Leaks & Collapsed Ceilings
December 24, 2013
I was on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End last Thursday night when the ceiling collapsed at The Appollo Theatre (pictured). A Transport For London Supervisor told me that over 60 people had been injured (total casualties later rose to 80), I was waiting at a bus stop and he advised me that routes were diverted. Like many, I was shocked that so many people were hurt and I wish all of those affected a speedy recovery. One of the factors in press […]
I did a piece for Channel 4 news recently about the government’s proposed landlord immigration checks. It was clear that the news team sent to make the film thought this was a cynical attempt by the government to pull in votes and turn us all into UK border police. I was ready to support the NLA line which is that if you’re a good landlord, you should be carrying out checks anyway and that this new regime will not be particularly onerous. My NLA colleague, […]
Earlier this year a close colleague made me a business proposition. His brother buys 3 bed 1930s houses and turns them into 7 lettable bedrooms by extending into the rear garden and converting the loft. Why don’t we join forces and do the same on a 50:50 basis, he asked? So I decided to give it some serious thought and spoke to three landlords I know who focus on HMOs.
Blast Films recent 50 minute piece on landlords was broadcast on BBC 1 on 18 July 2013. There is a flurry of interest from broadcasters in the private rented sector and we will see an increasing number of these types of programmes over the next year. Blast approached us at the NLA about this film and said they wanted to create a documentary that presented a more balanced view of landlords than is prevalent in the media, an aspiration which I applauded. Did you think […]
Over the past few months, I’ve been approached by a number of production companies wanting to make documentaries about landlords. I’m really keen to help, but they always seem drawn to disputes and crises…. so eventually the programme becomes yet another remake of tenants or landlords from hell. Is the day in the life of an average landlord so mundane? This is what happened to me today…..