Landlord frustration with media and political hostility has doubled
Increasing numbers of landlords say they've had enough of negative portrayals in politics and the media, with new figures citing reputational issues as a key concern.
Concerns over the way the sector is represented is now on a par with concerns over the Renters' Rights Act, and one of the biggest drivers of falling landlord confidence, according to our most recent landlord survey.
This is despite an 18-month period that has seen some of the biggest changes to the sector in a generation.
According to our data, those of you who are planning to leave the sector are more likely to cite this as a concern than those remaining, suggesting reputational concerns could be a factor when it comes to decisions to sell up.
From background noise to a leading concern
We know that the sector has never had an easy ride in the press or Parliament. However, the survey data suggests the tipping point was reached around 18 months ago.
Then ranking at number eight on the list of landlord concerns, negative attitudes towards landlords has now shot up to number four, generating the most consistently negative sentiment we track.
"Speaking to our members at various events this year, it's clear that there is real and growing concern about the words and tone used in relation to landlords," said Meera Chindooroy, the NRLA's deputy policy director.
"The vast majority of private landlords offer quality homes and service to their tenants, who are overwhelmingly satisfied according to official government statistics."
"Good news stories about landlords, unfortunately, rarely make the headlines. But a more even-handed approach by policymakers would help encourage responsible landlords to continue to offer the homes to rent people need, alongside the necessary action against the small minority of criminals and rogues."
In your own words
As well as data points, our surveys now collate narrative comment from landlords, with one landlord describing "persecution by an ill-informed government and activists who think all landlords are bad." Another pointed to what they describe as a "demonisation of landlords in the press."
Others felt ignored when it comes to the important role they play in providing homes, arguing: "Successive governments for the past twenty years have increasingly disliked small landlords… yet many good landlords fulfil a strong social role that goes unrecognised."
At the NRLA, we are committed to changing perceptions when it comes to the role responsible landlords, and the wider sector, play in the social and economic wellbeing of the country.
