A Carlisle landlord is urging for changes in the UK's private housing system after claiming he has been left out of pocket for over £5,000 due to a non-paying tenant.
Paul Calvert, originally from Welton but currently living in Bethlehem, says the system is heavily skewed in favour of tenants, leaving landlords like him financially vulnerable.
He estimates that he is owed over £4,247 in unpaid rent up to August, with additional costs accruing as the eviction and court process continues and the months roll on.
“The whole system is based toward the tenant," he said.
“It seems I can’t do anything unless I go to court and get the bailiffs to deal with it.
“This is why the system needs to be changed as it’s not fair.
"Obviously, there are scrupulous landlords and things need to be in protection for tenants, but everything is so one-sided.
"I have two houses to rent, if the the other person were to do this, I would be bankrupt," he said.
Paul's frustrations have mounted as the process to reclaim his property has dragged on for months, with an upcoming court date adding "another £1,700 on top of what is already owed in rent".
If Paul is granted a possession order at the upcoming court hearing, the tenant will have to vacate the home within 14 days, or potentially 28 days.
However, if the tenant applies for an extension due to 'exceptional circumstances', the judge could further extend the notice to vacate to an additional six weeks.
A judge also has the power to order the backdated rent to be paid.
"It’s looking promising for me now to get the money back, but the point is how unfair the system is.
"The government is completely on the side of the tenant. It takes six months to process, then there are court fees on top of that.
"Imagine if I had a very tight mortgage and needed to make repayments. My house could have been repossessed," he said.
Conor O'Shea, head of campaigns at Generation Rent, however says "the balance of power is so far skewed towards landlords".
"The notion that the rental system in this country is biased towards the tenant is laughable.
"Just yesterday, news broke that a landlord served eviction notices to an entire block of flats (in Whitehaven).
"Under current rules, this is completely legal and leaves a building worth of people with a ticking clock to find a new home in a brutal market, or face homelessness.
"Tenants are fearful of raising issues of disrepair or problems in their home because of the risk of this type of eviction and are subject to rent increases determined by landlords putting their fingers in the air and deciding what to charge," he said.
Mr O'Shea went on to defend the Renters' Rights Bill, which is aimed at reforming the rental system, and is expected to come into law next year.
One of the most significant changes is the removal of Section 21 evictions. Currently, this allows landlords to evict tenants without giving a reason, with only two months’ notice.
"Good landlords have nothing to fear from upcoming changes in the Renters' Rights Bill, but what it will do is give tenants the protection from unscrupulous landlords and from a system which facilitates uncertainty in our lives and drains our pockets during the process.
"Repossessions like the one described by Mr. Calvert will continue to be legal and the delays in court proceedings, while unfortunate, must not be a reason to delay the strengthening of tenants' rights in this country.
"Only by decisively levelling the playing field between landlords and tenants will we have the ability to put down roots in our communities like Cumbria and have a home that is a genuine foundation of a life, as they should be," he said.
Despite the personal and financial toll, Paul keeps his situation in perspective, noting that it's 'nothing' compared to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, near where he currently resides as he continues to run the Christian radio station Hayah.
“With my situation on the house, when you see what is going on in Israel and Gaza near me, my situation is small in comparison.
“It’s only a tiny problem compared to what others are going through. If you compare it, I’m going through nothing at all really," he said.
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