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Fergus Wilson: Hundreds face eviction as landlord sells property empire | Fergus Wilson: Hundreds face eviction as landlord sells property empire |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of people face eviction after a controversial landlord decided to sell his entire property portfolio. | Hundreds of people face eviction after a controversial landlord decided to sell his entire property portfolio. |
Fergus Wilson, 70, says he is retiring after a series of court battles over his treatment of tenants. | Fergus Wilson, 70, says he is retiring after a series of court battles over his treatment of tenants. |
He and his wife Judith own about 300 properties across Kent. | He and his wife Judith own about 300 properties across Kent. |
Their buy-to-let empire has made them multimillionaires, but the Wilsons have become infamous for their strict rules on who they will allow to live in homes they own. | Their buy-to-let empire has made them multimillionaires, but the Wilsons have become infamous for their strict rules on who they will allow to live in homes they own. |
In the past they have refused to take people on zero-hours contracts, single parents, and those on benefits. | In the past they have refused to take people on zero-hours contracts, single parents, and those on benefits. |
Mr Wilson insists the landlord is in charge. "Basically, we have got two types of tenants - those who agree with me and ex-tenants." | Mr Wilson insists the landlord is in charge. "Basically, we have got two types of tenants - those who agree with me and ex-tenants." |
The tycoon has spent the past few weeks filming with Panorama. He said he wanted to give a landlord's perspective on the UK's housing market. | The tycoon has spent the past few weeks filming with Panorama. He said he wanted to give a landlord's perspective on the UK's housing market. |
He believes we need to build more housing. In England, more than 10 million people now live in private rented accommodation, but Mr Wilson says private landlords cannot cater for all. | He believes we need to build more housing. In England, more than 10 million people now live in private rented accommodation, but Mr Wilson says private landlords cannot cater for all. |
"Not everyone on housing benefit is a problem, but every problem is on housing benefit," he says. | "Not everyone on housing benefit is a problem, but every problem is on housing benefit," he says. |
"The problem is, they don't get paid enough in benefits from Her Majesty's government to pay the rent. | "The problem is, they don't get paid enough in benefits from Her Majesty's government to pay the rent. |
'What you have to understand is that the private-sector landlord does not have a duty of care. It is the local council who has the duty of care." | 'What you have to understand is that the private-sector landlord does not have a duty of care. It is the local council who has the duty of care." |
Fergus and Judith Wilson bought their first buy-to-let house in 1991. At one point they owned nearly 1,000 properties. They say they've provided homes for about 10,000 tenants over the years. | Fergus and Judith Wilson bought their first buy-to-let house in 1991. At one point they owned nearly 1,000 properties. They say they've provided homes for about 10,000 tenants over the years. |
The couple say they hope to sell their properties to investors who will retain the tenants, but they have already issued 90 eviction notices - and more will follow. | The couple say they hope to sell their properties to investors who will retain the tenants, but they have already issued 90 eviction notices - and more will follow. |
Mr Wilson is unapologetic about his use of evictions. | Mr Wilson is unapologetic about his use of evictions. |
"I can do what I like. You don't want me to lie about it, do you?" | "I can do what I like. You don't want me to lie about it, do you?" |
It is relatively easy for a private landlord to evict someone. Most tenants are on six or 12-month contracts. | It is relatively easy for a private landlord to evict someone. Most tenants are on six or 12-month contracts. |
Once that agreement is up, a landlord can evict a tenant for no reason with just two months' notice. It's called a no-fault, or section 21, eviction. | Once that agreement is up, a landlord can evict a tenant for no reason with just two months' notice. It's called a no-fault, or section 21, eviction. |
Ellen, who is one of the Wilsons' tenants, lives on a street where they own all the properties. | Ellen, who is one of the Wilsons' tenants, lives on a street where they own all the properties. |
She doesn't know whether she will be evicted or be able to keep her home. | She doesn't know whether she will be evicted or be able to keep her home. |
"Our life depends on whether they sell or whether they stay," she says. "We have no say in it whatsoever - no security." | "Our life depends on whether they sell or whether they stay," she says. "We have no say in it whatsoever - no security." |
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Some housing charities are very critical of short-term tenancies and the use of section 21 evictions. | Some housing charities are very critical of short-term tenancies and the use of section 21 evictions. |
Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said: "Lots of landlords are great. Fergus is an extreme example, but he is a really good illustration of how easy it is to prevent people in private renting from being able to put down roots. | Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said: "Lots of landlords are great. Fergus is an extreme example, but he is a really good illustration of how easy it is to prevent people in private renting from being able to put down roots. |
"The insecurity this creates - particularly for children - it's incredibly damaging." | "The insecurity this creates - particularly for children - it's incredibly damaging." |
Nationally, the average tenant stays in a property for four years. | Nationally, the average tenant stays in a property for four years. |
Panorama found tenants who had received eviction notices from the Wilsons on estates in Folkestone and Maidstone. | Panorama found tenants who had received eviction notices from the Wilsons on estates in Folkestone and Maidstone. |
In Ashford, Hannah, a teacher, got hers in the run-up to Christmas. | In Ashford, Hannah, a teacher, got hers in the run-up to Christmas. |
"I was devastated, genuinely devastated," she said. "You've got millions in the bank, and you're evicting people over Christmas? Not impressed." | "I was devastated, genuinely devastated," she said. "You've got millions in the bank, and you're evicting people over Christmas? Not impressed." |
Last year Mr Wilson was taken to court by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission after he told a letting agent: "No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy." | Last year Mr Wilson was taken to court by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission after he told a letting agent: "No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy." |
He says his policy wasn't racist. "The people prosecuting me… made the point, 'We are not saying Mr Wilson's racist. We are just saying he mustn't do it'." | He says his policy wasn't racist. "The people prosecuting me… made the point, 'We are not saying Mr Wilson's racist. We are just saying he mustn't do it'." |
The properties owned by the Wilsons will be sold off street by street. The couple say wherever possible, they'll avoid evictions, but many people will have to lose their homes. | The properties owned by the Wilsons will be sold off street by street. The couple say wherever possible, they'll avoid evictions, but many people will have to lose their homes. |
Fergus Wilson is characteristically blunt. | Fergus Wilson is characteristically blunt. |
"The landlord rules, not the tenant. But I think you've worked that out, haven't you?" | "The landlord rules, not the tenant. But I think you've worked that out, haven't you?" |
You can see more on Panorama: Britain's Most Controversial Landlord, on BBC1 at 20:30 GMT on Monday 18 March and later on the BBC iPlayer. | You can see more on Panorama: Britain's Most Controversial Landlord, on BBC1 at 20:30 GMT on Monday 18 March and later on the BBC iPlayer. |
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