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Buy-to-let landlord says housing benefit claimants owe him £1m Buy-to-let landlord says housing benefit claimants owe him £1m
(35 minutes later)
Fergus Wilson, the buy-to-let baron with nearly 1,000 homes who this week became Britain's most controversial landlord, says he is owed almost £1m by housing benefit claimants who have failed to pay their rent.Fergus Wilson, the buy-to-let baron with nearly 1,000 homes who this week became Britain's most controversial landlord, says he is owed almost £1m by housing benefit claimants who have failed to pay their rent.
Wilson and his wife Judith, whose fortune has been estimated at £180m, provoked fury after he revealed in the Guardian last weekend that they had sent eviction notices to 200 tenants who were on welfare.Wilson and his wife Judith, whose fortune has been estimated at £180m, provoked fury after he revealed in the Guardian last weekend that they had sent eviction notices to 200 tenants who were on welfare.
He has said that in future he will not accept applications from individuals claiming housing benefit, stating he now prefers to rent his Kent homes to reliable, working, migrants from eastern Europe.He has said that in future he will not accept applications from individuals claiming housing benefit, stating he now prefers to rent his Kent homes to reliable, working, migrants from eastern Europe.
In a provocative statement sent to the Guardian, Wilson remains unrepentant in the face of huge outcry his comments caused, and has now gone further, telling English benefit claimants to "get a job". He says northerners should move south, and questions why English people are so reluctant to follow the example of migrants and take low-paid jobs.In a provocative statement sent to the Guardian, Wilson remains unrepentant in the face of huge outcry his comments caused, and has now gone further, telling English benefit claimants to "get a job". He says northerners should move south, and questions why English people are so reluctant to follow the example of migrants and take low-paid jobs.
In his diatribe, which echoes the "on your bike" message espoused by Norman Tebbit during the early 1980s, he also called on David Cameron to make councils pay housing benefit directly to landlords to prevent tenants getting into arrears.In his diatribe, which echoes the "on your bike" message espoused by Norman Tebbit during the early 1980s, he also called on David Cameron to make councils pay housing benefit directly to landlords to prevent tenants getting into arrears.
He has admitted that his eviction notices may send battered wives back to their husbands to be beaten up again, but said that the situation cannot go on as it is. He has admitted that his eviction notices may send women who have been victims of domestic violence back to their former partners to face further abuse, but said that the situation cannot go on as it is.
"We have £800,000 arrears for those on housing benefit. Has the £800,000 caused financial difficulty? … To be honest not an awful lot but it has some!" he said."We have £800,000 arrears for those on housing benefit. Has the £800,000 caused financial difficulty? … To be honest not an awful lot but it has some!" he said.
The Wilsons first came to the public's attention in 2006 at the height of the buy-to-let bonanza, when pre-credit crunch lenders were issuing loans almost indiscriminately. At times, the married couple, both former maths teachers, were buying a house every day on the estates going up around the Eurostar terminal in Ashford.The Wilsons first came to the public's attention in 2006 at the height of the buy-to-let bonanza, when pre-credit crunch lenders were issuing loans almost indiscriminately. At times, the married couple, both former maths teachers, were buying a house every day on the estates going up around the Eurostar terminal in Ashford.
Many predicted their empire would collapse when the financial crisis hit, but they were saved when the Bank of England slashed base rates to 0.5% which in turn cut his mortgage repayments substantially.Many predicted their empire would collapse when the financial crisis hit, but they were saved when the Bank of England slashed base rates to 0.5% which in turn cut his mortgage repayments substantially.
Wilson revealed that the value of his properties has risen by 8% over the past year, netting him paper gains of tens of millions of pounds. He says he pushed up the rent on his average property from £850 to £900 over the year, a rise of 5% compared to wage increases of 1%-2%.Wilson revealed that the value of his properties has risen by 8% over the past year, netting him paper gains of tens of millions of pounds. He says he pushed up the rent on his average property from £850 to £900 over the year, a rise of 5% compared to wage increases of 1%-2%.
In 2009 the Wilsons were named the 34th richest couple in the UK by the Sunday Times.In 2009 the Wilsons were named the 34th richest couple in the UK by the Sunday Times.
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