By Steve Roulstone.
Shelter have produced a video in support of their call for action for the licensing of Landlords. It is an over the top production in the picture that it purveys, but there is no doubt that it does get the message across very well.
Dodgy practises.
It manages to cover several dodgy practises in a very short time, including illegal eviction, lack of proper procedure, unfit housing to name but a few, I would recommend all to watch it not just because of the content, but because as an industry we should think how Shelter feel they need to promote this issue to highlight the trend they report to have witnessed in recent times. Please note carefully, that during the video, Agents are added to the situation as being part of the problem!
Several messages.
At times it feels like those of us who are constantly calling for legislation to support us in our professional aims are knocking against closed doors, so I am grateful of any action that highlights the need for Registration of both Landlords and Agents. But it is a pity that it is not our own Industry professional bodies that are not the ones shouting the loudest! We need to recognise that many would see this video as a true representation of our Industry and not that farfetched. Agents, Landlords and bodies that truly care should be joining the call for the Government to take up the recommendations of the Rugg review of 2009. Otherwise, whilst rogue Landlords still exist and the evidence is still present for all to see, this tardy image will never go away.
Hard Times.
We should all be aware that during harder financial times for us all, the temptation to cut costs and corners is high, so whilst I feel Cambell Robb’s (Shelter CE) comment that ‘Landlords are cashing in’ a bit too simplistic and an easy jibe to make, we cannot hide from the fact that Shelter’s Campaign casts a very poor shadow across the whole of the rental market and it’s effect will touch us all one way or another. Follow the link above and you will not find one shred of comfort in the headlines, comment or follow up added to the page.
Join the call.
So yet again I find myself singing the same song, but this time my comments are directed towards the bodies that govern our Industry, the very same bodies that should such legislation be introduced, would want to be the people who oversaw its introduction, have a large say in how it was put together, would probably wish to police it and most importantly want to set the standard by which Landlords and Agents could be approved! I feel that the fact that organisations such as Shelter should be the party to start a Campaign and petition to promote professional standards reflects badly on your own efforts, efforts which we fund through our fees. Think and reflect on why your thunder has been well and truly stolen – this should be an Initiative that we should control within our own walls!
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