Demonising landlords won’t solve the housing crisis

Being a landlord in the UK has always required resilience, but over the past year, it’s become increasingly challenging. With the new Labour government pushing forward its Renters’ Rights Bill and a steady stream of negative media coverage, many landlords feel unfairly vilified.

Our most recent landlord survey backs this up. Just 9% of landlords believe media portrayals of the buy-to-let sector are fair. A common sentiment shared by respondents was feeling “demonised”, particularly in the wake of growing legislative pressure and public narratives that paint all landlords as profiteering or unethical.

But this perception ignores the reality that many landlords face. While rents have risen, so too have costs, from mortgage interest rates and maintenance expenses to stricter regulatory requirements. The idea that landlords are simply cashing in is far from the whole story.

As one survey respondent said, “Landlords are all painted as rogue, greedy parasites. The fact of increased interest rates, regulation, etc, is never addressed.”

Yes, poor landlords exist, but tarring all with the same brush undermines the vast majority who provide safe, well-managed homes. Many are small-scale landlords, often investing savings or inheritance into property to support their retirement. They care about their tenants and take their responsibilities seriously.

Landlords understand the need for reform. But the concern is that the Renters’ Rights Bill, in its current form, swings too far in favour of tenant protection without recognising the risks landlords take on. There’s a balance to be struck, one that safeguards tenants without driving good landlords out of the market.

As one respondent put it: “There are poor landlords out there and reforms are needed to address this, but there are also lots of good landlords that will find it harder and will exit the market.”

And that’s the unintended consequence. By continuing to target landlords through both policy and narrative, we risk shrinking the very pool of rental properties we rely on. If landlords sell up or scale back, this won’t ease the housing crisis; it will only reduce supply, push up rents, and make it harder for people to find homes.

Private landlords are a vital part of the UK housing mix, serving students, young professionals, families, and those unable or unwilling to buy. They bridge the gap between social housing and homeownership, and they deserve support, not scorn.

At Landbay, we’re committed to backing responsible landlords and the brokers who support them. That means offering a flexible, competitive product range, including innovative remortgaging solutions and product transfers, so they can keep investing with confidence.

It’s time for a shift in the conversation. Landlords are not the enemy. They’re part of the solution and should be treated as such if we want to make meaningful progress on housing.

For more information about our products or to discuss your next case, contact your local BDM.