 5 years and 30 respectively. Get with the flow folks. It’s all about votes not what’s good for the general public. Unfortunately most are not intelligent enough to know. Ask a tenant to change a fuse then tell me they are customers...

From: Jonathan Ash 12 July 2019 22:40 PM

How about using £600k to build a few houses?

From: Jonathan Ash 09 July 2019 13:26 PM

How about taxing tenants who steal UC or HB money as it then becomes income?

From: Jonathan Ash 08 July 2019 12:39 PM

Sorry forgot to mention I also do a 7 day week plus minimum 11 hours a day and no holiday for 5 years. That’s my commitment to landlord clients. I don’t drive a 4x4 nor live in a million pounds home. I expect to do a good job for decent pay as we all should. I do agree many agents are extremely poor at their job and passing a basic examination will not alter their intellect or knowledge or drive.

From: Jonathan Ash 30 June 2019 07:13 AM

£250 plus disbursements. Forget VAT as that’s the government . This is my average . You won’t get a conveyance for this & they do less work without leaving their office but then again you may say a trainee conveyancer is qualified!! Although I will disagree. The old story comes to mind. Pay peanuts & get monkeys.

From: Jonathan Ash 30 June 2019 07:08 AM

I have over 100 units myself and manage over a 1,000 and if any landlord out there thinks that an agent who actually knows their job (which are few and far between) can do this for peanuts then they are wrong. Not only this a am 100% sure 99% of so called full time landlords have the knowledge to do the job within the letter of the law. Most are clueless as to the legislation and I proved this on the chats a couple of weeks ago with basic what is a N5 or N5B. I went to court for a client who used another agent on a possession and the agent didn’t even know to submit a witness statement never mind how to word it. I use all the major portals and pay over &40k per annum just for that & £200 to do say 10 viewings is ludicrous. I suspect like many a poor product and and as many landlords think tenants are happy with such should let straight away! Well wake up... have a go at Tesco they buy at one price and sell at another but that’s ok as they have overheads and staff... or banks that charge a reservation fee of a grand plus is ok so you can borrow money at a higher rate they get it for! You are not in the real world if you suggest LA can’t do a decent job or make a living if they do it correctly. Come with me for a day but make sure you have some experience in self defence also as in my area you are threatened with guns, knives, machetes and violence. Then tell the tenants they owe and pay up. Then do all the Court papers and argue with Shelter and their barrister and see how you go...

From: Jonathan Ash 29 June 2019 20:23 PM

I can’t recall any Local Council running anything at a break even point so are they in a position to run an actual business or is this just placing tenants with available properties? I also expect they will not serve any notices except disrepair to landlords nor say S8 to tenants in arrears!?

From: Jonathan Ash 14 June 2019 19:30 PM

I have dealt with many letting agents and found those who are cheap tent to be cheap for a reason and the multinationals overcharge and poorly train the staff as have large turnover of employees. It is a shame that you find the long standing smaller agents are probably the best in most areas of their job and expertise.

From: Jonathan Ash 04 June 2019 11:57 AM

Interesting comment Suzy. Check court cases. Tenants received the gas check following signing their AST and the Courts accepted the tenants defence that the landlord failed to give it at the same time as the tenancy was signed! So the email system is not accurate in such a respect. For tenants to accept legal notices by email is a better idea as you can obtain receipt also. I have also attended many courses by the NLA, RLA and several other training enterprises. I have been amazed many times how much landlords don’t know who have been in the business many years. Even basics such as Article 4, or what is quiet enjoyment, or a N5 etc etc. I agree agents should have a qualification but landlords also. There are too many poor of each. So that NLA course has no doubt been updated now. Maybe another course is due?

From: Jonathan Ash 25 May 2019 12:12 PM

What about the court case where the ( I’m someone will know the exact case) letting agent did a let only transaction and passed the deposit to the landlord. The landlord did not put it in a scheme and the ombudsman ruled the agent was at fault. The agent was also fined. I have now changed our practice as an agent to either submit on let only or get the deposit paid directly to the landlord. Maybe not all landlords are unscrupulous and maybe not all agents either, but some are!

From: Jonathan Ash 16 May 2019 13:12 PM

There are so many things wrong with this in their manifesto, I would need to write a book. Maybe the expect stupid pet to think this looks workable? Or are they the ones who need to just look at the stupidity of some suggestions? Or could they all have a hidden agenda and assume landlords will sell en-mass and flood the market so property values fall drastically which will get some on the ladder (remember landlords may go bump, lenders will take a bashing ). As ultimately the property will still be there for many many years. The parties all forget that many tenants rent due to diverse reasons and not all want to buy ! Some tenants and I’m sure many landlords can relate, can’t run a house nor wish to have all the issues of fixing things in a property. How about helping landlords and then expect them to further invest In their property which would then up the quality of the housing stock!!!

From: Jonathan Ash 15 May 2019 19:01 PM

Number 1 Dick Turpin street.

From: Jonathan Ash 29 April 2019 15:55 PM

Interestingly I have just seen an ad for the Guinness Trust looking to recruit a Housing Officer. Job description includes carrying out affordability checks? Does this mean they will accept people on UC etc although the housing element would not be enough to pay the rent? As I am well aware most of their family rentals rents are in excess of the LHA rates.

From: Jonathan Ash 25 April 2019 15:19 PM

This all send somewhat like a company having to advertise a job vacancy but already have the candidate (happens a lot in local authorities). Just wasting time and money going through the motions! Lenders have the mortgaged plus the guarantee from the landlord borrower so if they can’t pay the loan due to tenants issues, the lenders are highly unlikely to be at a loss. Unless there is a crash!! So don’t rely on their aid in this. Also as I have previously mentioned, lenders will not want to rock the boat just in case there is a witch hunt looking to ascertain why lenders charge massive fees to book a mortgage rate. Also are there any figures regards rent arrears with benefit tenants in social housing (which is subsidised) against those not on benefits? I attend court regularly and HA are always there on possession cases.

From: Jonathan Ash 25 April 2019 08:46 AM

Jeremy is absolutely correct, have this type of things daily. Merban I also totally agree. Why are lenders charging reservation fees? They make money on their margins. This is downright robbery but legal?

From: Jonathan Ash 18 April 2019 15:47 PM

How about a think tank who get lots of ££ come up with scenario such as. Push landlords out and flood the market with properties for sale. Values drop circa 30% and all of a sudden 1000s of people who couldn’t buy a property are now in a position to? Let’s face it in the crash properties did drop dramatically so long term lower property values make very little difference to the economy! We in the trade know the amount of tenants who don’t or won’t or can’t buy is vast, however I have seen some of the questions local authorities ask which are loaded ( especially when wishing to license an area) can give any final answers they want. Just a thought!

From: Jonathan Ash 17 April 2019 22:20 PM

Yes and 40 years in the game. Previously FNAEA & RICS. Owen over 100 units, manage over 1000. So what’s your experience? How many times have you attended Court. Let me guess. Not even 1/2 my experience. So go and live it n the real world then come back to me.

From: Jonathan Ash 16 April 2019 21:27 PM

Just a quick reply to the notion of a housing court. I will 100% guarantee it will be full of no win no fee cases on behalf of tenants suing landlords for “poor property standards “. Not for possession cases. Also take into consideration that the last thing the courts & government want is quickly possession cases with nowhere to rehouse tenants.

From: Jonathan Ash 16 April 2019 10:41 AM

Fatal flaw in this automotive system. It assumes rent is paid on time all the time and no arrears. Unfortunately in many of these locations tenants are on HB or UC. I won’t go into more detail as anyone in the business knows these pitfalls. Look at the reality on then come up with a ‘real net’.

From: Jonathan Ash 08 April 2019 13:37 PM

I am classed as a small agent. This year we have had over £20,000 of unpaid rents where we have had to use S8 court proceedings. This does not include the Court costs involved or damages following eviction either. So how much rent have tenants ripped off landlords this year? Could Mr Jagota hazard a guess then suggest how this can be curbed? I would suggest 20 million has been in effect stolen by tenants. I am max that you can fill up with fuel. No written agreement then drive off without paying. This is criminal. But actually sign to say you will pay for something then don’t is a civil matter!

From: Jonathan Ash 20 December 2018 10:46 AM

Just got my first case under S8. Shelter for the tenant have put a defence of mental issues and the tenant will now undergo psychiatric evaluation to see if he can be deemed unfit to manage his own affairs. The actual defence is based on landlord is victimising the tenant as he is vulnerable. Tenant has no issues with making babies and smoking dope! I expect this type of defence will become the norm. Beware all.

From: Jonathan Ash 14 November 2018 10:43 AM

I have a similar situation. Requested £25.00 for replacement of missing shower curtain. DPS agreed with tenant that one could be purchased online for £5.00 and only agreed the £5.00. Can anyone out there let me know who they use as contractors that work as a charity?

From: Jonathan Ash 06 September 2018 16:09 PM

There was a time when the local authorities/HA would rent a property for several years at an agreed rental then out homeless people/families in them. They would rent at LHA rates but carry out the repairs. Then hand back in good order. Evidently they don’t do this now for a reason!! Is it the costs of managing the tenants I wonder. The first comment is correct and with UC it is unrealistic to suggest landlords take on such responsibility without some help from the local authorities. Come on local councils this old system worked well for landlords and must have been cheaper than B&Bs etc.

From: Jonathan Ash 13 June 2018 12:18 PM

Breaking News