Landlords hung out to dry by mainstream media

Eight out of 10 landlords do not feel the portrayal of the buy-to-let market by the mainstream media is fair and accurate, the Landbay quarterly landlord survey reveals.

While demand for rental properties remains high landlords told the buy-to-let lender that they feel ‘demonised’ as the important role they play in the UK’s wider housing mix is ‘not recognised’.

GREEDY

Instead, they argue that the media blames ‘greedy’ landlords for the lack of stock and increasing rents rather than the lack of properties built by the government over many years.

When asked if they agreed with the statement that the media portrayal is fair and accurate, one third of landlords (33%) strongly disagreed, while almost half (48%) disagreed.

I am fed up with being portrayed as someone who is profiteering off tenants.”

One landlord comments: “The PRS provides much needed homes that are not being built by councils.

“I am a good landlord but I am fed up with being portrayed as someone who has plenty of money and is profiteering off tenants. What would happen if most landlords sold their properties?”

Another adds: “It would be good if the media was more balanced and also portrayed the issues for landlords with problem tenants.”

THICK-SKINNED

Paul Brett (main picture), managing director, intermediaries at Landbay, says: “There’s no question landlords have needed to be thick-skinned with successive anti-landlord governments and plenty of anti-landlord rhetoric in the national news.

“It’s unfortunate that bad news leads when there are so many positive examples of good landlords working in partnership with tenants to provide quality housing.

“With such a reliance on rented accommodation as part of the wider housing mix in the UK, we need quality landlords more than ever. We also need new entrants too as demand continues to outstrip supply.”

The Neg reported yesterday latest survey results from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which revealed that in lettings housing demand still outstrips supply, with further pressures placed on availability as interest rate rises and proposals to abolish Section 21, among other changes contained in the UK Government’s Renters (Reform) Bill, encourage landlords to sell up.