Life during lockdown

There appears to be more and more talk about companies implementing a more permanent working from home way of working moving forward, but they're not taking into consideration how impossible this is going to be for us renting (and owning) small properties in London. Obviously for now we can't be in the workplace, but for instance, my boyfriend's workplace have said to work from home until 2021 regardless - in a one bed flat I have had to set up a cardboard desk against my bed in the bedroom so that we can work separately and there is no room to move around. This must be even worse for those in studio flats - it's not only bad for mental health but it means we cannot live normally in our space. You could then think 'I'll move outside of London to somewhere with more space', but then that tenancy may go past a point where they then expect you to start commuting into London again... it's impossible to do the right thing!

How comes anything changes at the end of June? Have I missed on how the lockdown situation has changed at all? 

I want to just say that my landlord has been excellent. They phoned me up right when this all started to check in, see if I could continue paying my rent and see if my employment status had changed (it hadn't). They also said if I was furloughed or made redundant then to reach out and let them know so they could support me. 
I know I will be in the minority of people here saying something positive about my landlord, and I realise I'm very fortunate. 
Because of the positive experience I have agreed to extend my tenancy with them. But bad landlords do get away with too much in my opinion, and it's a shame tenants do not know their rights (with areas unrelated to covid).  

I found out yesterday my rent is going up 7% - they raised the rent already 2 years ago by 4%; I've lived here for 4 years and made huge improvements to the property as it was a wreck when I moved in. The private rental market only went up by 0.9% in 2019, this is totally disproportionate and of course they're not budging despite my partner being on furlough so we're on a reduced income. There's no motivation whatsoever for people to go with their better nature, it's up to the government and our mayor to ensure renters are protected. 

It is disheartening that landlords think their grief of losing a source of income is in any way comparable to the threat of their tenants ending up homeless.

Rent is extortionate in London, more than half of renters pay up to 70% of their income to their landlords. And I see landlords angry comments here about how hard it is for them too. Do they realise economic crisis for us means homelessness, not making mortgage payments on our second or third property? That we don't have mortgage, paid for by strangers charged extortionate prices, and are subject to beobe kicked out at anytime? Renters are told to make ends meet, pay rent from their savings; but landlords can't be asked the same? 

Whatever woes landlords have, their renters should not have to solve for them. 

As a property manager, the confusing advice given by the government has put great pressure on us all.

Everybody understood what they wanted and tenants thought it will be a rent free period, well it should also be a mortgage free period if this is how it's done, right?

Therefore many tenants have reached out to their landlords but some were not ready to provide evidence on their financial struggle.For the ones genuine, most landlords agreed deferred payments.

My concerns are:

-if the tenants are struggling right now, it will be an even greater pressure for them to repay the arrears once they get a stable income, even with arrears paid in installments.

-many tenants moved abroad because they did not afford living in London anymore. A bit ridiculous how you can't take legal action for people that leave abroad and leave unpaid bills, rent, loans etc

-landlords are being more under pressure these days,this is why many started to sell. There is pressure for them to defer the rent or reduce it, although they might as well struggle financially. Even with reduced rent, they still need to carry out all repairs in order to be compliant. The covid protection from eviction is benefitting the bad tenants, who will continue to take advantage of the law that benefits them. The good tenants will probably get understanding from their landlords anyway. 

-with many selling, the rent will only increase. Rent cap will only force landlords to sell more and carry less repairs

-landlords have no protection if they are stuck with bad tenants, so many are subletting in London. How come it is a criminal offence to sublet if you are a council tenant, but for private renters, it's just serving notice?

We need to stop assuming that all landlords are rich and bad and all tenants innocent and helpless. Only then we will have a more balanced rental market, with support and punishment given as needed

ElizabethS, I would definitely find a new one. There are a lot of agencies out there which can help with it. Recently I could find this website ( here: https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/ ), which can help with any kind of rental property issues and give answers on almost every question about this sphere of business. That\'s why I can highly recommend it.

I'm still okay about paying my rent to my landlord, but I'm not quite sure how long would this pandemic continue. https://www.google.com/

Passengers who are getting on London Transport are not critical Keyworkers because they know there is no inspector nor police to check their whereabouts..and not one of them getting on London Transport is wearing a mask how can u implement something important that all should be doing & not follow it through..even the bus drivers do not care less as they see passengers getting on from the middle door and say nothing to them to get off the bus..I want to see you are taking this deadly virus seriously as just saying your going to do this and that and not stick to it of course people will not care to either..

Even Parks today my local Broomfield Park was filled with sunbathers not social distancing nor wearing masks again no police officers and we wonder why so many deaths in the UK it's the fault of our Government and its wishy washy attitude..its a absolute nightmare..this virus will keep lingering on we need to kill it off once and for all..I'm missing my family and I just wished others did as well and not think it's one huge joke..no one is invincible..Government we need you to get strict no more begging people do the same as the Europeans do put military police to patrol the streets that will put everyone in their place its the only way.

Tom Copley's set up a housing task force with no tenants on it. I've asked about this on twitter and been ignored, as have others. Tenants and leaseholders surely need to be at the decision making tables, contributing our expertise and reining in the narratives of housing associations and private landlords when necessary. It's incomprehensible why there's been no application process for tenants to be present for such important discussions. And it's extraordinary that Tom thinks it OK to publicly ignore requests from us to be included. 

Having to pay for my tenant to work at home my bills are much higher ! Given them a rent reduction cuz of furlough , still being charged stupid price service charge but the ground owner not doing much

why isn’t council tax reduced ? 

why 

1. Build affordable green housing now. Not temporary and not box sized.

2. The housing minister needs to own less than 3 properties to empathise with anyone in the real world. 

3. Control landlord rents immediatly so affordable housing is restored. 

4. Reclaim empty properties from the obscenely wealthy. 

5. Solve the rough sleeper situation with improved mental health services and housing. 

6.Cap inner city rents so they cannot force tenants into hardship. 

7. There is no reason for rent to be more than 40% of your earnings unless greed on a mass scale is involved. 

8. Stop the greed. 

If you solve the housing crisis it will boost the economy instantly. 

1. Build affordable green housing now. Not temporary and not box sized.

2. The housing minister needs to own less than 3 properties to empathise with anyone in the real world. 

3. Control landlord rents immediatly so affordable housing is restored. 

4. Reclaim empty properties from the obscenely wealthy. 

5. Solve the rough sleeper situation with improved mental health services and housing. 

6.Cap inner city rents so they cannot force tenants into hardship. 

7. There is no reason for rent to be more than 40% of your earnings unless greed on a mass scale is involved. 

8. Stop the greed. 

If you solve the housing crisis it will boost the economy instantly. 

We are illegal evictees. We are 4 years in s cubicle room 5 steps of living space , there are rats , mice and bed bugs here .We are educated disabled people who have worked hard all out lives.  We are now LOCKED in the bsdement.. We are.abused racially and told we are the cause of the virus all non Muslims hsve caused the virus.. We have 5 steps of living space.  No facility to make a hot meal or wash clothes . With Notting Hill Housing 4 years nothing done. 490 a week for this . Harrassed to pay another 150 a week we have over a hundred shortfall in Housing Benefit .Housing discretionary award is on yearly review so we can give the owners 250 the full 490 is paid when the review is done. They always insist on cash or we are threatened with eviction .They used the virus as an excuse to lock us down in basement.and they still come to pound  st the door demanding money..cash they will get it when review us done . We always pay .. ever since the violent eviction we have received brutality every day here .We had an accident on he only way out of here an emergency exit narrow stone steps we fell injuring out backs.  Where do we go to get help , we are locked in a basement.like animals 

I couldnt pay my rent because i barely had money to eat , my landlord tried to kick me and he started threatening me even if he reduced my rent but i coouldnt afford it still . But luckily he forgot about me and im still living here . But im attending to pay him as soon as i come back to work because i dont get a tax return so ... 

I am an asthmatic and have 2 slipped discs.

I have been on special leave for 7 weeks. I am very concerned that as my mobility is limited until I see a back consultant over the next 2 months, I will be unable to commute in overcrowded national rail trains and the tube trains.

Even wearing masks might not prevent contagion which will put me at risk with low immune system on my chest.

I am truly terrified of using public transport for work