AS the owner of a flat for rent, I totally agree with the decision of our Holyrood government to protect tenants from eviction during this crisis and would not myself consider eviction. I do, however, object to some of the comments made about landlords, which regard them as a homogenous group in the business of buying to let, with a mortgage perhaps on several flats, and normally coining it in.
In my case, the flat was purchased by a parent, who began saving at age 14, on a wage of 3/6 per week, with the ambition of some day owning a small house. This ambition was not realised until about age 72. A small flat was purchased, but unfortunately not enjoyed for more than a very few years, spent in ill health, resulting inevitably in death. It then passed to the next generation.
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At that point, as a result of early retirement due to cancer, it was decided that retaining the flat and letting it at a reasonable rent would add to the pittance pension paid in this country. This would enable us to continue to live in the house for which we had saved for 10 years for the deposit and then paid mortgage for 30 years, at one point at 15% – years of no holidays, no meals out etc. The rent has seldom been raised, and then only by small amounts such as £15 per month, deposits always returned, and small improvements made when affordable. It has always been respected as, for a time, the tenant’s home.
Those who criticise landlords would also do well to remember that in Scotland, the duties and restrictions on landlords are far greater than in England – registration, energy efficiency, electrical safety, legionnaire’s certificates, PAT testing, obligations to tenants and restrictions on terms for ending tenancies, compulsory placement of deposits with a designated company.
I may add that some tenants, on leaving, have presented us with gifts in thanks and even become friends with whom we have kept in touch after they have moved on.
Do we then fall into the category, as normally assumed, of wealthy landlords expected to fleece tenants and put income above care for them?
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