That's the story that seems to be shown in new figures just released by the National Landlords Association (NLA). It's revealed that it received a record number of calls from landlords seeking advice during 2007.
The association runs a phone helpline which offers free advice to its members during business hours. They can call with any query they have about property to rent or related matters.
It's finished crunching the figures for the year, and found out it received an average of 2,600 calls a month. Across the year that meant a staggering 31,000 individual inquiries.
It took the association's advisers an average of 12 minutes and 49 seconds to deal with a call. In April 2007, when tenancy deposit protection became mandatory, calls went up 75 per cent to more than 200 a day.
Forget the idyllic luxury of buying a gorgeous rural property and renting it out to perfect tenants. The number one enquiry to the association was how to remove a troublesome tenant from property to rent. When you consider it received more than 600 calls a week, that's a lot of tenants annoying landlords around the UK!
The second most common question was asking what the new protection scheme for tenancy deposit was (TDP). The scheme came in just under a year ago and was designed to raise standards in the private rented sector. The main aim of TDP was to ensure that when a tenant pays a deposit and was entitled to get it back, they could be assured it would happen. It also contained some rules to assist with the resolution of disputes by having an alternative dispute resolution service. The idea behind that was to encourage tenants and landlords to agree on the condition and contents of the property at the start of the tenancy.
The third most popular inquiry was asking about a tenants' housing benefit payments, and what the landlord could do when they didn't match the rent period.
Next up, in fourth place, was questions about students living in property to rent, and the implications when they wanted to swap with another student. And finally, the fifth most popular inquiry was whether or not the landlord needed a HMO License, for Houses in Multiple Occupation such as bed sits.
If it was just answering straight forward questions like these, the daily grind for the association's advisors would be easy (if a little dull). But in fact they get some pretty interesting ones too, and have released some of the best.
They include the landlord who made his first visit to a property in two years to discover the kitchen had been moved to another room, and an outbuilding had been demolished to make way for a new conservatory! In that instance the landlord seemed to be a winner.
Not so the poor landlord who was forced to get a court order to remove some tenants? and was delighted when they suddenly left in the middle of the night. Turns out they had stripped the entire central heating system from the property to rent ? and took the double glazing too!
And how's this for cheek. Another landlord visited a property with a long-term tenant to find they had removed the garage door and replaced it with a brick wall and window. Then they had knocked through from the hallway to the garage and were sub-letting the new room!
In our series of articles on Dog Dominance Behavior, we explain various forms of dog instinctive behaviors, such as aggression dog dominance and possessive dog behaviors, and what to do about them. All such bad dog behaviors relate to each other and to dog pack instincts -- the inborn drive for dog dominance and high position in the pack. Dog food aggression and dog possessiveness of a bone or favorite toy are among the most common expressions of dominance aggression in dogs, of the dog's quest for control.
These are potentially very serious and can develop or intensify when dog possessive behaviors are not corrected. Many of us have experienced the painful results … So let's explore how to break dog possessiveness with an example…
My hand was bleeding profusely from two puncture wounds that had been inflicted almost instantly by the defiant little one, aggressively testing the waters. I held the scruff of her neck firmly and snatched a Kleenex with the other hand.
She growled. I allowed her to release a little tension before I made a demand again. (I did not want to cause escalation.) I did not back away, nor did I let go of her scruff. I did not request of her again until she released herself from that high tension level.
The pup then dropped the bone. I blocked her from it and claimed it as MINE. She tried to bite again. I held her firmly until she yielded.
I never let go of a dog when it is tense. Tension creates fear or feeds dog aggression -- and either can lead to a nasty bite!
The pup was again calm. I placed the bone in front of her and corrected her with a pack bite when she touched it. Instinctively, she understood such corrective pack behavior and ceased her effort.
When she was patient and calm, I gave the bone to her and let her chew on it for a few minutes. Then I took it away again, just to remind her who really ran the show.
Aggression in dogs is not acceptable and must never be encouraged. Some have naively said: "Well, she only does that around her bone."
My reply? "What if the dog will not give you something which may harm her?" Permit dog possessive behavior in one instance, and you encourage it in another when the consequences may be dire!
People are afraid to be bitten and usually back away when a dog shows his teeth. You must not do that. Backing down or catering to him at such times gives him power and serves to reinforce and intensify the problem. It assures that such aggression dog dominance behavior will recur, quite possibly with bloody results for you, the dog, or someone else! Take this seriously.
My dogs have their own toys and food bowls. They have bones and crates. However, I can touch or take anything I want, whenever I want. I am the undisputed Pack Leader, the Alpha, and they defer to me. That makes them feel secure and happy, and gives me a peaceful, loving home.
Dominant dogs have all others in the pack submit to THEIR will. They do not ask the lower ranked ones what they want -- nor should you. Do not let the proverbial tail wag the dog, or you are in for much annoyance, unpleasantness, even nastiness.
If your dog shows possessive dog behavior, consult a professional and learn the technique well. Apply it with consistency, and do not let bared teeth cause you to back down and submit. The long term consequences would be worse than the present challenge. Even the best of us is sometimes bitten!
Both P Green & Rena Murray are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
P Green has sinced written about articles on various topics from Property Guide, Foreclosure Help and Real Estate. Further property information can be found at the Property Today website at . P Green's top article generates over 135000 views. Bookmark P Green to your Favourites.
Rena Murray has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Rottweiler Dogs and Flirting Tips. RENA MURRAY is a Dog Obedience Trainer - Dog Behaviorist who dares to tell it like it is! Growing up with the Horse Whisper, avid wolf pack studies, Pit Bull and other dog training, Rena solves "impossible" situations, e.g., tea. Rena Murray's top article generates over 60500 views. Bookmark Rena Murray to your Favourites.