The Great British Landlord Witch Hunt: How PRS is Being Systematically Destroyed?

The following email was sent to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook a few weeks ago yet NO response.

Dear Mr Pennycook,

Once upon a time, landlords in the Private Rented Sector (PRS) were seen as vital contributors to housing Britain’s population. They provided homes where the government failed to, took financial risks, maintained properties, and dealt with all manner of tenant issues, from broken boilers to burst pipes at ungodly hours.

Fast forward to today, and landlords have been demonised, victimised, and served up as scapegoats for the housing crisis, thanks to relentless policy changes, excessive taxation, and a general sense that politicians would rather hand the entire rental sector over to institutions than allow individual landlords to operate.

So, what happened? Let’s take a deep dive into how landlords have been shafted, why tenants will be the ultimate losers, and why this government’s anti-landlord rhetoric is a disaster in the making.

Taxation: A Financial Mugging in Broad Daylight

Once upon a time, landlords could offset mortgage interest against rental income like any other business in the UK. Then came the infamous Section 24 tax change, which systematically wiped out a huge chunk of profitability for landlords, especially those with mortgages. The idea? Treat landlords as cash cows to fill the government’s budget holes while pretending to help tenants. The reality? Rents have skyrocketed, as landlords pass on costs, or sell up, reducing the already limited rental supply.

Meanwhile, big institutional landlords, with deep pockets and the ability to borrow at lower rates, are waiting in the wings, ready to swoop in. The government’s goal seems clear: push out private landlords, let corporate giants take over, and rebrand the rental market as a ‘robust, professional sector.’ What they forget is that small landlords actually care about their properties and tenants—unlike faceless institutions where profit is the only language spoken.

Legislation: Making Landlords the Villains

Regulations are necessary to protect tenants, but when rules are so one-sided that landlords are constantly at risk of losing thousands due to tenant non-payment or property damage, something has gone horribly wrong. Evictions have become a bureaucratic nightmare, with landlords often spending over a year trying to reclaim their properties from non-paying tenants. And now, with the proposed Renters (Reform) Bill aiming to abolish Section 21 (no-fault evictions), landlords are being asked to rent properties on the basis of hope — hope that tenants will pay, respect the property, and eventually leave when required.

Would any other business tolerate a customer walking in, refusing to pay, and being legally protected from being asked to leave? No. But landlords, apparently, must operate in this absurd reality.

Who Will Suffer? Spoiler: The Tenants

The irony is painful. The very policies that claim to ‘protect tenants’ are setting them up for failure. When landlords exit the market due to excessive taxation and overregulation, what happens? Rental supply diminishes, demand increases, and—surprise, surprise—rents skyrocket. If the government’s goal was genuinely to make renting more affordable, they’ve done the exact opposite.

Let’s not forget the unintended consequences of pushing PRS landlords out. When properties are sold, tenants face eviction not because of ‘evil landlords,’ but because the government has made it impossible for landlords to continue. And when the big institutions take over? Tenants will discover what ‘professionalisation’ really means: higher rents, inflexible contracts, and zero room for human compassion.

What’s Next?

Unless there’s a dramatic shift in how policymakers view the PRS, the exodus of landlords will continue. The government must understand that individual landlords play a crucial role in providing flexible housing, supporting local economies (builders, plumbers, solicitors, estate agents, decorators), and keeping communities stable. The push towards corporatisation of the rental market is a disaster waiting to happen.

It’s time for landlords to push back. Property118 and similar platforms offer a strong voice to highlight the damage being done. But make no mistake — if landlords continue to be used as political punching bags, the only ones left standing will be corporate giants charging triple the rent. And when tenants realise they were better off under the very landlords they were told to hate, it’ll be too late.

So, to the policymakers orchestrating this fiasco — congratulations! You’ve made renting a nightmare, not just for landlords, but for the very people you claim to protect.

A Direct Appeal to Government

We urge the government to reconsider its approach to the PRS before irreversible damage is done. The current trajectory is driving landlords out of the sector, exacerbating the housing crisis, and ultimately hurting tenants the most. Policies should encourage investment in the PRS, not deter it. Landlords are not the enemy—bad policies are. If the government truly cares about making renting fairer and more sustainable, it must work with landlords, not against them.

The time for change is now. Repeal Section 24, balance eviction laws, and stop overregulating the very people providing homes for millions. Failure to act will only lead to a deeper crisis—one that this government will have to answer for.

I trust the travesty of justice shall be over-tuned.

Jaz

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