Confidence levels dropped significantly in the second half of 2015 in response to George Osborne’s changes to landlord taxation, but had until now remained above 35%.
This represents a marked shift in confidence since the Government announced its proposal to abolish section 21 no-fault evictions.
Regionally, confidence is highest in the East Midlands and in Yorkshire and the Humber (both 34%), and lowest in the North East (18%) and Central London (19%).
Richard Lambert, CEO of the NLA, says: “With the amount of change that has occurred over the last four years and now the proposal to abolish no-fault evictions without any certainty that the courts will be able to cope with the increase in cases this will create, it’s no wonder that landlords are pessimistic about their future.
Landlords need to be confident in their own businesses for the private rented sector to function properly. Given that it’s expected to compensate for the lack of social housing, it is vital that this confidence is restored.”
Landlord Rosy Hopkins is one landlord considering leaving the market: “We are currently experiencing difficulties with a hostile tenant, who regularly calls us at silly hours, swears at us, and generally swears at and is abusive towards other tenants. We are again issuing a Section 21 to evict him. Without recourse to Section 21 we would undoubtedly have lost several decent tenants and would be stuck. I appreciate they are in contravention of their leases, but also understand how difficult it could be to prove that.
We are actively considering selling our properties, which is no doubt what the government is trying to achieve. After the new tax burdens, which may well cripple us, and steal our hard-earned retirement income, and all the new/threatened legislation, we have just about had enough.”
