Tenants’ group Acorn has sparked a war of words with landlords after its online post labelled them “vindictive, greedy so-and-sos”.

The union’s Norwich branch celebrated the passing of the Renters’ Rights Act and the fun it has had seeing “a lot of landlords being very stroppy about it all over our social media”.

Acorn says: “One of the best things about it, apart from the entertainment value, is that so many of them reveal what they’re really like - vindictive, greedy so-and-sos, who hate their power being challenged in any way.”

It also called on tenants to join its group, adding: “Let’s upset more landlords, together!”

Response

In response to the comments posted by landlords, it adds gleefully: “A big thank you to all the landlords throwing their toys out of the pram in the comments. Keep em coming, you beautiful, sad, transparent grifters!”

While some responded with anger and choice name-calling, most landlords did not trade insults online but posted reasoned arguments about the state of the PRS. One urged Acorn to stop being vile to landlords. “We are humans and most are doing their best to provide clean, tidy and safe homes.”

She said she didn’t like being hated and was selling up after her tenant gave notice.

Shortage

“The housing shortage is not the fault of landlords but of government failing to plan for the increased population. You can’t blame landlords for market forces owing to supply and demand.”

Another said he wasn’t angry just sad, explaining that recent policies had been disastrous for his tenants. “Their rent is + £300 more a month than it would have been without them and I’m worse off than I was with the lower rent with bigger risks. “The changes are effectively a tax on tenants. Only winners are large banks and corporations.”

Last year, the Norwich branch was locked in a feud with Labour councillors for months after activists claimed they had been “visibly hostile” to them at meetings. However, an internal review by an independent panel ruled there were no breaches of the council’s code of conduct while it found no evidence of any gestures or comments that would be in breach of the council’s rules.

‍