The landlords’ view of the rental market | Letters
It isn’t a story of villains and victims, but a housing system under strain, writes Nick Vernoum. Plus a letter from John FarquharYour article on landlords (I thought landlords were...
By Guardian Staff · The Guardian Opinion
It isn’t a story of villains and victims, but a housing system under strain, writes Nick Vernoum . Plus a letter from John Farquhar Your article on landlords ( I thought landlords were unchallengeable – until I met one of mine at a party, 22 April ) paints them as shadowy figures wielding quiet power, but the reality is often more ordinary – and more complicated. I’m an “accidental landlord”. In my 40s, after working long hours to buy a modest home, I became seriously ill with chronic fatigue and had to move back in with my parents. Letting my house wasn’t about exploitation; it was about survival – covering a mortgage I could no longer sustain through work. Over time, I reinvested carefully, and I now own a small number of properties. The income isn’t lavish; it has supported my parents and given me a chance to rebuild my life. I know my tenants well. They can contact me any time, and I sort problems quickly. Continue reading...