My Wife and I own houses that we offer
for rental. Because of this, we are classed by many of those who
consider themselves, in various degrees, as socialists, as 'greedy
private landlords'.
All too often, possibly every time,
when the question of tenancy of rented housing is discussed, or written about, the
cliché 'greedy private landlords' will be quoted.
Why are we labelled as being 'greedy' –
by people who know nothing about us – because we invested our hard
earned and saved; by forgoing purchasing unnecessary luxuries; money
into property that we rent-out for our pension income?
If we had used our money to purchase an
annuity to provide us with a retirement income, and in turn given an
assurance company profit, would we be considered as greedy?
If we only receive our state pension,
because we didn't plan for additional private revenue, and have to
claim pension credits and other social benefit payments, paid for by
other people's taxes, so we can survive, would we be considered
'greedy'?
Are there different classifications of
private-landlords or are we all just one group of greedy investors in
property?
What about people who invest in buying
their own home, with the hopes that it will increase in value, so
that they can sell it at a profit when they downsize, after the
family has left, and supplement their pension: are private-home
investors greedy?
© Elliot Sampford 2013
My stepdaughter has a house here and a family home in Australia. The English property is available to her when she visits the UK and thereafter it is on the market as a holiday let. She certainly isn't greedy, just wise. Wishing you and yoru family a happy new year.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you and Joe for the future.
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