The vast majority of private landlords feel the portrayal of the buy-to-let market by the mainstream media is unfair and inaccurate, a new survey shows.
While demand for rental properties remains incredibly high, 81% of BTL landlords say they feel “demonised” as the important role they play in the UK’s wider housing mix is “not recognised” by the mainstream media.
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.
One landlord said: “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 said: “It would be good if the media was more balanced and also portrayed the issues for landlords with problem tenants.”
Paul Brett, managing director, intermediaries at Landbay, which carried out he study, commented: “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.
“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.”
