[hiccamups]

A comment was made to me in another thread that renters should always expect a house to be sold, whether they are informed or not, because it is not a home, it's an investment.

Whilst it is an investment and that can be very important for the owners of that investment, that fact their investment is in people's homes and therefore a big part of their overall wellbeing, where does the balance come in?

What are your thoughts. Whilst we all agree owning your own home is the only way to ensure security (if you can afford) I question if renters are signing up for a lifetime of insecurity and a sense that they never truly have a home, that they are always just borrowing somebodies house and it is always for a short term.

I'm divided I suppose, given I appreciate the flexibility a LL needs with their financial investment but the home itself, is an emotional investment for a family.

Is there value in feeling at 'home' where ever you are or do you think we subscribe too much sentiment to our places of residence?

I've always seen the financial value in renting and yet now, I'm wondering if renting really only has value for those without families or perhaps once children are older, where the lack of security or ability to relax, is easier to manage.

[hiccamups]

Or, as a second thought, if the LL was obliged to declare their intentions to the Tenant. Such as, this house is a long term investment, or this house is a very short term investment, or we do not know if this is a short or long investment, or this house is reserved as land value and we will be demolishing in the short term etc.

Obviously things change, but for many people they do make a plan with their investments, in particular houses, given the major impacts selling has.

[witchesforest]

i haven't rented for years, but i reckon the concept of a home is basically what the renter is buying with their rent money.

i mean you wouldn't expect to rent say a dishwasher or a car only to have the company turn up a day later and take it back because they suddenly need to sell it, and those things are of course investments to the companies concerned.

owners do need to be able to sell but i think tenants deserve some certainty too.

[Oriental lily]

I wish there were more career land lords around. People who are landlords as their primary income. Willing to give out leases for 5 years plusand who a large folio of estate.

I think investors who are barely making ends meet is the worse thing possible for the rental market.

My parents are from Ireland and back when they were growing up you rented either from he government or a career landlord. My grandfather rented the same house for 30 years from the same man. When he decided to retire he sold the house to my grandfather and lived in it for another 20 years and just recently sold it.

I think renters these days rarely stay in the one place for more than two years. So no it could never be considered a home. Just a house they are living in until they are forced to move on.

I am just glad we are not in the rental market.

[little lion]

I have never rented so I can only go off friends' experiences. I believe tenants should feel like the property is their home, sanctuary, safe place. They should be entitled to a secure and safe property where problems are fixed in a reasonable time frame. As landlords that's what we aim to do.

As for the length of a lease, well I think both parties should try to complete the full term, but things happen sometimes. I do find it odd when a tenant feels annoyed that the owner wants to sell their home of three years or whatever. In my opinion, a rented home should be safe and secure but it shouldn't be viewed as 'yours' forever.

[hiccamups]

I do find it odd when a tenant feels annoyed that the owner wants to sell their home of three years or whatever. In my opinion, a rented home should be safe and secure but it shouldn't be viewed as 'yours' forever.

I agree with this but imagine this happens to the same family every 1-3yrs, without end. I suppose this is where the question of any security comes in.

If it were that each family had this happen a couple of times in 10 years or more, I think that's entirely to be expected.

[galba]

We own a number of property overseas which are rented out long term.Here in Australia we rent as we are waiting on our house being built.

We have rented in Scandinavia, UK, Indonesia and Malaysia.

By far the worst experience is WA - IME renters are treated as second class citizens and property managers without exception have been horrible.

We treat all of our tenants with respect and courtesy and as a result they are happy and treat the properties extremely well. They also have been in the properties for quite long periods eg 6 years for one, 4 years for another couple. In WA we have learnt how NOT to treat our own tenants.

This post has been edited by galba: 11/08/2012, 04:26 PM

[hiccamups]

galba, sadly I find your experience to be true.

[idignantlyright]

We rent. We see the house as our home(have been here almost 14yrs) and treat it basically as we would our own. We do the basic maintenance, but notify the real estate of major things such as the hot water system dying.

[Brrrroooce!]

Renters should not treat a rented property as their own because it's not.

If you want a home of your own, you have to buy one.

If you can't, you remain at the mercy of your landlord.

Your rights last only as long as your lease.

I am not a landlord, I'm just accepting of how it is.