Telford & Wrekin
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Spring 2020 Property Matters The Official Newsletter of the Wrekin Landlords Association The meeting on Tuesday AGM April 7th “IS CANCELLED” DUE TO CONCERNS OVER THE CORONAVIRUS. We have taken this unprecedented step in the interests of our members and the speakers who were booked. We apologise for any inconvenience but we are equally sure that you will all be understanding of our motives. Subject to future review, it is our intention at this time to re designate the July 14th meeting to serve as our AGM. We will keep you advised as the year progresses. We trust that all our members and their families stay healthy during this troubled time. IN THIS ISSUE... MEMBERSHIP OVERDUE ANNUAL DINNER POSTPONED ELECTRICAL TESTING PROBLEM TENANTS. SUICIDAL LANDLORDS. RENTAL INCREASES. AND MUCH MORE........ 20 My life in Property Needs your stories NOW! 20 1 2 19 Website www.wrekinlandlords.co.uk2 19 IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS Chairman's Letter. Housing Benefits (Landlords) 01952 383858 CONTENTS Dear Members Benefits & Council Tax 01952 383838 FRONT COVER Wow, it’s Spring already, a time when a Environmental Health 01952 381818 (including noisy neighbours) Meeting Cancelled young landlords fancy used to turn to Domestic violence helpline 0808 2000 247 buying a few more houses but sadly those Highway Maintenance Team 01952 384384 Renewal (Final call) 4 days are behind us. Many Landlords are Abandoned Vehicles 0300 333 3000 taking a long hard look at their current Environmental Maintenance 01952 384000 (Roads, signs, lighting, footpaths etc) portfolios and struggling to make the right Problem Tenants 6/7 Recyclefortelford.gov.uk (missed collection) decision to stay, increase or decrease in Private Landlords/Tenants 01952 381877 Kathy Hawley 01952 381875 size, it is not easy in the light of the Did you know? 8 [email protected] situation as a whole these days. [email protected] The brand new threat of the coronavirus Police 0300 333 3000 or (Emergency ) 999 Members say 10 can impact on us all, as it creates problems getting tradesman to visit Crimestoppers 0800 555111 properties and if our working tenants have Transco 0800111999 (if you smell Gas) Laugh it off 11 to take time off work then you can forget To establish Gas suppliers 0870 608 1524 the rent for a few weeks. We have also To establish Electricity suppliers 0345 601 5972 been obliged to postpone the 17th Annual Annual Dinner cancelled 12 (Power Cuts) 0800 31 63 105 Landlords Dinner (details on Page 13 ). Princess Royal Hospital 01952 641222 or (Shropdoc in Emergencies) 0333 222 66 55 We are always looking for members to Alternative Dinner date 13 share their stories, anecdotes and/or All information and advice in this newsletter is given in good faith. Wrekin expertise with us, either at a future Landlords Association accept no liability for actions or damages arising from meeting, or in the Newsletter, so get in its content. Always check with independent sources, like solicitors, Coronavirus 14 touch. We are encouraging all members to accountants etc. use the ‘Report a tenant tool’ on the Electrical Testing 15 website to try to eliminate these tenant Members open meeting are at “The Venue”, Queen Street, Madeley. based disasters that keep recurring time Amended date for the AGM 14th July, provisionally It’s good to talk 16 and time again (see page 6 ) If you have any advice in this current climate and solutions that other landlords Classified Ads 17 might benefit from then we would be Representatives of The Wrekin Landlords Association can be contacted on : delighted to hear from you and pass on For tenant references phone 01952 581238 or tenant,landlords@mail,com Contacts 18 your advice to our members. There is so The Chairman: Mr. Bernie Lewis (01952 727322) much we can do to help each other and it is very important, as you will see if you E-mail [email protected] Alan Boswell insurance 20 read page 16, “It’s good to talk”. Treasurer, Mr. Paul Spiers 07931311612 Stay safe keep well. or write to WREKIN LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, Kind regards The Cornerhouse, 57, High Street, Madeley TF7 5AT Bernie. 18 Website www.wrekinlandlords.co.uk For Newsletter info 01952 727322 or bpm.lewis @ btinternet.com 3 18 3 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS WERE DUE 1st January CLASSIFIED ADS ACCOUNTANTS GAS SERVICE PLEASE SEND IN YOUR TWENTY POUNDS NOW! To: Kew Associates 01952 216872 Anpal (Andy) 07773413582 Neil Phillips 01952 522004 Tony Pryce 07866 472678 WREKIN LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, CORNERHOUSE, BUILDING Gastec, 01952 246438 57, High Street, MADELEY , TELFORD, TF7 5AT Rob 07812 346559 M.C. Services. 01952 248250 CARPET SUPPLY & FITTING HOUSE CLEARANCE As usual keep the top part as a receipt. AST (Dawley) 01952 630143 Mathew Owen 07938302402 Many thanks! Doug 07813 848583 Reviive 01952 217260 CARPET CLEANING INSURANCE OR Shropshire Carpet cleaners 01952 884171 Alan Boswell Brokers 01603 216399 CLEANING INVENTORIES You may pay direct into: Wrekin Landlords Association, RBS Bank Vortex Cleaning 01952 506519 Integris Property Solutions 01952 883561 Account, using your membership number as a reference:- CONDENSATION JOINERY MANUFACTURERS Enviro Vent 0845 2727807 Christian Roussel 01743 159934 sort code 16-33-17 account No 10021496 DECKING KITCHENS Chetton Timber 01746 789340 or 07971 Kitchen facelift Co.(Martin) 01694 722500 256792 LAWN AND HEDGE CARE Remember it is only £20 again this year. DECORATING Danny 07706235099 Williams Friendly Services 01952 244197 MAINTENANCE We thank you for your prompt payment! Chris Shepherd 07821128124 David Smith 07968 486845 Please be advised that anyone not renewed by DOUBLE GLAZING Jag of all trades (mobile) 07970 062970 Safeway 01743 620329 or 07713152932 PEST CONTROL April 12th will not receive any further information DRAINS David Watkins 01952 540920 07947750299 AA Drains 01952 455443 PLASTERING or Newsletters. ELECTRICIANS GS Plastering.07967496222 01952 503907 Tony Sparks 01952 912219 PLASTIC APS Electrical (Simon) 07882 345098 Plastic Centre 01952 299500 ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTS. PLUMBERS We thank all of you who paid so promptly and appreciate that Tim Gough 07778 758568 David Battye 07882 478894 01952 279459 this reminder does not apply to you. John Addison 07855 239752 PLUMBING SUPPLIES Ed Young 07875 129763 PH Boiler Spares 01952 200446 For anyone who finds it difficult to remember to renew your FENCING M.R Bathrooms & Fires 01952 582007 membership, please take a tip out of some other members Any recommendations? ROOFING GARAGE DOORS Dave Mathews 01952504596 or 07415036230 books who have just set up an annual direct debit payment to Steve Barratt 01952 872552 TREE SURGERY & FELLING come out on January the 1st until further notice and you will GUTTERING Craig 07470171376 Scott Ecclestone 07946003480 01952 503636 WILL MAKING continue to benefit from your ongoing membership. Honestly, Ian Halstead 07515 358189 our members are very important to us and we would like to continue to support you the way we have been doing for the We ask for your recommended trades people to appear on this page. past three decades, yes really it is that long. Keep it up. please contact Bernie 01952 727322 or [email protected] 4 For tenant references phone 01952 581238 or tenant,landlords@mail,com 17 4 17 Landlords “ It ’ s good to talk ” . There has been much talk in the trade press recently about the number of landlords suffering from depression and even taking their own lives. A number of possible reasons have been suggested for this including the increased legislation overwhelming some landlords, impossible debt, some caused by non-payment of rent and tenants trashing properties, some related to landlords becoming stuck with properties and finding no way out of an impossible situation due to changes in policy. However, the overriding thing that emerged was the isolation and loneli- ness of the profession, which I can understand as being a landlord can carry a stigma which, if taken seriously, can be very depressing. I have noticed in social situations if you mention that you are a landlord you may often get a variety of responses from “Rigsby” (Rising Damp), “Rachman” ( 1950’s and 60’s Slum landlord) or to the other extreme of “Moneybags” which assumes that all Landlords are making a fortune, which would be quite alright but it tends to intimate that if we do make money it is at the expense of some poor vulnerable tenant by exploitation or similar. The only people who do appreciate us for the sterling work that we do tend to be other Landlords, who can understand our situation, empathize with our concerns and offer constructive advice and answers to many of our problems and reassurance that what we are doing is right and that there is always a solution to any situation, it is never hopeless. This is why our meetings are so important, we need to meet and mix with other likeminded people, people who understand the business that we find our- selves in and people who give us moral support or just talk to you. The slogan “It’s good to talk” applies to people from all walks of life but is especially important to people who, due to their chosen profession or life- style, find themselves isolated and have no work colleagues etc. So please don’t worry and fret in silence, become part of the landlord community, pop along to our meetings, talk to other landlords, come to our Annual Rewires, Faults, Electrical Inspections, PAT tests, additional sockets, Dinner, which is included in your membership. This year it has had to be outside lights, burglar alarms, network cabling (IT) etc. Tony is a local delayed but will be a very special evening if and when it does go ahead Landlord, fellow member of the Wrekin Landlords Association and a (see details on page 13).