Landlords frustrated at media portrayal of buy-to-let

Only 9% of landlords think the media portrayal of the market is “fair or accurate” – fewer than the 19% with that view in 2023.

Landlords who invest as individuals rather than via a limited company are more cynical, signifying how those more adversely affected by the tax system are more distrustful of the media.

Rob Stanton (pictured), sales and distribution director at Landbay, which conducted the poll, said: “The media – chiefly social but also the mainstream press – is traducing buy-to-let landlords.

“People seem to have a view that landlords are rolling in cash making huge profits; the situation has got worse over the last year presumably encouraged by the legislative agenda.

“As more landlords – small business owners – leave the market in the face of counter-productive red tape, the landlord-bashers are going to get a wake-up call when they realise the housing crisis has not disappeared and – because the supply of rental properties has shrunk – rents have risen.”

Only 4% of landlords with single properties or portfolios of two or three properties thought the media portrayal was fair and accurate, compared to 10% of those with four or more properties.

Stanton added: “Landlords with only a few properties tend to be those that have invested all their savings and inheritance into their properties in the hope of providing themselves with a retirement income.

“I think they genuinely care about the state of their properties and therefore find their demonisation even more unfair.”