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Sticking up for landlords

1st December 2008 | back to article listings BACK    print this article PRINT

Landlords have been on the wrong end of a lot of news in recent times, principally the claim that buy-to-let is a dead duck, a relic of a boom period in the property market that is just a fading memory. Others, however, would beg to differ.

Those who will state that the private lettings sector is alive and kicking include the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (Arla). This would be for one very good reason: more people want to rent. Arla's most recent quarterly survey, covering the three months to the end of August 2008, showed a 20 per cent rise in the number of people renting.

Another important factor is a wider recognition of the role that the private lettings sector can play in the provision of accommodation, not least because the rise in renting comes at the same time as house purchases are falling. If the credit crunch is here to stay for some time - with the additional burden recession deterring many from buying - then the importance of the industry cannot be underestimated.

The National Landlords Association (NLA) has reported that this recognition seems to be arriving. Addressing the NLA conference at the weekend, housing minister Iain Wright said that the private rental market is a "great tool to help house the people of this country" and added that he hoped to see it "not just survive over the coming months and years but thrive". He told delegates the government does not want to introduce any legislation that may curb the expansion of the industry. Rather he said, regulation must be there to protect the overwhelming majority of good landlords from the few that operate unethically.

Such words were music to the ears of NLA chairman David Salusbury, who responded: "The success of the NLA's first conference has demonstrated that constructive dialogue is the only way forward for the private-rented sector. The 'trench warfare', which has so often marked discussions between decision-makers and landlords, is now behind us."

"The minister has re-affirmed what the NLA has known for years: the people who suffer the most from burdensome regulation are reputable landlords. The rogue operators will usually avoid being noticed; what we must now do is ensure they are not allowed to drop further under the radar."

So for those keen to invest in buy-to-let property, the best news of all appears to be this: far from seeing landlords in a negative light, the government now has a positive view towards the sector and appears keen to work with it. Far from being on its knees, the industry looks to be in line to get the helping hand of increased acceptance from those in power.

This is a press release by Assetz also available at http://press.assetz.co.uk/articles/4515.html. Alternatively, please see our full press release archive.

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