Is It Time to Change the Narrative?
At Property118, we have always aimed to present a truthful and unflinching view of the challenges faced by landlords. For over a decade, we have addressed some of the most difficult topics in our sector. From Section 24 and the erosion of finance cost relief, to regulatory upheaval and legal complexity, we have never shied away from difficult conversations.
However, recent feedback has prompted some deeper reflection. A long-standing reader recently said to me, “The news on Property118 is getting a bit depressing.” That comment stayed with me. On reviewing our recent output, I could see how someone might reach that conclusion.
There is no doubt that landlords have faced a challenging environment. Yet the overall picture is not entirely bleak. Thousands of new landlord companies are being formed each year. Rents are strong in many areas. The private rented sector continues to grow and evolve. Many landlords are adapting successfully and finding opportunity where others have stepped back.
These stories matter just as much as the problems we highlight. In fact, they may matter more if we want to help landlords remain confident, resilient, and forward-looking.
This article serves two purposes. First, we would like to ask for your help in shaping our future editorial direction. Should Property118 place more emphasis on balance? Would you like to see more articles focused on what is working, and why some landlords are thriving despite the wider media narrative?
If so, we would be very grateful if you would scroll down and leave a comment below this article. Our editorial team will be reading every reply, and your collective views will influence their thinking far more effectively than anything I could say on my own.
Second, we would like to hear about what you are doing. If you have found ways to grow, adapt, or simply hold steady in the current climate, please consider sharing your experience with the wider community. Whether it relates to tenant selection, regional strategy, portfolio structure, mindset, or management systems, we would love to hear about it in your own words.
You can submit a short article or question using the link below:
👉 Share your story or question here
You are also warmly encouraged to join the discussion below this article. Whether you agree with this proposed shift in tone or not, your perspective is welcome. We are particularly keen to hear from those who feel that balance is important, as well as from those who prefer us to remain strictly focused on highlighting challenges.
The strength of Property118 has always come from its readership. If we are to evolve, that evolution should be shaped by you.
We look forward to reading your thoughts and experiences.
Kind regards,
Mark Alexander
Founder, Property118.com
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Member Since September 2019 - Comments: 251
12:50 PM, 18th July 2025, About 9 months ago
I have been wanting the narrative to change for a long time. Unfortunately so many sites will focus on the negative because that generates views and clicks and ad revenue. Positive stories don’t make money. Anger is too powerful an emotion.
However you need to have the positive there.
To give an example, I used to be in the police force. Worked for about 10 years and I never noticed it as it was happening but because of what I was doing it was shaping my thoughts about the whole of society.
Because my job meant dealing with criminals all day and this is all I ever saw, my mind started thinking that everyone is a criminal. That Crime is rampant and getting worse. By the way, it really isn’t. It’s gotten considerably better but its hard for people to believe that as opposed to thinking crime is getting worse.
But because all I saw was criminals, it meant in my head that they were everywhere. it damaged me. All I saw was negatives, never the positives.
It’s the same with landlords and tenants. A vast majority of the time they are fine. There’s no issues. They bumble along and nothing is heard of them. We only hear about the things that have gone wrong. We hear about the bad things that a tenant or landlord has done. This then feeds into our biases to confirm what we were already thinking. Because we keep seeing reports about how terrible tenants/landlords are, we start thinking that all tenants/landlords are terrible.
Even the comments on here, you will see the same people talking about how they have always had issues with this tenant or that and you would think that it the norm, but people that don’t have problems will likely have no reason to visit this site, so their comments are never seen.
I try my hardest to paint the good that both sides do, but I still get pushback about it simply because I am a tenant and as above, that must mean I must be terrible, right?
Positive stories are a tough one in this industry because it means that you have to go beyond what you are expected to do. Saying something along the lines of “I provide a great comfortable property for my tenants” is something, but that’s whats expected of you.
I will help however I can to get the positive thoughts out there about landlords. The first step is going to be putting more positive stories on this site.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
3:25 PM, 18th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by The Forever Tenant at 18/07/2025 – 12:50
The problem is that one bad tenant who may do £50,000 damage takes up more time than the 100 who behave.
I asked for a list of all the positives from the RRB, what do you see as a positive development as a result of the new legislation?
Member Since January 2024 - Comments: 341
4:21 PM, 18th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 18/07/2025 – 15:25
I dare say that tenants could say the same about one bad landlord.
However, everything is already stacked in the tenant’s favour, and there are a lot more tenants than there are landlords. So how about better controls over tenants?
Oh no, wait – there are more tenants voting than there are landlords voting, surely that has nothing to do with it!!
Member Since November 2024 - Comments: 81
9:53 AM, 19th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 18/07/2025 – 15:25
I think that the lack of responses to your question on RRB speaks volumes. I have really tried and so far can only come up with the following: section 21 abolition – only benefits local govt as it massively reduces their obligation to house people; increase in red tape – only benefits local govt as they can squeeze more money from landlords (through license fees, questionable licensing areas and fines) for not doing much more than they do already but keeps many pen pushers in jobs to harass people who actually house people – sorry that’s all I can come up with so far…
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2188 - Articles: 2
10:06 AM, 19th July 2025, About 9 months ago
Reply to the comment left by A Reader at 19/07/2025 – 09:53
Thank you A Reader, I can certainly see the advantages you have identified to local and Central government, something I had not considered. Now with all the hundreds of landlords out there, can someone please enumerate the advantages to tenants and landlords? A null response will speak volumes.
Member Since December 2022 - Comments: 6
1:58 PM, 21st July 2025, About 9 months ago
Hello.
I have to confess I do only log in maybe once a week now. all the news bashing landlords does get rather depressing.
Stories of £30k fines and the new ability of councils to just walk into a property actually looking to find something wrong, so they can generate revenue is really rather alarming.
I think any lobby from an owner perspective has failed to convince any politician that they are shrinking the market they say they want to protect.