Invergordon man left £50,000 out of pocket after ‘really nasty’ tenants
An Invergordon man was left “disgusted” and £50,000 out of pocket after facing 18 months of “really nasty” tenants.
The experience of father-of-four Scott Murdoch, who has been a landlord since his twenties while working overseas in the oil industry, has thrown the spotlight on a growing issue exacerbating the Highland housing crisis.
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A housing group representing landlords said yesterday that protections are needed to prevent an exodus of providers in the private rental sector.
The final straw for Mr Murdoch was his experience with tenants for a recently renovated property in Evanton. He was eventually forced to resort to costly, stressful and time-consuming court action to evict the tenants.
He said: “This couple came, and I felt sorry for them because they explained how they were trying to start a family. So I gave them a month’s free rent, so they could get sorted and buy some furniture.
“But then I start receiving complaints from the neighbours of abusive behaviour.”
He found the flat in “manky” condition and was soon owed three months’ unpaid rent.
He said his attempts to help backfired with broken promises and his flat left in a distressing state: “I was just disgusted. It’s happened a few times now, but every time I’m just so disgusted that people can live like that. The smell is still so bad, the dog urine is soaked through the lino.
“I began the process of eviction — I said that if they just leave, there won’t be any repercussions over the rent and damages, because I just wanted the property back and I had received so many complaints.
“They didn’t think this was reasonable, so I had to go to court.”
In December 2017, the Scottish Government introduced Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) agreements which ended the Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions. ‘No-fault evictions’ enabled landlords to repossess their properties without giving a reason for notice.
Mr Murdoch said: “Every landlord I know, would only use Section 21 if someone was really behind on rent arrears, damaged the property or for antisocial behaviour. You cut your losses, and you start again.”
He said: “I agree with protecting tenants, but not when its like this — I don’t like to evict people, it’s the last thing I ever want to do.
“When they finally left the property, they had caused £35,000 worth of damage. It needs stripped out and completely redone. We don’t even have to money to repair it — I’ve got no savings left.
“All the landlords I know, have had enough. I’m selling off all my properties. I’ve got some tenants that are amazing and can stay until they decide to move, but then I will sell those off too.
“I work overseas, and I was planning to leave but I can’t now. Landlords don’t actually make that much money, everyone thinks we are super rich… we’re not. It would be about 20-30 years before I recuperate my losses from these tenants through being a landlord — and who’s to say it won’t happen again?”
Scott added: “The stress has been unbelievable, it’s even affected my working career. It was pure disrespect to my property.”
Scottish Association of Landlords chief executive, John Blackwood, said: “No landlord in the private rented sector should have to go through this kind of ordeal.
“In order to play a key role in ensuring that we have a well-functioning private rented sector, landlords need to have the reassurance that their rights are protected.
"If the Scottish Government is serious about encouraging private landlords to continue to invest in Scotland, they need to take urgent action to bring in appropriate safeguards for those providing much needed homes for rent.
“At a time when many landlords are considering moving out of the market entirely, [we] will continue to work to create a sector that works for everyone and lobby government for changes in legislation to protect landlord investors.”
Local MSP Maree Todd said Mr Murdoch’s was “clearly a difficult situation” though she couldn’t comment in detail without knowing all the facts.
“Strengthening tenants' rights and ensuring responsible landlords operate in the market is essential to this.
“A well-regulated private rental sector benefits everyone involved: tenants, landlords, and investors.”
