The Shit I Hate About Being A Landlord

Over the past few years I’ve spent a large portion of time talking about the perks of being a landlord; consequently I’ve managed to neglect discussing the skid-marks of the profession. While I think being a Landlord is an awesome occupation for longterm investors, I’m still very much in touch with how God AWFUL the experience can be.

There are a lot of factors I despise about being a Landlord, and the list increases by the day, but I guess every job has its armpitt.

Versatile Financial Market

The financial market is constantly changing, and that can severely have an impact on the livelihood of landlords. For example, an increase in interest rates could mean higher mortgage payments at the end of the month. A few consecutive jumps in rates and landlords could find themselves struggling. After a shortly lived fight, “for sale” signs start to go up.

The versatile financial market can be worrying, but unfortunately it is the nature of the buy-to-let beast- a lot of Landlords forget to take that into consideration, hence reposession.

Relying on tenants

Every landlord is at the mercy of their tenant, and that’s the sad reality. It’s a fucking nightmare of a situation. I usually hate relying on people, but unfortunately when you’re a landlord you have to rely on your tenant. For example,

• make rental payments on time
• keep the property in acceptable condition
• do not piss off the neighbours

Sounds like a small, simple list of duties that a monkey on crack could perform, right? Apparently its not all that easy.

Chasing rent

I hate having to chase rent, but a lot of the times it comes with the territory. Since being a Landlord, “bailiff” has been added to my CV.

Only in an ideal world will every tenant make rental payment on time every month. Unfortunately, I don’t live in Disney World and I don’t have hot sex with Jessica Rabit every night. Instead, I’m climbing up the arses off tenants that feel it appropriate not to pay rent.

Being on call 24/7

I don’t use Letting agents to manage my properties, so if there’s a problem with one of my propertys’ I’m the first one that gets the phonecall, even if it means interrupting my much-needed beauty sleep at 2am. I’m essentially a doctor on call, which gets less than one-eighth of the salary.

Burst pipe at 4am? My responsibility. Hole in the roof on Christmas day? My responsibility. It’s ALWAYS the Landlord’s responsibility.

Responsibility

Owning a house and having a mortgage is stressful, but a landlord wins the bonus prize of having additional stressful responsibilities of keeping on top of every newly introduced God damn law. There’s a new ridiculous law put into place every year, and the basic end result consists of my pockets getting lighter.

Finding tenants

Finding “decent” tenants is probably the most important step a landlord needs to make, and that’s why it’s such a pain because it requires precision and time. The margin for error when it comes to tenant selection is massive, and the penalty can be life ruining. Bottom of the barrel tenants have enough power to inflict repossession. All it takes is a shit-faced tenant to refuse payment for a few months to ruin a Landlord’s life.

The main problem is, it’s difficult to distinguish between a good and bad tenant because they come in different shapes, sizes and deceitful personas.

Losing good tenants

I haven’t had many tenants over the years because I’m still new in the game, but I’ve had a healthy mix of the good and the ugly. I’ve recently lost a really good tenant, and it genuinely made me recognise the importance of quality tenants. It’s tough to find decent tenants, but it’s even tougher when you’re trying to replace an excellent tenant because you already have high expectations.

The thing with the buy-to-let game is that it’s based on a partnership between the landlord and the tenant; if there’s a weak link in the chain then things can turn sour pretty quickly.

Dealing with tenants

Depending on the calibre of tenant, a Landlord needs the patience of an angel to stand any chance of remaining sane.

If I didn’t have some level of patience I would have ripped my hair and bollocks out by now due to incompetent, selfish, rude tenants. I’ve had to deal with unbelievably scummy tenants; tenants that have less credibility than the gum under my shoes.

The law sucks

Tenants in England & Wales have way too much protection from the law, and it’s pathetic. For example, Landlords have to wait 8 weeks before they can even attempt to evict a tenant when they’re in breach of contract. 8 WEEKS!!

Replacing Broken Shit

Having to pay out on repairs is HORRIBLE; whether it be to replace a fridge freezer or repair a broken door-hinge! Granted, it comes with the territory, but it’s still annoying. It’s like owning a car- we know we have to pay for petrol and maintenance, but NO ONE likes paying for the shit.

Are you a Landlord? If so, what aspects do you hate about being one?
For those thinking about becoming a Landlord, think about what I’ve just said, innit.

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Talk / 28 Comments left so far

SC wrote this on 2008-06-09 14:46:03 ...Yeh I don't think I could ever deal with all that shit so congratulations to you on maintaining your sanity....thus far :) 1

offplanpropertyexchange.com wrote this on 2008-06-10 16:49:02 What I dont like is the number of times that dishwashers or washing machine need replacing. 2

The Landlord wrote this on 2008-06-12 06:41:16 Yeah, replacing dishwashers and washing machines are expensive. Fortunately I don't provide either :)

However, I have had to replace a cooker before. But I've been fortunate so far, haven't had to replace too many items; costs have been minimum *touches wood* 3

Roberto wrote this on 2008-08-20 12:05:13 You said "life extremely difficult for a landlord". I say "life more extremely difficult to employers"!!!

The most important thing is "Finding tenants", the other items you can hire a estate agent to do. Then you will need spend the same time with the estate agent, instead the tenants. 4

The Landlord wrote this on 2008-08-20 12:30:31 Roberto: with respect, I think it's completely transparent that you don't know what you're talking about.

Firstly, Estate agents don't handle "lettings", that would be a letting agency.

Secondly, a letting agent charges approximately 14% for a full-management service. That's a lot of money.

Thirdly, agents can't handle everything. For example, if tenants destroy your property, an agent can't do anything...

Forthly, even if you do have a letting agent doing all the work. It's still worry on the landlord's head when the tenant refuses to pay rent. You think a letting agent is going to worry about their clients mortgage? Get real. 5

Baron Nogood wrote this on 2008-08-23 12:34:47 Hum. I fail to see what the problem is. You do a job...it's hard...you get paid...welcome to life.

I am on the other side of the coin (a 'snotty' tenant). The reason tenants have "way too much protection from the law" is because of the natural bahavoir of landlords...cheapscates who expect to make a living lying on their backs sipping cocktails while their scum tenants pay off their mortgages. Back in the bad old days, tenants had no rights...and landlords could do what they wanted (throw people out at the drop of a hat, up rent whenever they wanted, provide sub standard flea pit accomodation, etc). Thanks to the actions of your predecessors (vile, work shy freeloaders), you now have to work to be a landlord and (thank god) provide a basic service on your letting.

If you provide a washing machine, dishwasher or cooker and it breaks...damn right you have to fix it... those are your assets, and they were used to sell your property to the prospective tenant, they make up a proportion of the rent each month (as you know), and that is what the tenant is paying for. It's like a hotelier whinging because they have to change the sheets EVERY night (it is part of the service!). If you don't want to get called on Christmas day, don't be a cheapscate and empower your tenant to call out professionals (not your hairy mate bill who you employ as an "odd job man"), to get the job fixed. You use the word babysitting, that is what happens when you have a draconian tenancy agreement that says run everything past you when something goes tits up.

I find it sad that council tenants are given 100% service (with compensation for lack of service), while anybody in the private sector has to put up with (in the main) half witted, dullard landlords who instead of employing contractors to carry out work, send round their hairy odd job man to mess things up even more! Problems such as "the lock on the main front door of the building is broken", "I have no hot water because the boiler is broken" can go unanswered for weeks or even months.

I bet you think that the introduction of deposit protection schemes are a waste of time and an affront to landlords because it means your tenancy divident was taken away! Wonderful.

If you do things with a slim margin, of course you will feel the pressure when you have to do everything, or shell out for new stuff because the budget piece of equipment you paid for has (surprise, surprise) just given up the ghost.

A lot of the time, landlords appear to have managed to buy their 'investments' (homes to you and I), after a relative has very timeley popped their clogs...moving from factory line worker to 'property developer' over night is a pretty big change, and I fear that most private landlords I have encountered couldn't manage a childrens party let a lone a property full of paying tenants. 6

Dislexic Landlord wrote this on 2008-08-24 11:19:51 I relly enjoy being a landlord

Its a bussiness and you have to manage it

Its better than being in the Rat race 9 till 5

every job has a down side

Get on with it look at the good sides not the bad 7

The Landlord wrote this on 2008-08-24 14:27:03 There seems to be some confusion. I love being a Landlord. I love owning property, knowing that I'm building a secure future for myself.

This is merely a list of things I dislike about being a Landlord- as people have mentioned, there are negatives to every profession.

I can make a longer list of the things I love about being a Landlord. 8

Roberto wrote this on 2008-08-27 15:37:16 Sorry, i am learning about the market here in UK. I have 7 small houses rented on Brasil, and I use a "letting agent" do "manage" my houses (I thought that estate was correct, i am still learning english). :/

But there, the market is different, because I pay 7% to a full management service and for me is very good because I don't need pay mortgages for these houses! But I passed for about 5 letting agents until get a good service.

Also, I force all tenants (when they sign the contract) to pay a insurance. If tenants don't pay me, the insurance company pay me! :D

Do you know if exist similar insurances in uk? Is it possible to "force" tenants to pay this insurance? 9

The Landlord wrote this on 2008-08-27 20:55:03 Hey Roberto.

If letting agents only charged 7% then I would definately use them :) But unfortunately, they charge double that over here!!

Also, I have mortgages to pay on my property, so it would cost me a lot more. It sounds like you're in a great position :)

Rental insurance is available for Landlords in the UK. In fact, i use it myself.

I suppose you could it compulsory so that tenants have to pay for insurance, yes. But by doing that you'll probably limit the amount of people who would want to rent your property, as it will cost them more money!

Kind regards 10

Mr Jackal wrote this on 2008-09-10 13:54:28 I think Baron Nogood has hit the nail on the head.

I have more than enough vitriol to share on the relationship of landlord/tenant:

Why is the amount I pay and the state of the property the concern of some private property owning moron who, when it comes down to it, couldn’t give two fecks about me as a tenant, beyond being capable of paying rent of course. I’m an asset and, if they had their way, a disposable one as well…

I hate the property owning, ladder climbing times we live in. I rejoiced the day I heard about the credit crunch, I sat patiently outside new builds, awaiting crying young couples brought to their knees contemplating their negative equity! Sadly all I’ve noticed is the rent in my area going up, arse!

Good tenants are out there, people who work for a living, pay taxes and paint the walls to remove the grime stains form your walls. If you choose to rent to scum, it really is your fault. I can’t afford to own a house, I can’t stump up the deposit and have no wealthy parents to do it for me. I don’t want sympathy, just the chance to live in the town I work, pay as little rent as possible and keep some dignity. It seems I’m loosing this battle whilst landlords are winning.

What, exactly, is wrong with centrally owned, rent controlled property? Flats and houses given to those who can prove the ability to pay the rent and bills with, perhaps, the decision to buy after a year or more? It would spell the end to all you parasitical, work shy, cheapskate, pseudo bourgeois, capitalist cash vacuums…

I know the Government is starting to introduce such schemes but I’m afraid it’s too little too late…

Case in point: I left my last property after the landlord felt it necessary to raise the monthly rent by £100. I’d only just told him about my plans to install cable broadband, and, perhaps, operate as a freelance designer from the flat, in short: I was willing to commit to another 3 years minimum. Then, after all that, he told me he wanted to put the rent up!!!! Nothing about a new toilet (which was needed) or new windows: which let so much cold air in the winter, I might as well made a fire from ten pound notes! Nothing, in essence for me, just a nice extra £100pcm for him, BASTARD!!! I knew he was privately wealthy, retired early with no debts to his name (because he told me). He even had the temerity to pronounce me as his favourite tenant…?!

Come MY revolution, YOU WILL BE FIRT AGAINST THE WALL – OR PERHAPS THE WALL ITSELF!!!! Either that or I’ll end up being one of you…?

I’ve rented over 14 properties now, most have been over priced, poorly maintained, grimy, damp, magnolia hell holes. Good for nothing more that my suicide: brought about by the slow realisation that a young professional, decent chap like my self is little more in this property porn film than the guy who mops the cum off the floor...with his tongue...whilst having to pay top rates for the privilege.

Rant over, good luck with the landlord business….

Cxxxxx 11

The Landlord wrote this on 2008-09-10 16:51:11 I'll be the first to admit that there are a lot of cowboy landlords out there.

I've been renting a particular property to the same tenant for 3 years, without increasing rates once. I'm severely undercharging at the moment, and it is effectively costing me. However, she's an awesome tenant- and that's where I get my value back. Anyways, the tenant/landlord scenario swings in round abouts.

Good luck with the daily grind- you seem stressed. 12

Anonymous wrote this on 2008-12-07 19:16:47 Fuck you and your hatred for the rights of tenants, scumbag. 13

The Landlord wrote this on 2008-12-07 20:00:14 Relax, cowboy.
I don't hate the rights of tenants so Fuck you and your inability to comprehend. 14

tenant wrote this on 2008-12-17 22:57:44 fuck you mate. all the landlords i have encountered are total cunts. i am currently living as a lodger in some pricks house, and he is being a total wanker with regard to the central heating and hot water. i pay 360GBP a month and the prick expects me to have a cold shower every morning. also, he wants me to move all my stuff into the garage over xmas, when im paying for the fucking room. he has a stinky fucking dog that shits all over the house, and he complains about my excessive drinking.

landlords are bastards and they deserve no more than the few shitty rights they have. 15

SC wrote this on 2008-12-27 11:54:37 LOL at the above post. Wow buddy, you almost seem traumatized! If you are so upset about your current situation why not move out? I think you should relax, and get your landlord a present it is chrismas after all right, cheer up :)

Merry Xmas. 16

Landlady wrote this on 2009-01-06 23:42:27 kkkkkI'm a landlady. lol. I take care of 200 Apartment units here in Vegas. It's a crazy job, I must say...you pretty much say it all. I hate to be on call 24/7. A tenant called me before to take a bug out of her kitchen cause it freaked her out. A tenant called me that the A/C didn't work and when I drove all the way across town to check, she just forgot to switch it on. LOL! A warning was given to a tenant that his car must have a registration and a license plate (if not, the city will fine me $1000 for each car that doesn't have a license plate or registration), he ignored it, car got towed and who did he called? moi. he actually thinks that I should pay for his towing fee, when all he should do was move his car to the front. I know these tenants are having hard times but not once that a tenant thinks that we, landlords might have hard times too? It's not fair to say that all Landlords are bastards and all tenants are scumbags. There are different kinds of landlords and tenants. I do have many good tenants and I love them cause they make my life easier. But when I come across bad tenants, it's really bad. They basically scam me out of my money by leaving without paying the rent, destroying the property, throwing their trash everywhere, etc etc...
The law here is pretty easy on landlords. When they don't pay, I post a 5 days notice, and in 8 days, the evictions will be processed. 17

James wrote this on 2009-08-04 13:45:24 From your language and writting style it sounds like your an angry person and as such will find any occupation which relies on others a nightmare. Im not critising you, their is nothing wrong with being an angry person, it just doesnt help when you interact with others.

What you have listed reminds me of what i thought with rose titned glasses of being a landlord, i think the stress' can go far above an beyond what you have described, especialy when dealing with litigation relating to property but accept that it comes with the territory.

a cleaner may spend 90% of the day cleaning toilets that appear to be clean; when he stumbles accross one covered in poo, do we want to here them moan? its their job, its just one of the harder aspects. 18

Richard wrote this on 2009-08-20 08:43:21 I was recently made redundant and through a stroke of luck managed to get a new job with the only catch being it was 200 miles away. So, my Wife, 2 year old daughter and I had to up sticks and rent a property there, and rent out the house we left behind and spent 10 years saving and climbing the property ladder to get. We had tried selling it, but the market wasn't in the position to get what we needed for it to cover the morgage and costs adequately

We made sure everything was in excellent order and found some tenents.....who have decided not to pay rent since February. We bent over backwards to help them, sorted out housing benefit for them, been on call for every little problem, reduced the rent a bit to help.

Nope, they screwed us. And the Citizens (criminal) Advice Bureau have been telling them exactly (and in our tenants words) how to 'bleed us white'. We will never see the £3000 (and rising) which they owe us, we will lose the house we scrimped and saved to own and due to the solicitors costs, will more than likely have to declare ourselves bankrupt.

So I take particular offence to being called a 'bastard', a 'scumbag' and a 'cheapskate' by some of the people here who might have had a bad landlord at some point. I'm a good person who went out of his way to help (renting a place myself and the Landlords are particularly great btw) and is being fucked over by a couple of con artists who are out to ruin me.

Yes, the Law, as it is, does not do a thing to protect Landlords. It does less than nothing to help recoup the money owed to you by this minority of nightmare tenants. In fact, the CAB went out of thier way to tell them how to avoid paying anything and hiding goods that baliffs might have been interested in and how to avoid attachment of earnings and getting stays of execution on the evition notice.

The advice I got from them (the CAB)....'nothing we can do to help...you're on your own' 19

Fatima wrote this on 2009-11-27 01:13:42 Oh my god!! I so agree with this blog!!! I bought my property a few yrs ago and I've had crap tenants!! The tenant in at the moment is just drivingme nuts so much that I just want to beat her up! (not that I would) anyway so I'm fairly new to being a landlord so she moved in last yr knowing the house has no central heating but it has gas wall fires etc so when she moved in she said the housing benefit will be paid into her acct and then she will transfer it to my acct. So I wait a mth no rent! She said council are delaying but I'll get it all backdated. I wait another mth still nothing again same excuse! 3rd mth still no rent so I ring the benefits dept ask them why is there a delay with rent payment they tell me that they've never stopped paying the tenants benefits!!!! So I confront of her she apologised and start to pay back the arrears and council pay benefit into my acct! So I'm thinking no more stress!! But oh no!! expenses for house repairs!! Going back to the central heating well mth ago she txts me saying when do u intend to put central heating in cos it's cold here and I can't stay another winter and she'll be looking for another place. So I replied won't be putting central heating in as I maybe selling so I'll take ur 30 days notice to leave from now!! In nov she asked me to give her more time as she wanted to be rehoused by the council so I said fair enough take ur time as long as I'm still get rent paid take as long as u want. Well today I get a letter from the council threatening to take court action against me as the tenant has made allegations against me that I'm unlawfully evicting her!!! What a fucking joke!!!! It's a good job I've kept her texts where it's her who's saying I'm going to look for another house cos ur not installing central heating!!! What a bloody joke!!!!!! Sometimes I absolutley regret getting onto the property ladder!!!! 20

Pat wrote this on 2009-12-08 22:24:20 bawwwwwwww Poor little landlord has to deal with his responsibilities and has to repair his broken shit and obey the law. 21

Jo wrote this on 2009-12-09 00:05:11 Mate what's with the sarcy comment?!? We aren't moaning about repairs etc we do know that comes with letting properties out! It's the bastard tenants who fuck about in trying to get out of paying rent or damaging the property on purpose when they leave! The decent lanlords do obey the law and it's them that get screwed over!! 22

John Matthews wrote this on 2009-12-23 12:23:32 Have to say I agree with Pat. Quit whining.

I can't have sympathy with someone who has a spare house, when there are people living on the street.

If you can't deal with the risk, leave the market and buy shares instead. 23

The Landlord wrote this on 2009-12-23 12:47:34 lol @ "If you can’t deal with the risk, leave the market and buy shares instead."
Oxymoron! 24

John Matthews wrote this on 2009-12-23 12:58:55 I suggest you look up "oxymoron" in the dictionary. Then look up "sarcasm". 25

The Landlord wrote this on 2009-12-23 13:46:25 "A phrase combining two contradictory terms"?
So putting your stupid sarcasm aside, I used the word correctly. Great. 26

twattybollocks wrote this on 2009-12-23 15:23:54 "I can't have sympathy with someone who has a spare house, when there are people living on the street".

If they want to get off the street they can rent one of my spare 6.

TB 27

yorkshire_del_boy wrote this on 2010-08-26 22:31:33 ok so it's a while since this was put up but i thought i'd have a say.

i'm 22 ang my girlfriend is 19, we're in our first place together after moving out of her dad's house 4 months back and we a pooooor i mean it not a penny to our names other than lisa's wages £550 a month. we've had a few problems with our letting agency (not landlord) the landlord never argues with anything but the agency are just lazy. we told them about 7 weeks ago about the light switch style switch for the boiler was getting hot when it was on along with a list of other problems. the only thing that was fixed 2 weeks later was the leaking shower.

we heard a funny noise today after putting the heater on for a shower, turns out the switch has short circuited and lisa nearly blew herself up when she went to turn it off cause it's metal. the switch won't go off so have had to turn it off at the fuse box so we now have no hot water and likely won't have any for 2 weeks.

now... i'm nearing the end of a court case which should see me a bit better off and i am considering buying the flat i'm in now from the landlord because the flat whick is next door is twice the size and going for £40k so i figured i could buy both, live in this one and let out the one next door or maybe the other way round. we pay £400pcm for this so should be able to do good from the one next door. the bonus is that i won't really lose any money if nobody pays up. then maybe look into a mortgate in the future to expand the portfolio.

anyone think this is a good idea? or should i go with plan B and open 2 shops in leeds and dewsbury (eurgh) and expand into a chain? 28

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