One notable headline this week suggested that landlords regret investing in buy-to-let due to the increased regulations they face.
Any landlords following the story on social media would need to be thick skinned.
The Twitter response included ‘can’t say I’m crying for them’ and ‘Good, greedy devils’, while another user argued that regulations have favoured landlords for the past 25 years.
When so many struggle to buy properties to live in these days, and with the existence of unprofessional landlords, you can understand the feeling – so I’d advise investors not to overreact.
Tenants still appreciate landlords who are responsible and responsive – and that’s likely the way the industry can improve its reputation.
Another user on Twitter summed this up effectively, by asking Prime Minister Boris Johnson to focus on rogue landlords and agents, rather than having a go at all landlords.
This is something I would back.
Encouraging professionalism is surely the way forward for the industry, and to do that you need to make sure punishments are upheld for landlords and agents who break the rules – that means hefty fines and not a slap on the wrist if they refuse to make necessary repairs for example.
It would be best for everyone if the private rental sector could sit alongside the owner occupied sector without the same level of resentment that we see today.
Ryan Bembridge, Editor, PropertyWire
