Tenants Fears

[tiggerblue10]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62375576

I've heard of many unscrupulous landlord stories and can imagine this issue could be wide-spread. Who can tenants approach if they believe this is happening when the time comes?

[naomi24]

I think I must be missing something here. If bills are included in rent why does this present a problem to the tenant?

[237SJ]

If the landlord is the one paying the fuel bills and the money is given to mitigate the increase in fuel costs then surely it should go to them?

[naomi24]

^That's what I thought.

[237SJ]

Unless of course the landlord increases the rent to cover the increased fuel costs, then I think the tenant should have it.

[naomi24]

I expect the landlord would have to increase the rent to cover costs sooner or later. This 'help' is just a one off thing, isn't it?

[Untitled]

There is a risk that a landlord who charges rent including bills can receive the discount on their energy bill but not factor the discount into the portion of rent determined by utility costs… effectively pocketing the £400…

not something every landlord is in a position to do but i don’t see what the tenant can really do if a scummy landlord decides to do that as it would not be illegal… they could ask for a breakdown i suppose but the landlord won’t be obliged to supply it… the tenant in this instance would be at the landlord’s mercy.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah I didnt understand that bit
Very bad grasping landlords who pay the gas and elec bill for the tenants when they get a energy rebate - have to pay the full bill for energy and pass on the rebate to those not paying....
I dunno: I really dont

[bhg481]

I think the problem lies on some mobile home sites where the tenants pay rent but the site owner buys the electricity from the supplier and then sells it on to each mobile home owner, who has a meter on his plot. The electricity company only knows about the site owner, so they will get the rebate.

[tiggerblue10]

I didn't think about tenants who pay the landlords rent that includes energy bills so yes, that should be taken into consideration but as has been mentioned they could put of the rent and pocket the £400. But there are those who pay rent as well as energy bills.

[schippiegalette]

Hang on a minute...if the Landlords are including the energy bills in with the rent, then it's the Landlords paying the energy bills so why shouldn't they keep it?

[Zacs-Master]

Been said before in this thread, Schippie ^^^^^

[schippiegalette]

and you can't just put up or down your rent at a minutes notice either.

[bhg481]

No, the landlords are re-selling the electricity to the tenants; the tenants pay rent plus get an electricity bill from the landlord calculated fro their usage by means of a meter on their plot. The electricity company only have one customer; that's the landlord.

[davebro]

I think the profitable renting era may be coming to an end - many landlords are looking to sell up.

[Untitled]

good

[schippiegalette]

What is good about landlords selling up? Who do you think buys the previously rented homes? Very rarely the Tenants. I have a house rented out, the Tenants would love to buy it, but they are on minimum wage and have no savings. If they could get a 0% deposit mortgage, or a loan from the government to cover the deposit, they would be paying less money per month than they are on rent. And before anyone kicks off, suggesting I am asking too much rent, its spot on the council benefits cap for a two bedroom in that area.

[Zacs-Master]

'If they could get a 0% deposit mortgage, or a loan from the government to cover the deposit, they would be paying less money per month than they are on rent.'

If they did, would you sell?

[roadman]

unless landlord is raising the rent then he has full right to keep the bills for the inscreased fuel if he is the one paying for them

[roadman]

"If they could get a 0% deposit mortgage, or a loan from the government to cover the deposit, they would be paying less money per month than they are on rent."

this is a load of crap unless their house is worth about 60k lol

[Untitled]

schippiegalette

I don't think it is good for the economy to have so much of our housing stock owned by private landlords