Telford & Wrekin

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........ Needs your stories NOW! My life in Property 20 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">20 </li><li style="flex:1">1</li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">2</li><li style="flex:1">19 </li></ul>Website <a href="/goto?url=http://www.telfordwrekinlandlords.org" target="_blank">www.wrekinlandlords.co.uk </a><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">2</li><li style="flex:1">19 </li></ul>IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS Chairman's Letter. Housing Benefits (Landlords) 01952 383858 CONTENTS FRONT COVER Meeting Cancelled Dear Members Benefits & Council Tax Environmental Health 01952 383838 01952 381818 (including noisy neighbours) Wow, it’s Spring already, a time when a young landlords fancy used to turn to buying a few more houses but sadly those days are behind us. Many Landlords are taking a long hard look at their current portfolios and struggling to make the right decision to stay, increase or decrease in size, it is not easy in the light of the situation as a whole these days. The brand new threat of the coronavirus can impact on us all, as it creates problems getting tradesman to visit properties and if our working tenants have to take time off work then you can forget the rent for a few weeks. We have also been obliged to postpone the 17th Annual Landlords Dinner (details on Page 13 ). We are always looking for members to share their stories, anecdotes and/or expertise with us, either at a future meeting, or in the Newsletter, so get in touch. We are encouraging all members to use the ‘Report a tenant tool’ on the website to try to eliminate these tenant based disasters that keep recurring time and time again (see page 6 ) Domestic violence helpline 0808 2000 247 Highway Maintenance Team 01952 384384 Renewal (Final call) Problem Tenants Did you know? 4<ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Abandoned Vehicles </li><li style="flex:1">0300 333 3000 </li></ul>Environmental Maintenance 01952 384000 (Roads, signs, lighting, footpaths etc) 6/7 Recyclefortelford.gov.uk (missed collection) Private Landlords/Tenants 01952 381877 Kathy Hawley 01952 381875 <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected] </a>8 10 11 12 Police 0300 333 3000 Crimestoppers or (Emergency ) 999 0800 555111 Members say Laugh it off <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Transco </li><li style="flex:1">0800111999 (if you smell Gas) </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">0870 608 1524 </li><li style="flex:1">To establish Gas suppliers </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">To establish Electricity suppliers </li><li style="flex:1">0345 601 5972 </li></ul>Annual Dinner cancelled Alternative Dinner date Coronavirus (Power Cuts) 0800 31 63 105 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Princess Royal Hospital </li><li style="flex:1">01952 641222 or (Shropdoc in Emergencies) 0333 222 66 55 </li></ul>13 14 15 16 17 18 All information and advice in this newsletter is given in good faith. Wrekin Landlords Association accept no liability for actions or damages arising from its content. Always check with independent sources, like solicitors, accountants etc. Electrical Testing It’s good to talk Members open meeting are at “The Venue”, Queen Street, Madeley. Amended date for the AGM 14th July, provisionally If you have any advice in this current climate and solutions that other landlords might benefit from then we would be delighted to hear from you and pass on your advice to our members. There is so much we can do to help each other and it is very important, as you will see if you read page 16, “It’s good to talk”. Classified Ads Representatives of The Wrekin Landlords Association can be contacted on : For tenant references phone 01952 581238 or tenant,landlords@mail,com The Chairman: Mr. Bernie Lewis (01952 727322) E-mail [email protected] Contacts 20 Alan Boswell insurance Treasurer, Mr. Paul Spiers 07931311612 or write to WREKIN LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, The Cornerhouse, 57, High Street, Madeley TF7 5AT Stay safe keep well. Kind regards Bernie. For Newsletter info 01952 727322 or bpm.lewis @ btinternet.com Website <a href="/goto?url=http://www.telfordwrekinlandlords.org" target="_blank">www.wrekinlandlords.co.uk </a><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">3</li><li style="flex:1">18 </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">18 </li><li style="flex:1">3</li></ul>CLASSIFIED ADS MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS WERE DUE 1st January ACCOUNTANTS Kew Associates Neil Phillips BUILDING Rob CARPET SUPPLY & FITTING AST (Dawley) Doug CARPET CLEANING Shropshire Carpet cleaners CLEANING Vortex Cleaning CONDENSATION Enviro Vent DECKING Chetton Timber 01746 789340 or 07971 256792 DECORATING Williams Friendly Services 01952 244197 Chris Shepherd DOUBLE GLAZING GAS SERVICE Anpal (Andy) Tony Pryce 07773413582 07866 472678 01952 246438 01952 248250 01952 216872 01952 522004 PLEASE SEND IN YOUR TWENTY POUNDS NOW! To: WREKIN LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION, CORNERHOUSE, 57, High Street, MADELEY , TELFORD, TF7 5AT Gastec, M.C. Services. HOUSE CLEARANCE Mathew Owen Reviive 07812 346559 07938302402 01952 217260 01952 630143 As usual keep the top part as a receipt. 07813 848583 01952 884171 01952 506519 0845 2727807 Many thanks! INSURANCE Alan Boswell Brokers INVENTORIES Integris Property Solutions 01603 216399 OR 01952 883561 You may pay direct into: Wrekin Landlords Association, RBS Bank Account, using your membership number as a reference:- JOINERY MANUFACTURERS Christian Roussel KITCHENS Kitchen facelift Co.(Martin) LAWN AND HEDGE CARE Danny MAINTENANCE David Smith Jag of all trades (mobile) PEST CONTROL David Watkins 01952 540920 07947750299 PLASTERING GS Plastering.07967496222 PLASTIC Plastic Centre 01743 159934 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">sort code 16-33-17 </li><li style="flex:1">account No 10021496 </li></ul>01694 722500 Remember it is only £20 again this year. We thank you for your prompt payment! Please be advised that anyone not renewed by April 12th will not receive any further information or Newsletters. 07706235099 07821128124 07968 486845 07970 062970 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Safeway </li><li style="flex:1">01743 620329 or 07713152932 </li></ul>DRAINS AA Drains ELECTRICIANS Tony Sparks APS Electrical (Simon) ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTS. Tim Gough John Addison Ed Young 01952 455443 01952 503907 01952 299500 01952 279459 01952 912219 07882 345098 PLUMBERS 07778 758568 07855 239752 07875 129763 We t hank all of you who paid so promptly and appreciate that this reminder does not apply to you. David Battye 07882 478894 PLUMBING SUPPLIES PH Boiler Spares M.R Bathrooms & Fires ROOFING Dave Mathews 01952504596 or 07415036230 TREE SURGERY & FELLING Craig 01952 200446 01952 582007 FENCING For anyone who finds it difficult to remember to renew your membership, please take a tip out of some other members books who have just set up an annual direct debit payment to come out on January the 1st until further notice and you will continue to benefit from your ongoing membership. Honestly, our members are very important to us and we would like to continue to support you the way we have been doing for the past three decades, yes really it is that long. Keep it up. Any recommendations? GARAGE DOORS Steve Barratt GUTTERING Scott Ecclestone 07946003480 01952 503636 01952 872552 07470171376 WILL MAKING <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Ian Halstead </li><li style="flex:1">07515 358189 </li></ul>We ask for your recommended trades people to appear on this page. please contact Bernie 01952 727322 or [email protected] For tenant references phone 01952 581238 or tenant,landlords@mail,com <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">4</li><li style="flex:1">17 </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">4</li><li style="flex:1">17 </li></ul>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 Dinner, which is included in your membership. This year it has had to be delayed but will be a very special evening if and when it does go ahead (see details on page 13). In the meantime, don’t suffer in silence, share your thoughts with us and please do visit our facebook page or website <a href="/goto?url=http://www. wrekinlandlords.co.uk" target="_blank">www. wrekinlandlords.co.uk </a> Rewires, Faults, Electrical Inspections, PAT tests, additional sockets, outside lights, burglar alarms, network cabling (IT) etc. Tony is a local Landlord, fellow member of the Wrekin Landlords Association and a British Gas “Local Hero”. Found on the Internet – Search “Tony Sparks Electrics” or go to <a href="/goto?url=http://tony-sparks.co.uk" target="_blank">http://tony-sparks.co.uk </a>STAY SAFE! STAY LEGAL! 5STAY SAFE! STAY LEGAL 16 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">16 </li><li style="flex:1">5</li></ul>Concerns grow over problem Tenants. Electrical testing to become compulsory A recurring complaint that we hear form our members is the mess they are left in with problem tenants, Repossession: With some, it is the problem of trying to get them to leave even though you have followed the correct procedure through the Court and it can prove an extremely expensive business especially as during this time there is often no rent paid and frequently a mortgage to contend with as our recent meeting with the County Court Bailiff confirmed. There is a currently a bill before Parliament that is expected to be “fast tracked” to require ALL “privately rented” homes in England to have Electrical Safety Certificates in place (EICR). The RLA advises The electrical safety obligation under the new rules will not apply until a tenancy is renewed or April 2021, whichever comes first. Mess and damage: With others, it is the fact that the tenant has left without notice, leaving a disgusting mess in the house and the garden which again is expensive to clear up and dispose of, then there’s damage to these properties which should be the tenants responsibility to pay for but if you have little or no deposit it doesn’t even touch the surface of the work that needs to be done. We are having reports of properties taking increasingly longer to do up than was the case a few years back, usually four to six weeks, and then you have to wait for the new tenant to give notice to their existing landlord which could see your property empty for anything up to three months which again means there is no income coming in. Council Tax: I find that the Council Tax Office are very reluctant to chase the tenant for Council Tax on the property which has been vacated even if the Tenant had a valid current tenancy agreement, they will make you jump through hoops to prove that this was the case. They will also dispute in the Tenants favour with regard to the date that they moved, if the tenant says it was on the 2nd then it was on the 2nd even if you personally visited them in your property on the 12th they virtually call you a liar and ask if you can prove it. On the other hand, if you are not aware of the tenant moving then the Council tax never bother to warn you that they have moved, they will just send you a bill in a few weeks time for hundreds of pounds much to your amazement. These are the occasions when we are forced to break into a property and find dead pets there, or cannabis farms and so on. It just doesn’t seem right to me, we are the responsible ones doing everything by the book and yet the tenants can thwart legal agreements and by-laws and get away with virtual murder. What is involved in an EICR? Whoever carries out your EICR must be “Registered Electrician”, Registered with a “Government approved Scheme”, to ensure that they can carry out such work. You may check this at <a href="/goto?url=http://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/ </a>An EICR requires EVERY circuit in the Consumer Unit (Fuse box) to be disconnected and individually tested, putting test conditions on the ca- bles and going around to every socket and light fitting to check the circuits are operating correctly and safely. The tester has to complete an extensive checklist of the system and record all electrical results on a 6 page form. Which takes around 4 hours on a 3 Bed Semi, plus the time to raise the paperwork afterwards, obviously if the test throws up any problems then they must be rectified and that just depends upon how complex the problems and the solution are, as to how long and how expensive they are. It is advisable to get a quote from your Electrician before he starts any remedial work. Having produced a “Signed, Dated and “Traceable” certificate” which carries a unique serial number including the registration code of the “Tester” – the “Tester” is now “Legally Li- able” for that inspection. If someone is injured by a fault that they should have identified by “proper” testing… the tester could be taken to court. However, if a tenant were to subsequently make alterations or ad- ditions to any of the Electrical circuits after the EICR had been carried out then if someone were to be injured, it would not be the fault of the Tester, it would actually be the Landlord who would shoulder the blame as he has a responsibility to ensure that the property is a fit and safe place to live. Recurring tenants:. What is becoming more obvious is that many of these offending tenants are the same ones, time after time, just turning up to yet another unsuspecting Landlord with some plausible story that they have used before, a prime one that they are having to leave because their current Fuller details are available on our website under Landlords Chat where You can view the findings and discussion regarding the proposal from our members. Currently it is a very ’hot potato” . For tenant references phone 01952 581238 or tenant,landlords@mail,com STAY SAFE! STAY LEGAL! <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">6</li><li style="flex:1">15 </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">6</li><li style="flex:1">15 </li></ul>Coronavirus (Covid-9) advice. Landlord wont do the maintenance work despite repeated requests, they omit to tell you that they have been issued with a Court notice and probably owe their current landlord around three thousand pounds and that the so-called maintenance work is doors that that they have pulled off their hinges, two smashed windows and a shed full of 97 bags of rubbish etc. Solution: Check before you take on a new tenant. Also if you know that you have a problem tenant you must notify other landlords that they are to be avoided at all costs. We can assist you in both of the above, so there should be no excuse for you to have any of the above problems. We are restricted to how we advise you of these persons details BUT if you use the form on our

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