Ignorant Landlords UK (Suzy Butler) 3_Part_A

Segment from Radio 5 on 12th August 2010. I've added my own screenshots, originally sourced from a GMTV television news broadcast about this "story".

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• landlord
• tenant
• renter
• eviction
• brighton
• suzy
• butler
• carmen
• nobre

[davidkesslerauthor]

@housecash if a tenant of mine willfully refused to pay the rent or to leave at the end of the tenancy agreement I would sure they severely regret stealing from me in that way. And it is of course stealing - as every HONEST person would know. I would also make sure that they pay me the rent and all costs involved whether they wish to or not - and I wouldn't allow them to use bankruptcy to evade the debt.

[housecash]

@davidkesslerauthor Don't blame me if someone ends up being badly hurt after a landlord takes it too far to make tenant regret not allowing them into tenant's home on instant demand, or being in arrears or whatever.

It might be the lawful tenant who is hurt, or their child, or it even.. depending upon the tenant. might be the landlord. You're running a business landlord-man. There are laws and rules to obey. Don't like it? Then you shouldn't choose to be in the business you're in.

[rodster6]

If the tennant is not paying then why should she be allowed to stay there? Id kick a tennant who refused to pay out on their ass. If they are not paying surely that makes them squatter scum.

[housecash]

@rodster6 No it doesn't make them squatters. If you were late with your mortgage payment.. should the banks bring the heavies chuck you and your kids out on the street too. In most instances the banks have months to wait to go through repossession process.

Fact is, letting out even one property is classed as running a business (according to HM Excise & Customs). Landlord was happy to charge a professional market rate of rent @ £1,235 pm. She accepted the tenant. Comes with business risks.

[housecash]

@rodster6 And... if you as a landlord did that to any of my friends, tenants, who had perhaps fallen into arrears due to pay-cut or a drop in hours... harass or physically kick them of their homes due to being late with rent.. making up your own law can come with consequences. The people I know might ensure such a landlord forever severely regrets their actions. You break the law or make your own rules to what the law should be, don't be surprised if others do the same.

[Ascyltos]

@rodster6

I'm a housing lawyer. I love people like you.

I get injunctions, damages claims, and costs orders against them.

Your cuntitude pays my wages.

[filmnet]

@davidkesslerauthor Your story makes it all the more mystifying why you are defending this rogue landlord. Also, a few years ago, I was given improper notice, was bullied out by the landlord and agent and never got my deposit back. Just because a landlord is able to get away with such things, certainly doesn't make it right.

[mrsuperbafrango]

this is unbelevable ....this dumb bitch needs to be sued ......landlords need to know the law and respect tenants rights ..........turning up at my doorstep with tv reporters claiming i was squatting would cost this bitch 10 grand at least .....a factor landlords should take into acount

[weirdcitykid]

@davidkesslerauthor

it's not as easy as that.

[davidkesslerauthor]

@filmnet I actually was given short notice to leave another property when my co-tenants fell behind with their rent and the owner wanted to sell (Added to which I had planned a holiday for just that time so I had to box up my possessions, leave the old place and then return to the new place and wait a couple of days for him to move my possessions. He also never repaid my £360 deposit.

I have seen it from the tenant's side, but I believe in not taking what one hasn't paid for.

[filmnet]

@davidkesslerauthor 2 months in arrears doesn't equal a Notice to Quit and 2 months after that. There's really no point continuing to discuss with you, as you've made your own mind up about the "dishonest" tenant and angelic landlord. I hope your landlord doesn't give you 5 days notice and starts shoving tv cameras in your face.

[davidkesslerauthor]

@filmnet Re the five days notice, the rent was already 2 months in arrears and the tenancy had expired. The owner had no way of knowing what the tenant was intending to do.

It was the tenant's behaviour that would make landlords wary, not vice versa.

As far as "press intrusion" goes it served two good purposes.

1) It warned property owners of the pitfalls

2) It identified the "tenant" so that other landlords would know what to expect if they rented property to that particular tenant.

[filmnet]

@davidkesslerauthor People get into debt. Have you never paid a bill late? That doesn't make you a thief. Taking a loaf of bread without intending to pay is a different matter completely. Still you haven't touched on the matter of the 5 days notice or the press intrusion; so I presume you think such behaviour is okay. Suzy Butler has given landlords a bad name; such scumlords make tenants more wary to rent. And landlords lose out.

[davidkesslerauthor]

@filmnet Oh I see. So I'm short of money, I can pick up a loaf of bread from Tesco without paying?

And if people can get away without paying the rent what effect does this have on the AVAILABILITY of properties for others who need housing? Owners who might rent out their property if they're going away for a few months will be more wary of doing so. People with spare rooms to rent out will become wary. All of that hurts other people who need a roof over their heads.

[filmnet]

@davidkesslerauthor I must not be from where you're from then. Anyone with any morality knows that what you call a "squatter", a "crook", "dishonest" etc. is actually called a tenant being in debt.