Sorry, but it’s no hot property

Four words kept popping into my head as I watched BBC1’S new property series The Week The Landlords Moved In last night: In an ideal world. In an ideal world, private landlords wouldn’t put profit before people. In an ideal world, private tenants would be more aware of their own responsibilities for the property they are renting. In an ideal world, tenants and landlords would understand that better communication could make all of their lives easier. And in an ideal world, we wouldn’t need TV shows like this to guilt-trip landlords into making properties more pleasant to live in.

CONFLICT

Actually, that’s a bit unfair on the landlords. And that was the problem with this programme. There was no real conflict between the two sides. Just a lack of contact. The landlords may have come across as flash and a bit too pleased with themselves at the start but it quickly became apparent they were decent people. The tenants were a reasonable bunch as well. I’m not saying I wanted them to be at each other’s throats, effing and jeffing for an hour. However, reasonable people with surmountable issues don’t tend to make for exciting television. This series doesn’t seem to know what it’s meant to be – a hardhitting expose of the rental market or a well-intentioned mash-up of Wife Swap and Changing Rooms. In an ideal world, the BBC would have made a series of each. It’s about time Laurence Llewelynbowen was back on TV. Right?

MOVE Landlords Marc and Peter