7th
Jan 2014
One of Britain's largest landlords with over 1,000 private rented homes have told all of their tenants who are on benefits, to move out so they can be replaced by immigrant workers who they feel will be able to guarantee to pay their rents in full and on time.
Fergus and Judy Wilson became some form of celebrity,before the economy took a dive, by building up a portfolio of over 1,000 properties that they rented out to private tenants.
Both of the married couple are former Maths Teachers and have been managing their properties for many years. They have just announced in the form of a letter to any of their tenants that are receiving benefits, that they must look for alternative forms of accommodation.
The majority of their properties are situated near their home in Ashford Kent and over 200 of tenants are receiving benefits and the letter, they have also let it be known that in the future anyone one receiving benefits will not be allowed to rent any of their properties.
Instead they have a preference for tenants who are Eastern European immigrant workers as they feel that they have a strong and healthy work ethic and will pay their rent on time.
Mrs Judith Wilson said: "We're seeing employers becoming more open about (preferring) immigrant workers and I think we have to be more realistic about this, and talk about attitude to work. The truth is immigrants don't mind to work."
The couple have also cited another reason for taking this step, that of the frightening trend of housing benefits not rising in tandem with increasing rents,which naturally means that those on benefits will have to look for other means of fulfilling their rent obligations.
Judith Wilson added: " Say someone on benefits is getting £500 allowance for a property where the rent is £600. It is wrong to encourage people to live in those circumstances, because it will put them at risk of getting into debt.
"As a landlord it you are in a very responsible position. It could be the better thing to do for their sake is to ask them to look elsewhere for accommodation."
She finds it disturbing that more people are having to resort to pay-day loans and once caught in this "noose" it is very hard to escape.
The Wilsons built up their portfolio of over one thousand properties during the peak years of 2005-2007 which at one time was worth over £100 million. As was common practise at the time they increased their properties by borrowing against the increasing value of their existing ones.
It was rumoured at the time that the Wilsons were, on average, buying a new property every day.
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