Why are small landlords bearing the brunt?

To the Prime Minister and Housing Ministers,

The state of UK housing policy raises serious questions about where government priorities truly lie.

1. Senior Accountability

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy—which cost 72 lives due to severe oversight failures—former RBKC housing director Laura Johnson secured a £157,000-a-year permanent role with council-owned housing company The Barnet Group. While public backlash led to her leaving, why are senior officials who oversee systemic safety failures allowed to move into lucrative roles, while small landlords face strict, immediate penalties for minor compliance errors? Why are corporate decision-makers not facing £40,000+ fines per victim/affected resident?

2. Dangerous Cladding

Thousands of residents still live in high-rises wrapped in combustible cladding—essentially sitting on a powder keg. Where is the aggressive crackdown on the large corporate owners who profited from these dangerous builds?

3. The Squeeze on Small Landlords

While corporate bodies evade strict financial fallout, private landlords face punishing pressures:
Crushing Taxation: Between Capital Gains Tax, mortgage interest restrictions, and a 40% Inheritance Tax, landlords selling properties are often left with under 45% of their asset value.
Shrinking Rental Supply: Most small landlords work hard to earn modest returns. Forcing them out forces fire sales at steep discounts and slashes available housing stock—worsening the homelessness crisis.

4. Misaligned Spending Priorities

While small property providers face severe financial strains and domestic housing remains underfunded, the government continues committing billions annually to overseas military aid (£3bn+ to Ukraine). Meanwhile, politicians accept thousands in gifts, suits, and glasses while ordinary landlords struggle to stay afloat.

The government must re-align its priorities: enforce strict accountability on corporate housing providers, accelerate cladding remediation, and stop driving small landlords—who provide essential housing—out of the market.

What are fellow Property118 readers’ thoughts on this?

Concerned Small Landlord