Well-known landlord Fergus Wilson is to stop letting properties, and end tenancies, because he cannot guarantee that his homes will be maintained and repaired to safe and legally compliant standards.
The reason is that Wilson, thought to be the country’s largest private landlord currently thought to be owning around 400 properties, heavily depends on an east European workforce.
Last October, he had 14 full-time workmen. This month, he has just 1.6 full-time staff.
Wilson said: “On October 1, a Hungarian workman did not turn up for work.
“He telephoned to say he was on the ferry heading for Calais as he had been offered a job the previous night in Germany. So he just upped and went.”
Yesterday Wilson lost two more Romanian workmen He told EYE he has therefore taken the decision to stop letting properties in Ashford and Maidstone, Kent, for the foreseeable future.
Without east European staff, he says he cannot operate.
Wilson said it is now “virtually impossible” for a tenant to find a property to let in Maidstone.
Wilson and his wife Judith sold four houses in the past week and those tenants, all east Earopeans, have lost their homes, he said.
Wilson said: “If you cannot maintain houses to the correct standard and deliver heating services promptly in winter then there is little option for us but to cease to rent out properties.”
He says he has tenants who have been with him since 2005 and 2006 and that he is loath to end their tenancies.
However, he says he simply can no longer offer the service necessary.
Wilson said: “Whether this is to do with Brexit or not, need not concern me. I have to deal with the present day situation – and it just cannot go on.”
Comments (18)
Brexit caused my son to get a B in chemistry in his exams, give me a BREAK! People will blame anyone before they blame THEMSELVES! Just sad…..
What a load of old cobblers!!!
Meanwhile, circa 4.7million PRS homes are maintained using other contractors. What a plonker.
Wilson said: “On October 1, a Hungarian workman did not turn up for work.
“He telephoned to say he was on the ferry heading for Calais as he had been offered a job the previous night in Germany. So he just upped and went.”
Did you edit out the bit where he said ‘and you can shove your £50 a day where the sun doesn’t shine!’
Dear PIE how do you define ‘the UK’s largest private landlord’? If by size of portfolio, then Grainger plc with 8,391 homes may have something to argue with you about. If, however, it’s by size of waistline, you could be right…..
Unfortunately Grainger plc are not a private landlord, hence the “plc” after their name.
He also is not the UK’s largest private landlord if he now only has 400 properties – I know a couple of families with well over 500 properties and one with nearly 1000.
More rubbish written to massage Fergus Wilson’s ego….the man is a complete moron. #worstlandlordever
Disagree – the corporate entity is the landlord, the shares of said corporate entity being more widely held. Also ‘private’ LL could be defined as the PRS as opposed to the SRS.
Otherwise fully agree with all your other comments.
It’s just Fergus headlining!
In 2016 BEFORE Cameron’s stupid referendum, Galliard Homes were offering to buy back properties they were selling on a specific development in the event of a vote to leave the EU. I think that says it all. I say let’s have another referendum with THREE choices: Leave, Stay in, Stay in and Cheat (like most of the others do!).
Is he saying there are no more trades people in the UK apart from European trades people.
Or is he just a tight ar** and doesn’t want to pay proper prices to the workmen.
I’m sure he is a pleasure to work for too!
Totally agree FlyingSheep54. The guys a joke.
We manage a huge portfolio, far larger than his, and we do not have issues with tradesmen and women. All of which I may add, are English/British.
The fact this complete idiot relies on foreign tradesmen is none other than him being tight fisted and to be honest, exploiting foreigners…who actually cause more issues as many of them are very poorly qualified and with a lack of experience with regards to British compliance and regulations. This isn’t to say they are extremely hard working but they just aren’t as good, hence why we have several contractors per division and not one of them is a foreign trader.
Nothing to do with brexit at all. He’s just looking for an excuse to be tight!
Unfortunately you cannot guarantee quality based on cheapness, if the sole reason for selling up is due to trade shortage then I am surprised, we have some excellent trades in this country and many opportunities for apprentices of which do not cost the earth. What we do not seem to have any more is belief, tenacity and staying power! the times of cheap good labour has never existed, this was desperation on the part of those seeking and exploitation on those using. I suggest that the gentleman in question steps back for a moment and unless he is knee deep in debt against equity, start looking more positive, especially when you make comments as you have in paragraph 8. However, we are commenting on a brief news article and should consider that this is Media………
Not sure why this is news. The headline should read “Landlord with large portfolio throws his teddy out because he’s too tight to pay good tradesmen”
He said the same thing in 2014, and again in 2017.
He loves high rent and cheap labour.
Agreed. He could employ nonmigrant tradespeople to maintain and repair his properties – he just chooses not to.
#Let’sBlameBrexitForEverything
Queue Mr Whale’s timely comment on Brexit…