What A Waste of Money . .

[steveL]

Well what do you know, turns out this was just another ill-thought out scheme that was trailed numerous times in The Mail by HBC's PR machine as the answer to poor landlords in the private renting sector. So they joined up to get the nice discount on offer and did bugger all else - including bothering to respond to an audit survey.

In other words, it achieved absolutely nothing at considerable expense.

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/good-landlord-scheme-is-axed-1-5258107

[fred c]

"Despite contacting over 140 landlords for their views, on the way forward for accreditation, there was an extremely poor response with only one landlord replying.

What did they Expect ??

Placing people on Housing benefit into Sh*tty Sub Standard accomodation is always a recipe for unscrupulous landlords to extract the Urine out of the ratepayers.


Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Damien Wilson, the council's assistant director, regeneration and planning, said that an internal audit inspection of the scheme had been carried out towards the end of 2011.

Mr Wilson said the main recommendation within the report was that the service would need "significant development and investment" in order to achieve its intended aims and objectives.


What did the Deputy Diretor expect.............. Joined up thinking & ratepayers money doesn`t seem to appear on the radar of some council employees.......... thank goodness someone else got the Directors Job

[SRMoore]

I predict a huge problem in the private rental sector when the direct payment of rents to landlords is stopped and the benefit payments for council tax are cut. Many tenants already see paying rent as optional since landlords don't need the money and anyway they can move on when the arrears get too large.

I agree with you on this Steve. It's a bad move.
I have always been of the opinion that all housing benefit should be paid directly to the landlord and that there shouldn't even be an option to have it paid to the tennant. It would cut down on tennants who spend (steal?) the money and end up with large rent arrears. It would also help cut down on bogus housing benefit claimants.

I once had a socialist tell me that we can't do this though as 'you can't take peoples money off them'. That was swiftly met with the reply "it wasn't their money to start with".

[George]

I wonder if Rachmann was a socialist or a capitalist 

[steveL]

You'd think people would realise that the main purpose of housing benefit in the private rental sector is to subsidise the mortgages of landlords so that they can generate a very cheap income in retirement - largely paid for through other people's taxes.

[SRMoore]

How is that any different to those at the top of Housing Hartlepool who use your taxes to fund their very good salary and pension?

There are good landlords and bad landlords just as there and good and bad housing associations and even mortgage lenders. It's worth remembering that private landlords don't only rent to benefit claimants. Many I see advertised lstate "No DSS" in the advert.

[steveL]

There are quite a few differences actually.

You only have to look at some of the characters who become landlords to appreciate what motivates them and that the whole system has flaws. I would like to see a system whereby membership of national bodies was compulsory and compliance with accepted standards of service and maintenance mandatory. There's nothing wrong in making money out of renting properties but, as with any business, there are costs as well as benefits.

I would say the same about some of the shady characters who got involved in the running of nursing homes who displayed the same degree of resentment when it came to the costs involved. I know of one local councillor who owned 'nursing homes' who would complain if staff placed too much food on individual plates intended for residents.

[fred c]

I suppose that the £465,000 spent on the "Baden Street" initiative only went to the good landlords....

[steveL]

. . . and what a great success that little scheme has been. Has anyone actually noticed any difference?

[fred c]

Ohhhhhhhhhh Yes........ there are even more houses boarded up.

[Lucy Lass-Tick]

Surely it is an area of outstanding natural beauty? Reading the Mail's articles one can picture happy children playing on the grassy lawns, butterflies hovering over a wild flower meadow whilst church bells ring out as the Baden Street cricket team win their cricket match under the ancient oak trees .... 

[tankerville]

With regard to Landlord's.

I rang to enquire about an empty property for rent in Hart Lane for my grandaughter and young child.

There was no bond required and as she was working part time her rent would be paid for by H.B.C. The house was a TIP damp rooms, smelling of dog's & cat pee.

It wanted redecoration throughout, the boiler did not work, so no heating or hot water, windows smashed and boarded up. The boiler sited on the floor in what would have been the child's bedroom.

No C02 detector, No smoke alarm. Nothing but a death trap.

The rent was £125.00 per week with the asssurance that the Council will pay it in full.

My own views on renting this property were the sooner it was demolished the better.

She has now moved to Newcastle.

Better Housing Association. Better School for her child. Better Life. It's no wonder kid's of today want to get out of this town and find somewhere more decent to live.

[steveL]

With regard to Landlord's.

I rang to enquire about an empty property for rent in Hart Lane for my grandaughter and young child.

There was no bond required and as she was working part time her rent would be paid for by H.B.C. The house was a TIP damp rooms, smelling of dog's & cat pee.

It wanted redecoration throughout, the boiler did not work, so no heating or hot water, windows smashed and boarded up. The boiler sited on the floor in what would have been the child's bedroom.

No C02 detector, No smoke alarm. Nothing but a death trap.

The rent was £125.00 per week with the asssurance that the Council will pay it in full.

My own views on renting this property were the sooner it was demolished the better.

She has now moved to Newcastle.

Better Housing Association. Better School for her child. Better Life. It's no wonder kid's of today want to get out of this town and find somewhere more decent to live.

Which kind of makes my point, really. The landlord gets his mortgage paid via HBC without any need to meet any kind of standard so where's the incentive to do so.

[steveL]

I suppose it comes down to your basic ecconomic beliefs. People need somewhere to live. A demand creates a supply. The individual or organisation satifying a demand it entitled, in my opinion, to generate a profit and make a living.  So let's rework your quote........

You'd think people would realise that the main purpose of housing benefit in the private rental sector is to subsidise the mortgages of landlords so that they can generate a very cheap income in retirement - largely paid for through other people's taxes.

You'd think people would realise that the main purpose of housing benefit in the private rental sector private industry is to subsidise allow the  mortgages oflandlords business owner to earn a living so that they can generate a very cheap income build up a private pension pot so that in retirement - largely paid for through they are not dependent on other people's taxes.

Of course the other way is to provide free accomodation for people who can't afford rents. How about bunk houses? You could also have free soup kitchens serving free meals, free sets of coveralls and free shoes. There wouldn't be any need to pay benefits at all then would there? Is that a more socially acceptable way of doing it?

. . . or to reword your re-wording. Those who already well placed financially should be allowed to exploit those who are not for even further gain. It seems greed will still have a place in 2013.

[marky]

Bring back the mine and cotton mill owners