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Landlord in red tape rage
10:08am Monday 16th July 2007
Comments (30)A LANDLORD may sell up his York properties - because he says the law has swung too much in favour of tenants.
Salim Amira is a landlord with seven investment properties including five in York and two in Bradford.
He has been renting out properties for around ten years, but said he has never experienced such bad times as during the last two.
Mr Amira, from Fulford, said: "Things are so bad I am seriously considering putting three of my properties on the market.
"For the last few months I have had to dip into my pocket for about £3,000 to pay rent where tenants have failed to do so.
"I have had several tenants who have not paid their rent for three months and yet I still had to give them their deposits back. I don't see why I cannot keep the tenants deposit when this happens. Since the law has changed, it seems I cannot even do that. I just don't understand why the law seems so unfairly stacked in favour of the tenant."
Mr Amira said he had developed very bad psoriasis on his skin as a result of the stress he is under.
Michael Beckett, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) specialist support manager, said: "I disagree that the law has swung in favour of the tenant.
"There have been changes in the legislation in the last few years which have made changes for both landlord and tenant, but if anything the law remains in favour of the landlord overall.
"Tenants do have more protection now in terms of being able to recover their deposits, but in terms of tenants' security of tenure, landlords currently have the advantage.
"Now landlords have to hand over deposits to one of three national organisations and must provide defendable reasons for withholding a deposit.
"Previously, a deposit could be withheld by a landlord and it would not be as easy for a tenant to get it back.
"However, it is now much easier for landlords to give some tenants notice than it ever was previously.
"People considering becoming a landlord must remember that it is not just a quick buck making activity.
"There is a legal framework and many conditions that landlords and tenants must conform to and which are put in place to protect both parties."
Mr Beckett said the three national organisations put in place to protect tenants deposits are the Deposit Protection Service, Tenant Deposit Solutions and the Tenant Deposit Scheme.
More information is available online at www.yorkcab.org.uk or by phoning the CAB advice line on 0870 126 4850.
Your Say YourYork Press
Yorkenstein, York says...
10:37am Mon 16 Jul 07
jaycee, york says...
10:44am Mon 16 Jul 07
Jimbob, York says...
10:52am Mon 16 Jul 07
I hope more landlords feel the same way. If they all tried to sell up house prices would fall and maybe average Joe could actually afford one.
Unlucky Mr Amira, but don't be greedy eh.
Jason, says...
11:01am Mon 16 Jul 07
misskittie, York says...
11:03am Mon 16 Jul 07
bjc, York says...
11:09am Mon 16 Jul 07
Rob, York says...
11:13am Mon 16 Jul 07
Jimbob, York says...
11:15am Mon 16 Jul 07
Jason, says...
11:20am Mon 16 Jul 07
Jason, says...
11:47am Mon 16 Jul 07
bjc, York says...
11:58am Mon 16 Jul 07
Jason wrote:Tee Hee !
Sour grape anyone?
ME, York says...
12:09pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Giles, York says...
12:54pm Mon 16 Jul 07
It is true to some degree that landlords are necessary for student accomodation, or people not willing to move to an area, we all have used them.
However, we could question the 'rent' they charged, if they bought 10 years ago, doesn't need to be £600 for a 3 bed semi, it would more likely be £300.
However, theft is theft, and the tennants shouldn't be able to claim back their deposit if they owed rent. That is plain theft.
Forcing a landlord to persue you through the small claims court for somethign you signed up to pay for isn't quite cricket.
Jimbob, York says...
1:21pm Mon 16 Jul 07
What are their options? A contract is usually two sided with each party accepting certain obligations. Maybe his contract says "you will pay me £xx for this floor space.
I'm not saying that this is the case but Mr Amira is hardly likely to tell the Press about his failings in his contracts is he?
Maybe the tables have turned slightly on the landlords of the world and rather than an honest tenant chasing a deposit he is owed from a dodgy landlord through the small claims courts, now the landlord has to do the work and put up the expense. I think that's fair enough.
I haven't read the new rules on deposits but I'd be highly suprised if he doesn't have a claim for keeping it for rent owed. Unless there is a reason he doesn't want to go through official channels and tell the Press about?
Jimbob, York says...
2:05pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Allsorts, York says...
2:09pm Mon 16 Jul 07
jaycee wrote:Lol!
thanks for the clarification Jo.Couldnt understand if he was the landlord why he had to pay out £3000 for rent and to who.
GDave, York says...
2:18pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Why's he only selling three?
Jason, says...
2:24pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Kath, UK says...
3:02pm Mon 16 Jul 07
bjc, York says...
3:05pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Kath, UK says...
3:06pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Jason, says...
3:30pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Only vitriol i see here is yours.
Ps I don't have any free housing to give away.
Sharkey, York says...
5:01pm Mon 16 Jul 07
TG, Sick of it. says...
7:26pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Captain Jack Sparrow, Strensall says...
7:59pm Mon 16 Jul 07
You're not exactly short of a few bob mate by the looks of it. I doubt very much that you'll sell your properties.
Gardener, York says...
11:40pm Mon 16 Jul 07
Gypsum Fantasic, York says...
7:21am Tue 17 Jul 07
sparkyman, cornwall says...
12:41pm Thu 13 Sep 07
We have the same problem here in cornwall, but potentially on a much larger scale - a select few who manage to borrow money, on the back of existing borrowings, in order to buy property and then let it out to those who are unable to buy their own due to low earnings.
His comments aboute the law being in favour of the Tenant are outrageous - does he honestly believe that the law shouid favour the rich to the detriment of the poor ? It's because of greedy individuals, like himself, that fewer & fewer people can afford their own house - there should be a law disallowing buy to rent schemes while the percenatge of citizens unable to buy continues to rise.
And as for saying he had to pay rent for a tenant who didn't....why is he paying rent on his own property ??
He calls himself a businessman but he is nothing more that a person with huge debts who's taking advantage of low earners & the poorly paid to pay his debts.
As for his psoriasis - you poor person - some people can ill afford a basic, decent diet - what a disgusting individual this man is.
mr rachman, sheffield says...
4:26pm Tue 26 Feb 08
If i ask my tenants NOT to give me a deposit BUT instead have their agreement to pay an additional amount on their monthly rent in compensation then surely that also cant be classed as a deposit or bond.?
Ia lso think that this scheme is a get rich scheme for the 3 organisations that hold the money. They are actualy depriving the tenants of any interest earned on their bonddeposit frankly i think it all smells a funny colour..so to speak
Any advice would be received gratefully
Thanks for reading this
Salim Amira
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Jo, York says...
10:35am Mon 16 Jul 07
Let's use plain English, pleaese, and not Orwellian double-speak.
These "investment properties" are houses which he's holding on to so other people can pay the mortgage on the properties through renting them.
He is one of the reasons why house prices are going up and up and up.
If he, and others like him, had to sell the "investment properties" then there would be more houses on the market which would ultimately make houses more affordable for everyone else.