Disgusting Slur on Landlords by Leftwing Media

I can’t imagine what she’s talking about! I nearly dropped my Pina colada into the swimming pool. I need to lie down. Peel me another grape will you?

Reply to the comment left by philip allen at 22/03/2025 – 15:47
I heard some news about two supermarkets that tenants are reputed to be using, called Aldi and Lidl, which I would be curious to try. Are either of these stores near Harrods or Fortnum and Mason?

This is a misconception. Everyone knows landlording is now hands on not hands free.

It is a job either for you
Managing the property or managing the agent managing the property. All takes time.

This charming young lady has a degree from Warwick and Master from York.
She has ” worked ” in media since leaving higher education and has lived in Harrogate, Manchester and now London.
Writing articles from many newspapers and websites on dozens of different subjects I can assume she is an expert on housing, renting and property taxes.
I take my flat cap off to this lady as I see a future Prime Minister in the making.
I look forward to seeing her on Love Island or Big Brother

The problem is,(as many of us have found out), articles like this get read by equally ill informed people influential with, or even working within, HMRC.
The media has its place in informing with correct, educated and unbiased news information, but even the President of the USA would shout out correctly that this is FAKE NEWS.

The Real Absurdity: Demonizing Landlords for Following the Rules

Harriet Williamson’s recent article in Novara Media, branding landlords as ‘workshy parasites’ and accusing them of ‘widespread tax avoidance,’ is a perfect example of ideological outrage trumping economic reality.

First, let’s tackle the so-called tax avoidance claim. Landlords incorporating their rental businesses isn’t a sneaky loophole—it’s a completely legal and standard business practice. Limited company structures exist for a reason: they provide a more efficient tax setup and protect individuals from excessive financial risk. If Ms. Williamson has an issue with the tax system, her frustration should be directed at policymakers, not at landlords who are simply using the legal framework available to them—just like every other business owner in the UK.

Secondly, the idea that being a landlord isn’t a ‘job’ is laughable. Managing rental properties—handling repairs, dealing with tenants, navigating legal requirements, and covering costs—requires time, effort, and financial risk. Landlords provide housing, a fundamental need, yet the article paints them as villains simply for charging rent. If landlords didn’t exist, who exactly does Ms. Williamson think would provide homes for the millions of people who choose to rent?

Finally, the claim that landlords are ‘leeching off tenants’ hard-earned income’ ignores basic economics. Rent isn’t just profit—it covers mortgage payments, maintenance, insurance, legal fees, and taxes. If property investment is such an easy cash grab, why aren’t more people quitting their jobs and buying rental properties en masse? The reality is that it requires capital, risk-taking, and ongoing management.

The real absurdity here isn’t landlords following tax laws; it’s the continued effort to scapegoat them for the UK’s housing crisis. Instead of attacking those who provide rental homes, perhaps Ms. Williamson should focus on policies that would increase housing supply—like relaxing planning laws and investing in social housing. But that wouldn’t fit the Novara Media narrative, would it?

Today, landlords work on their ‘yield’ or ‘profit’, which is basically ‘income less cost’, which may give the impression to the uninformed and plain dim, that being a landlord is ‘passive’.

Incorporated landlords will include ‘wages’ on the balance sheet, but for personal name landlords, there is no ‘wages’ line in the self-assessment return. We can’t submit an invoice for our time.

However, regardless of whether a landlord is incorporated or not, it takes time to do absolutely everything associated with being a landlord. That is time a landlord doesn’t have to earn a living elsewhere.

Renters wouldn’t provide their services for free, so why should landlords? Renters need to be told how much time is spent on being a landlord. That is why a landlord MUST make a profit. They cannot be expected to work for free!

Unfortunately for renters, thousands of landlords are now choosing to earn their living elsewhere.

My big worry is that too many Labour MPs will be influenced by the likes of Novarra and Shelter.
My advice toalllandlords is to ignore this and just raise rents to reflect the increased market tax and regulatory risk.

Reply to the comment left by Jeff Simms at 31/03/2025 – 17:07
Don’t forget your time…