1st
May 2017
The Daily Mirror has just featured a story about a group of Merseyside landlords who have named and shamed 'supposed' rogue tenants on a Facebook page.
Although many local landlords claim that good tenants should have no reservations about the Facebook page, a group of tenants from the St.Helens' area have criticised the project, as they believe it may unfairly put some tenants on a Blacklist.
The founder of the Facebook's group, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I founded the group after I had a couple of tenants in Parr who wrecked the house and left £3,200 in arrears.
“They were on housing benefit, which the council now pay to many tenants, not landlords directly. The council said they were waiting for information from the tenants, the tenants said they were waiting on the council. You’re caught in the middle.
“Then it turned out they hadn’t even claimed the benefit, and wrecked the house before they left. It’s incredible - anywhere else it is theft.
“But there was no point going to court, as they had no money left."
He also told the Liverpool Echo that: “I’ve got nothing against most housing benefit tenants, but I try not to have them now as a minority who don’t pay mean it’s not worth the risk.”
He also defended the landlords by stating that the rogue tenants names were not featured just their initials, apparently the majority of posts were for selling properties and finding recommendations for local trades people.
However several St.Helens' tenants have slammed the idea of landlords keeping a register and information about tenants.
Kyle Pritchard said: “That’s a dangerous idea, with anyone who disagrees with their landlord being forced into social housing because they were blacklisted, even if they did nothing wrong.”
Another tenant, Ally Twist asked: “What about protecting tenants from bad landlords?”
Andy Gathercole said: “Whilst a good idea in principle, it is easy to see this being abused and leaving some of the most vulnerable unable to rent.”
Landlord Mark Ashton wrote: “It’s a free country and landlords are ‘businesses’ not social projects - so should be able to gather information. If you’re a good tenant you will get a fair deal.”
Landlord Angela Mannix Allen added: “I think a register is a great idea. I’ve had some fantastic tenants, but some houses left with no external doors, rat-infested and all tenants' furniture left behind. This cost us thousands to put right, and empty for months.”
A Generation Rent spokesman commented: “If tenants complain about a substandard service, there is nothing stopping the landlord going on one of these forums and blackballing the tenant whose only crime was wanting a decent place to live.”
Richard Merrick, of PIMS said: " I think the Facebook page is an excellent idea as for once a project like this will actually protect landlords from taking on 'career rent' criminals and low-lifes who deliberately trash properties, just for the hell of it, and then claim they are 'vulnerable' people that deserve to be housed."
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