Welcome to the October edition of the  “Landlords Barometer” where I bring you the trending topics and news from the Property Tribes forum.

Plenty going on for landlords, some running for the hills, some hanging in there, some like rabbits caught in the headlights!  There is a lot of “doom and gloom” about as reflected in our trending discussions.  Feel the landlord pain!

Here are the most viewed topics of the past month:

1.  Quality – not quantity – is the future of BTL

Having been through the 2008 recession, I am of the opinion that quality properties and locations are far more pandemic-proof than lower quality properties and locations.  I share my reasons why in this article.

2. Homeless tenants imminent as landlords flee

The media say landlords are throwing in the towel in droves.  What does the Property Tribes community think?

3.  Carnage awaits the property market?

Over 6K views and 60 responses on this lively discussion about what lies ahead for the property market as furlough ends and other Covid19 support measures are withdrawn.

4.  I’m selling to beat the rumoured tax rises!

This landlord is selling up because he believes that property taxes will be on the increase to pay for the Covid19 bail-out bill.  There are already hints of increased capital gains tax, corporation tax, and inheritance tax as the government continue to target landlords.  However, with the Budget postponed due to the Covid19 response, landlords won’t know until next year.

5.  Ranjan Battacharya launches eviction petition

What did the Property Tribes community think of this controversial  petition?  At the time of writing, it has reached 6,537 signatures.  10,000 signatures are needed for a government response.

6. Touchstone Education “pushed me to the wall”

The friends of this seriously ill mentee of Touchstone Education are  fighting on her behalf for a £13K refund after she was diagnosed with  serious physical and psychological problems and also contracted Covid19.

7.  The Government has seized my BTL asset

Case study of a landlord who is suffering and struggling with rent arrears due to the eviction ban and court back-logs.

8.  “Generation rent” into “generation buy”

Do landlords think Boris is on the right track with his plans to assist first time buyers onto the property ladder?

Video of the Month:

Brian Bartaby, CEO of PropLend, talks about the commercial property sector in a post-Covid19 world.

Property Tribes news:

Property Tribes has been pleased to welcome two new commercial  partners last month who join our growing “eco-system” of trusted products and services for landlords:

Introducing Aucspace – legal pack reviews

Introducing OnStep – hands free BTL investing