Day after day there are cynical stories in the media about rich capitalist landlords seeking to exploit poor beleaguered tenants, abuse them and then throw them out on the street for a minor infraction. This type of polarising and partisan approach is frankly divisive and unhelpful. The truth is that within any constituent group there will always be a minority of those who seek to hide behind the law and exploit it to the detriment of others. Sadly this is part of the human condition and at Landlord Action we get to see both sides on a daily basis.
What is lost amongst all this is that there are genuine stories that deserve to be heard. Somewhere amongst all the debate there are real people who are having their lives upside down, enduring months,sometimes years, of stress to regain access to that most basic of human rights,their own property.It's not just tenants.
Last week I spend a considerable amount of time on the phone to Jo. Jo isn't a rich portfolio managing entrepreneur chasing the bottom line or profit cynically riding the crest of an ever growing market, she is an ordinary mother and grandmother who has seen the very worst that the rental market can offer. When I speak to her she is on her way to check out the progress of renovations on her property.
This is a property that she reluctantly moved out of due to personal circumstances. It used to be well maintained, equipped, and a considerable source of pride to her. Today it is being effectively gutted.The place she called home for many years, raised her family in and which held many happy memories was obliterated and she is now spending thousands of pound to bring it back to something approaching habitable condition.
Her only mistake she admits was to rent her property to someone in a difficult situation,on the personal recommendation of a family friend. Out of compassion she rented her family home to a women who systematically destroyed her life. The well furnished and presented property was reduced to a shell. Property stolen, windows nailed shut, interior doors kicked in, appliances damaged beyond repair,family members threatened, neighbours alienated and abused. The Police and the RSPCA were a regular occurrence at a home which quickly resembled something from a war zone ( as we think the pictures will testify). After months of hard work, we sent the bailiffs in. Unfortunately what confronted us was an all too familiar scene of devastation. Realistically Jo realises that she has very little financial or judicial redress and the errant tenant escapes without punishment or consequence.
