London Landlords Leave Rental Market in Their Droves
London letting agent branches each saw an average of six landlords sell their properties and exit the market in December, ARLA Propertymark’s December Private Rented Sector report found1.
This is compared to a national average of four and double the number of landlords selling up in the North East, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England and the South West, where agents reported three sales per branch.
David Cox, Chief Executive, ARLA Propertymark, said:
“Over the last few years, landlords across the country have been pushed out of the market by increasing costs and legislation, and new investors have been deterred from entering. Last month’s PRS results show that the issue has particularly intensified in the capital which may be the result of landlords starting to receive their first tax bill incorporating the increase in taxes from the Mortgage Interest Relief changes which came into force last tax year.
“If this trend continues, coupled with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s, recent pledge to introduce rent controls, it will only serve to make the situation worse for London’s renters as more landlords are forced to sell up. As the supply of rental accommodation falls further, tenants will face more competition for properties, which will push up rents on good-quality, well-managed properties, and leave the vulnerable and low-income people which rent controls are designed to help, in the hands of rogue and criminal operators.”
1 Opinium Research carried out an online survey among 364 ARLA members from 2nd January to 16th January 2019. ARLA Propertymark Protected letting agents were surveyed on a number of key rental sector issues including supply and demand, the management of BTL properties, and monthly rent prices. www.opinium.co.uk
Kindly shared by ARLA Propertymark
