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Country Lass

Lettings Manager

712 Profile Views

About Me

A Lettings Manager in the West Midlands

my expertise in the industry

More than I care to admit...

Country's Recent Activity

Shocking... Who could possibly have predicted that...

From: Country Lass 26 February 2019 11:07 AM

Absolutely atrocious. THIS is the reason we need a Housing Court, as this should not have taken 20 months to get a prosecution and verdict! This should have been sorted within 20 weeks! This man should be forced to register with a redress scheme or use an agent who is a member of one in high standing. If he does not, he should have to sell his rented properties. People like this should not be allowed to be Landlords, he treated this poor tenant and his daughter abominably.

From: Country Lass 19 February 2019 09:21 AM

He's not entirely wrong, the sector does need more long term landlords who view it as a decade or longer investment. That isn't to say that the 1-2 property Landlords should leave, or that their contribution towards combating homelessness isn't appreciated, simply that we are more likely to see longer term Landlords in the future. HOWEVER, the ones who have a property rented out as part of an inheritance trust, or homeowners who need to move away for work for a couple of years should not be pushed out, or have things mounted against them; they too are providing homes.

From: Country Lass 04 February 2019 13:59 PM

Very true, and well put. A cap would have allowed those of us who charge a modest sum to still carry on providing our service, whilst making the Agents who grab all the Landlords by charging them nothing, whilst shafting the Tenants rethink their business model and have to improve their service levels.

From: Country Lass 31 January 2019 10:56 AM

But those 'cut and paste' agreements still take time to check through, make sure that they have all of the correct clauses in, and then answer any questions that the Tenant may have. It's not just a 2 minute job. Some Agents have charged ridiculous amounts, but I don't see why asking for a fair contribution from the Tenant is a problem.

From: Country Lass 29 January 2019 11:47 AM

I can accept your reasoning that this isn't a fight against Tenants, and you are right that it is possibly not the best choice of words. However we, Landlords and Agents, are under attack from the Government, who are being aimed at us by those with a vested interest in destabilising the market and increasing the reason for them to exist. I think the time is coming when we do need to dig our heels in, stop cowering under the blows and stand up for ourselves, as a whole industry. Quite how we will do that when we all agree that there are some truly despicable practices being committed by some Agents with less morals than an alley-cat, I don't know. Maybe some form of registration or legally required accreditation would help, I'm not sure. At least if we can band together and face this bullying behaviour united, with one voice, we stand a chance.

From: Country Lass 25 January 2019 13:33 PM

So we have roughly £1,750 for the Deposit and first months rent, call it £240 (I'm assuming that is including VAT) gives us £1,990. What is the other £1,060 for? Pet deposit and Guarantor fee are the only two justifiable costs I can see there. And as a Letting Agent, we do more than just a bog-standard £7 credit check btw. But depending on what costs are included in the price you mentioned above, Agents like that are the problem, not the ones like myself who don't charge extra fees for everything we can dream up! For example, that £700 house you mentioned, for 2 people to rent it off me, with no pets or guarantors would be £1,990 including VAT, Deposit first rent and contributions towards the inventory and administration. Only £240 (inc vat) of that would come to me, and a chunk of that goes towards the cost of the referencing and inventory. I think I clear about £30. Hardly gouging the masses I feel! A cap would have been better than a ban.

From: Country Lass 23 January 2019 11:26 AM

Sheralee Taylor, yes, if a Landlord has made sure that the property is professionally cleaned when the Tenant moves in, it should be to the same standard when they leave! I know one Landlord who has newer appliances in the property they rent out than in their own house. And also, would YOU like to move in to a house you have to thoroughly clean first? No. So why would someone else, and why should the Landlord have to pay for someone else's bad housekeeping?

From: Country Lass 23 January 2019 11:18 AM

So basically I can put it in to say that the rent will increase by 5% each year, no matter what the market does?

From: Country Lass 05 July 2018 12:58 PM

It's 'boards' not 'baords'

From: Country Lass 13 June 2018 12:13 PM

From: Country Lass 13 June 2018 11:07 AM

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