svag Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 A letting agent in Dundee is naming and shaming people who are not paying their rent by placing a "rent dodger lives here" sign on their windows. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/taysid...ral/8142882.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cogs Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 (edited) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10...side-homes.html Deja vu. Commercial property lawyer John Tuson, has advised landlords against the signs, and to follow the legal process instead.Mr Tuson, who is head of commercial property at Kirwans Solicitors, said 'naming and shaming' usually followed prosecution through the courts. He believes that the estate agent's signs could leave them vulnerable to legal action. Areas of concern included defamation, incitement to assault or affray, harassment, breach of the tenancy agreement, or even trespass. 'There is also confidentiality', Mr. Tuson added. 'The land-lord should not expose information about the tenant to a third party, and there's the issue of privacy under Article Eight of the European Convention of Human Rights, along with data protection issues. 'And I dread to think what the consequences would be if the signs were accidentally put on the wrong houses.' http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/ind...showtopic=90365 Edited July 9, 2009 by Cogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.hpc Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 (edited) Let's hope no-one torches her branch Edited July 9, 2009 by pete.hpc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Authoritarian Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Excellent, it can be used as a badge of honour. The more people that stop paying landlords rent the better IMO, it has to be the simplest and most effective way of dealing with this sort of parasite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I have complained to the BBC about their coverage of this issue before when they had a previous article on the subject. Publicly harassing debtors is a criminal offence under S.40(a) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970: a person in England and Wales commits an offence if, with the object of coercing another person to pay money claimed from the other as a debt due under contract, he(a) harasses the other with demands for payment which by their frequency, or the manner or occasion of their making, or any accompanying threat or publicity are calculated to subject him or his family or household to alarm, distress, or humiliation; So why the BBC does not report this matter straight to the police? Can I report the BBC for being an accessory to this crime? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babesagainstmachines Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Hey, look at all these people not paying rent and still living in their houses. Why should I bother paying mine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonb Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I have complained to the BBC about their coverage of this issue before when they had a previous article on the subject.Publicly harassing debtors is a criminal offence under S.40(a) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970: So why the BBC does not report this matter straight to the police? Can I report the BBC for being an accessory to this crime? Dundee is in Scotland. You need to find a similar law covering Scotland. I'm sure there is one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.hpc Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I have complained to the BBC about their coverage of this issue before when they had a previous article on the subject. Me too, now. Thanks for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest skullingtonjoe Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Hey, look at all these people not paying rent and still living in their houses. Why should I bother paying mine? Those signs look great - even though I`ve paid my rent I still want one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 maybe the banks will love the idea and use it on mortgage arrears too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Monk Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Excellent, it can be used as a badge of honour. The more people that stop paying landlords rent the better IMO, it has to be the simplest and most effective way of dealing with this sort of parasite. I won't hear a bad word against my landlord, he is taking the hit in property values on my behalf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime Realist 8 Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 (edited) Whatever you may think of landlords, it's well out of order not to pay the rent and avoid any attempt to be contacted by them, especially if you're pocketing government housing allowance. 'Human rights' only seem to apply to scroungers and criminals these days. Edited July 9, 2009 by Prime Realist 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahBell Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 all it says is this letting agent tolerates non payers and harrasses tenants. The first one to sue sets the precedent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Whatever you may think of landlords, it's well out of order not to pay the rent and avoid any attempt to be contacted by them, especially if you're pocketing government housing allowance. 'Human rights' only seem to apply to scroungers and criminals these days. Lets have a solemn minute's silence for the landlord's inalienable right to be privately paid out of production for sitting on a state enforced monopoly of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendy Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 had to quickly recheck the article date - the fact this is happening and that the govt is allowing it too happen is further confirming my belief that SHOCK HORROR, the govt (any party) isn;t as stupid as we think they are and are allowing things to return to the trend line, over time. over time being the important point there. they are putting things in place for a slow descent then crash landing at 200ft rather than just letting it go vertical from 40k feet. imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Deflation Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 (edited) maybe the banks will love the idea and use it on mortgage arrears too. Maybe the banks could use a selection of different boards, which will also enable people to keep their eyes on property: one month arrears; three months arrears; six months arrears; repo proceedings started; repo'd won't be living here much longer. Or when the BoE raises the base rate next year: "Rising interest rates have crippled this over-leveraged tosser. Watch this space. Repo coming soon". Edited July 9, 2009 by Danny Deflation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saving For a Space Ship Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I hear they got the idea from Jehovah witnesses, who were fed up with residents not opening the door to them. They started putting up signs saying: 'Rant Dodger' . . .. ..or was that 'Meme Dodger' ?.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyMe Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Monk Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I reckon we should stick an "Election-Dodger" sign to the front door of 10 Downing Street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrude Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 I reckon we should stick an "Election-Dodger" sign to the front door of 10 Downing Street. i 2nd that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundee Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 This is another unintended consequences by the powers to be. The agent in question has a lot of tenants on housing benefit, the rules were recently changed to make the payment for rent direct to the tenant, and the tenant then pays the landlord / agent. Yes right, when said tenant is low on essentials ie food, fags, beer, wine, do a search on Scottish courts / Dundee, the council and local agents / housing associations are suing hundreds if not thousands of people yearly, some may be council tax / rates, but most rent arrears, never mind the green shoots, or recovery. It aint going to happen any time soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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