Read about Kevin Green’s story on ‘Starting a farm; secret millionaire’
First I should introduce myself to the BusinessWings blog: my name's Kevin Green and I'm one of the UK’s largest private-sector residential landlords.
Previously, I was a successful dairy farmer in South Wales increasing my family’s business from 40 to 400 cows.
I was lucky enough to attend the Make-A-Wish Foundation Christmas Ball at the Dorchester in London, a black tie top-line event, quite a difference to my old environment of working-class dairy farmer.
I’ve supported this charity at great length over the last three years and contributed over £200,000 to help grant magical wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. The ball raised over £335,000 which will help so many precious kids and their families.
I had a lovely surprise when I was made an ambassador to Make-A-Wish, and will certainly continue spreading the word to this amazing cause. Make-A-Wish are looking for volunteers to help the wish granters grant wishes by carrying out all the on-the-ground work and liaison with the wish families.
On the business side of things, I am one of the UK’s largest private sector residential landlords and every day brings its own excitement
On the business side of things, as a major private-sector residential landlord every day brings its own excitement; tenants in particular seem to do the strangest things at times. But that’s what makes the career for me so exciting.
I recently had a call from the police who informed me that two of my tenants have been reported by their neighbours for disturbance in the early hours of the morning, and would I, as their landlord, have a quiet word with them. The allegation was that they’d been running down the street naked and dancing to what was described as ‘Rumpelstiltskin impressions’!
Upon visiting them and asking the tenants to please refrain from this activity their reply was:“Sorry Kev, we got a little bit drunk and we won’t do it again.” Its quirky incidences like this that brings joy into our office and the landlord’s role spreads far and wide with our duty of care to society.
Top tip
If you’re considering investing, make sure you go to the high yielding lower property purchase price areas, where rents are national average or lower, as in the coming months the Government intends to cap benefit payments to income-supported tenants.
This will hit high property price areas where rental payments are at a premium, areas such as London and the South East are likely to suffer hugely as a result and we predict that there will be a migration of tenants from these areas into more affordable properties.
If you are a landlord renting out to benefit tenants in a premium rental area, you may be hit hard by the new capping of rental payments, so consider alternative strategies immediately. We have always bought lower priced properties, such as mid terrace houses and semi-detached houses in affordable areas, which is a much more sustainable strategy.
I look forward to giving you regular updates on our activities, and look forward to helping people who wish to help themselves to financial success through tips and information.
