Carryon Regardless

There has actually been a bit more of this and that recently. As for TV, no one would accept it as it's all too far fetched. If I woke up from this night are I wouldn't believe it. I pity the new owner of Flat 5, she is learning and it's going to be a hard time as she does. Today she learns the police will pat her on the head (as I did), while not being any sort of deterant. As we reach the end of this crisis I'll 'attempt' to persuade the court to evict one, as a n example. Which one? There's so many to choose from.

A recap. Block of 6 flats, I have 5. The sixth was repossessed from the abusive owner occupier last year, and bought by a LL wannabe who now regrets this some what, even before today. So earlier this pm I get a call from the new owner of Flat 5. Today she attends the fully renovated flat to allow her new T to move in. During this crisis she has done well to get thus far, and he is present with a van and belongings. The lady informs me that her new front door has been trashed by one of my T's (Flat 1) over the previous w/e. This it transpires was Sunday eve, but this is the first I hear of this. I now hear that Flat 4 has had a fire. First it was a chip pan, then a pizza box in't oven, but apparently it was oven chips left in for too long and ignited in the oven. Oven gets opened and smoke is seen by neighbours from open windows who panic running around shouting "everyone out there's a fire". Mr Flat 1 feels it's appropriate to kick in the door of Flat 5 to rescue nobody as it's empty. No curtains, no lights, no brain cells. Even if Flat 4 incinerated itself there would be no risk to Flat 5 as its a level down (heat rises) and not ajoining. Said T of Flat 4 has been a bloody nuisance of late. Last September Mr Plod (and colleagues) bashed in the front door 'cos he had been accused of throwing the previous owner occupier of Flat 5 through his own window. Arrested and released under Police bail after 3 days, never charged (but it seems v likely he did do it). He lost his local taxi licence, got depressed, put on medication, and sinks into an abyss, then licenced removed on medical grounds. So not much of a future for that one. In January the Flat 4 front door was bashed in by a hammer wielding chap(ess) in a dress. "Because I ruffled his (her) hair at a party" was the explanation. Not enough evidence so no charge of criminal damage, I'm used to such local police lack of response. Because I'm attempting to get arrears of rent from Flat 4 I'm a bully. Because I've now applied for his HB to be redirected to me I'm even worse. Last year Daddy G'tor paid me near on £800, so that's the route I'm taking for recovery again. Flat 1 is under a pointless threat of eviction due to arrears and disturbing the peace of 'er above by arguing with his girlfriend. Truth is I don't really want his flat back, or any other come to that. That would just leave me with repairs to do and a void that isn't desirable, now more than ever. Oh, a later call and the new lady of Flat 5 informs me the 'fire' was Sunday the 29th, 9 days ago, and no one thinks to inform her or me even though there have been other communications with Flat 3, Flat 4 and Flat 6. Go on see who can better that little lot.

I have sent a letter to some of my T's, and their g'tors. The same later will go out to the other T's closer to rent due date. I have said that where a T feels a need to reduce rent payments they should make me aware so we can discuss. I have pointed out that for many their finances won't change so a reduction isn't reasonable. I have pointed out that rents are and will still be due and non payment would likely cause an arrears situation that may also incur additional charges. At some point all monies due will be claimed. It states that T's believing this is just cause to enjoy a bonus are wrong. I am however hopeful that I can afford to be sympathetic to those with genuine need, and I am sincere with that. Should this 80% 'tax rebate' actually occur in June then I feel that can be used to help those T's in genuine need of a rent holiday. But as RL 'some' payment from said T's is also reasonable. The repossession is now stretched out to 3 months notice, still ambiguous but BJ said protection is in place for 'no fault' evictions. But beyond all that I see no point in spending my money on a court application to even 'attempt' to hoof a T, when I don't see much possibility of achieving a replacement. Will potential T's respond to an advert, will it be considered an essential journey for the viewing/s, will I find it easy to do any works in preparation for a new T, I become liable for council tax, water, and electric and the insurance may become void, will a new T be any better or just take the p from day one anyway. My thoughts are to consider the cons of each case and work it to best outcome. Hoofing is most definitely the last resort but I anticipate taking one or two to County Court to claim the debt. Will the Court sit or even have a sympathetic interest (if it gets that far), I doubt it.

RL I'm pretty sure that many of those in possession of my 'assets' would screw up your management structure, in a style of 'de'struct.

A lot of pain for a lot of people. How long can the Gov't give 80% aid to so many? If it actually is aid. The 80% of salary is a loan I read, so a future problem for the employer to repay if the banks do actually provide it. The self employed wait till June, so it's a promise we've yet to see delivered. In theory 80% support to the economy, ignoring the fact it must come from and go back somewhere, should keep the economy in fair condition. Many wouldn't actually be skint so can still spend. With such a slow down due to the lockdown spending requirements are less anyway, far less commute costs, near non existent entertainment costs, mortgage holidays are only a deferral but still help. When the lockdown eases there will be a need for things to be made and the capitalist state of things will take time but will recover. Much like my losing my portfolio, the properties will still be lived in by people so the overall is much the same. There will be a new balance of sorts and in similar fashion to any reduction of oldies due to this virus it may be the younger that adapt and become the new entrepreneurs. Early days and tbh our own finances may be less significant as time passes. They can't be ignored though and I see the fluidity of cash being a great advantage, assets soon become burdens.

The gate sales may be peoples anticipating moneyless and hungry others looking for what the better off might have.

By the time the expats get back, if they can as part of the £175 million put up, will we be where Italy and Spain were? My step daughter is back with us again. Her escape from London might well prove to be much safer. Certainly the risks there look to be higher due to the increased population density. I'm still gardening but I'm having trouble finding what to do with the savaged foliage. I've a steps and wall to build on one side of the house, but my cement stocks won't last long. In truth I could spend many weeks an quids creating walls, steps and paths in the rear garden, and then the front. Maybe a mass delivery of materials will be possible??? There are a good few jobs inside from Thursday when our forecast says that'll be better.

I feel the ambiguous style this has been put over by the Gov't is going to cause a lot of issue, and with that a lot of problems. In PM's QT today Corbyn raised this and BJ replied that he had already put a stop to 'no fault' evictions. I haven't seen evidence of this anyway but non payment of rent can't be considered as no fault. 2 points here though., I wouldn't spend money on repossession proceedings w/o better clarification, as a judge would prefer to protect the T as we know. Replacing a T with the present restrictions would be nigh on impossible. Viewings would be far less then usual reducing choices of replacement T, and a move in of said T is very problematic. This is beside the social conscience that we may have.

To my understanding. We aren't able to evict for 3 months, but the protective legislation isn't in place (as yet), but there is no hurry for that as the notice period and then possible court wait would provide that buffer. All rent shall be due for payment as contracted. The debt of unpaid rent shall accrue, along with penalties and any interest applied. The LL has been given a choice of £25 charge per letter or to revert to contracted charges. Those T's that may like to view the present situation as a bonus, in that they refrain from paying rent, shall be lucky to keep their accommodation when this situation is behind us. They should consider their long term advantage / disadvantage, and factor in that a LL will still want the money owed anyway. Many LL's still have responsibilities to pay for. If their business fails due to lack of rental revenues then at some point the properties the T's occupy is likely to be auctioned by the lender. Those T's looking to enjoy their perceived bonus have lost the places to spend the bonus. The pubs are closed, when they reopen the LL can look to evict again. I'm glad I have guarantors. I'm more than happy to learn of errors in my thoughts, and tbh this is me practising for a letter to my T's, and G'tors thanking those that have made appropriate payments also.

Missus and self had an hour and a half on the water yesterday at the local 'dinghy ' sailing club. Out there it felt like the panic of society was far away. Until you come home and see greater numbers in rural Derbyshire escaping the city while still allowed. Their city attitude of reduced consideration to others was apparent. Those parking in passing places are too thick to realise their effect. I've got used to numpties using roads for kiddies and doggies to run wild on, expecting other peoples cars not to use the roads they have just driven in on. And bloody suicyclists, well. I'm sending Learn Spanish DVD's to the grandkids. 1st wife and her 2nd hubby relocated there a few years ago. We're all agreed that group learning, via Skype or whatever, with their Spanish input might help the kids be less bored. It could help my slow brain learn more easily too. No entiendo Castayano. As for our financial plight, as most (Gov't incl) see our revenues as additional to need and for luxury, I'm not expecting any state prop up. I need to seriously question, and fast, the intelligence of making payments for my 'accepted' responsibilities. If I'm going to fail then recognising early and failing with more cash in't pocket has intelligence.

I hope you stay clear of the bug Mel. I don't know how many cases there are in Buxton , and likely no one does w/o testing. I see the Derbyshire figure has increase 10 fold in the past week. Daft thing is it likely the panic shoppers being in close proximity that are most risky and at risk. As for T's, the HB T's don't experience a change in there finances, ill or not, and they're the one's that will expect consideration. I've 3 that are likely to see this as a bonus. I 'will' consider County Court for them and their G'tors. I've 2 others that I consider may have employment problems, both paid on time yesterday, nice. If they are laid off and get the 80% then again their finances don't change much, so I'll monitor that. I was expecting a need to be considerate, but that would need the revenues from the others or soon enough I would be screwed. It's early days and the Gov'ts knee jerk changes are seemingly refreshed daily. I certainly can't anticipate where we will be next week with this.

I'm hopeful that local dinghy sailing will be a release. An occasional w/e in Beaumaris on the mega dinghy will be good if fuel is still in good supply. It actually uses significant amounts of diesel when the wind is both lacking and too plentiful. I was of the opinion that rather than hiding from it, if this thing gets me than so be it. Although I've no right to inflict the results of that view on others (hence the greatly reduced interactions since returning from Italy). But while now understanding better what a session in ICU (if you are that lucky) will leave you as I am less brave. I do question the intelligence of hiding as this thing might succeed anyway. Are China premature in thinking they are over the worst? W/o herd immunity or a vaccine have they just been granted a pause?

'Every little' of course. Some LL's enjoy rental income as an extra income, that becomes more important if their main revenue source dries up is will happen to many T's. For those that use it as a pension there is risk when the LL's cash reserves dry up. We shall very shortly be unable to repossess a property, in truth there would be little point anyway. The availability of financially healthy T's is going to be very limited, and to try to sell, well as RL recognises that's not a healthy situation either. The problem here is the encouragement for T's to take a payment holiday. Many will most definitely need this, but for many LL's there needs to more consideration than a mortgage break. Additional charges and possible additional claims will remove recovery potential for them. There is going to be a lot of pain, emotional and financial. We are still in the very early stages and seeing knee jerk attempts to keep things even. I feel it's far too early to predict very well, but I do feel that cash will be king here. Comptons took all mine so I'm stuffed.

There is talk of a 3 month mortgage holiday for those in need, so I was expecting a call for measures to protect the private T's. Emergency legislation to protect T's from eviction is coming. In some, and possibly / likely eventually many cases, this should be applied. Aside from the fact that any LL attempting to repossess is most likely going to find the courts aren't available for even rubber stamping such. Therefor consideration is intelligent as to wasting court application costs for something the courts will do their best not to follow up on. Will there be any assistance offered to the private LL that finds rents drying up as T's see a rent holiday as a need or even just attractive I wonder. Anticipating such I've been applying some extra pressure for T's to clear any arrears. I think that boat has now sailed.

Good luck Mel, and to everybody. Some will need it more than others but I'm sure this has a very serious downside to near everybody, health, physchology, and financial. It's too early for shortage of supplies to be for any other reason than panic shopping. That may well change, but let's hope it won't be due to the supplies being withheld to boost the value. This morning I read of big queues at fuel stations, I filled my empty tank on Sunday, empty to full is more usual style. Maybe I need be cautious and prioritise my journeys now, and until everyone has a full tank and can't squeeze anymore in. The drinks cupboard is fairly well stocked. A lot of it are gifts and I'm not looking forward to 'having' to resort to that. Sunday will be our 15th day from returning from Italy. Some tiredness and some aching but a week of full on skiing will do that to a near 60 year old. So I can offer assistance to the local volunteer centre.

Bloody 'ell Boris whatdya mean no pub?

Maybe he never experienced a woman with sharp teeth.

I'm no longer seeing figures for increase in those infected, just those who've lost their battle. Mind the figures are unreliable anyway as testing is very limited and there seems little point in doing other than self isolating if you feel you may have it. The authorities are no longer going to be aware, and anyway hospitals are dangerous places. The increase Thursday was reported as 25%, Friday 35%, a doubling of infected each 3 days or so seems a reasonable assumption. The Gov't are or have invited this to achieve a desired position of herd immunity before next winter is my belief. That's a gamble and would require much stronger controls to prevent over infection, that being too many, that then creates a totally unmanageable health service for them and civil unrest becomes more likely. I have no right to cause infection of those who have a different opinion but I'm not hiding from this. I have restricted our social interactions since returning from Italy, mainly away from those that feel we are a threat but feel there is some advantage to me / us taking our chance in getting this thing, over and done with hopefully. If 'some' predictions are correct it'll be the recovered that will be of value to others that need help. The pub was very quiet last night.

Tbh more relevant than any affordability check to my mind would be their financial history. Do they have a history of bad debt and missed payments? Is their guarantor capable of picking up the tab in the event. Does the guarantor actually have assets to threaten? Those that don't have little to lose by signing anything, much like most tenants.

Of course, but we can't check on a 'guest' we haven't been introduced to or given details of. To know what periods these 'guests' may be there can be difficult to ascertain, as we don't live there. Maybe it's just best to interview potential T's with a Border Force cap on, as a deterant.

Interesting point methinks, we let to a T and later it turns out they are allowing an illegal immigrant 'guest' to stay. Do we have liability?

Trust your instincts, my instincts would reject anyone that isn't open and up front.

News Flash. 2 people returned to the UK from North of Northern Italy without any signs of the Coronavirus (so I suppose that'll be ok anyway then being North of the North) . But now they're saying the incubation period might be as long as 24 days by 'eck. We'll be returning t' pub for an alcohol rinse again tonight then. Since I have a fair portion of HB T's (unintended as it 'appens) do I now have an advantage if everyone else is going to lose money by being sick, they can be sick too but I still get HB?

Advice from 3 practices is BS and weakens his stance in my view, but not the validity of claim. By instructing the cleaner you have admitted a level of responsibility, and very possibly validated the claim some. Am I correct that your Agents failed to inform you of the situation for 2 months? Do you have insurance that might cover this event? More valuable would be a legal protection cover if you have it. Do you want an ongoing relationship with this T, or have you decided that the relationship is unlikely to continue on a good working basis? There is no legal reason to deal with Daddy, but you might consider a meet and see if reasonable discussion can result in an easier resolution than what 'may' just feed the Vultures.

Well RL I usually view any consultation as a patronising warning. Maybe they occasionally fail although I can't think of any that have. Even if there is a more moderate 4 months enacted it is still very dangerous. As HB claimants learn that they can enjoy the 12 months of benefit before a LL can hoof 'em I feel that many will find the temptation irresistible. The plus side is that any Bailiff will be dragging a drunk and well soiled exhuman out for the Mortgage Co as I am unlikely to be around to clean up afterwards. I now have my licence to be a LL in Wales, time to read the conditions and understand the 173 notice. I'm feeling like my pension plan has finally been dashed on the Swelly rocks (that's the Menai Strait).