Landlords feel buy-to-let is portrayed ‘unfairly’ in media

This was the opinion of 81 per cent of the landlords surveyed as part of Landbay’s quarterly landlord research. 

The respondents argued that they are “demonised” by the media and blamed as “greedy landlords for the lack of stock and increasing rents".

Instead, they argued that a lot of the issues are the result of government policies and under-investment in housing. 

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

One landlord said: “The private rented sector 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 said: “It would be good if the media was more balanced and also portrayed the issues for landlords with problem tenants.”

Adding to this, Landbay’s managing director for intermediaries Paul Brett said 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,” he added. 

In Brett’s view, quality landlords are needed now more than ever given the reliance on rented accommodation in the UK. 

“We also need new entrants too as demand continues to outstrip supply,” he said.

“To make this all happen though, the government must champion those good quality landlords and work with the sector, rather than against it. This will hopefully bring a more balanced approach to the national news agenda and relieve some of the pressure felt by honest and hard working landlords across the country,” Brett added. 

jane.matthews@ft.com