Landlords and property seen as purely investment tools to blame?

An article today by DailyMail online reports on the increasing generation of rent figures and how the Conservatives are looking to tackle this growing concern with an interest in increasing their own popularity with younger adults across the country.

Certainly today, property is far more of an investment product over being actually a home, prices driven up purely on what they can earn people / businesses with every single possible penny squeezed from them and an increasing amount of genuine first time buyers being forced out of the market and many times struggling to afford their rent.

Under the plans, landlords would be encouraged to sell homes to tenants by being capital gains tax break.

So they would not have to pay the 28 per cent tax on their profits if the buyers had lived in the property for three years or more.

This new scheme is initially looking at tempting landlords to sell their property portfolios with a bait of zero capital gains? Sounds a bit dodgy to me and how is that fair? What the easy solution would be of course, though many Tory MP’s have property portfolios and would not want it, is a straight and easy to understand level of tax on 2nd homes. If a landlord has has a portfolio then they are scaled up taxes so eventually after say five property it is simply uneconomical to own anymore. This would flood the property market, cause a correction in house prices, enable more genuine buyers to purchase and own a home and everyone is happy – Of course except those who see property as a business or those in rental property that should not be, ie illegal immigration.

Theresa May has pledged to get the country building again as she makes tackling the housing crisis a key plank of her premiership.Plank being the operative word here I think…

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Renters’ Rights Act will be enforced from May 1st 2026

Lettings experts outline key changes landlords must prepare for Following the announcement that the Renters’ Rights Act will begin being implemented from May 1st, lettings and compliance experts at Beresfords Group are advising landlords to start preparing now for the most significant reform to the private rented sector in decades. The government has confirmed that…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The Compliance Curve: Meeting Landlord Safety Standards Through Smart Heating Upgrades

In today’s rental market, compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about protecting investments, safeguarding tenants, and staying ahead of fast-evolving regulations. For landlords across the UK, particularly those managing older housing stock, staying compliant has become a strategic exercise in property value preservation. Among the many areas demanding attention, heating systems stand out…
Read More
Breaking News

Government confirms ban on no fault evictions to begin in May

The Government has confirmed that no fault evictions will officially end by May next year, marking one of the most significant reforms to the private rented sector in a generation. Under the updated Renters’ Rights Act timetable, Section 21 will be abolished from May 2026, with ministers pledging greater security for England’s 11 million private…
Read More
Breaking News

Landlords must ‘act quickly’ after Renters Rights Act launch date is announced

A leading estate and lettings agent says that landlords must “act quickly” after the Government announced that the controversial Renters Rights Act will be implemented from May 1st next year. The changes, which include the end of Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, represent the biggest upheaval in the landlord and tenant sector in a generation. The…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Landlord EICRs Compliance in 2026: EICR Rules, Costs & Risks — Interview with Ethem from Efficient Home Energy

With thousands of landlords approaching their next round of electrical safety renewals, 2026 is shaping up to be a crucial year for safety compliance. In this exclusive interview, Ethem, an electrical safety expert from Efficient Home Energy, breaks down the risks, the regulations and the practical steps landlords and letting agents must take to stay compliant and protect…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage arrears and possessions Q3 2025

UK Finance today releases its latest mortgage arrears and possessions data for Q3 2025, while highlighting continuing lender support for any customers facing financial difficulty. Key Information  The number of homeowner mortgages in arrears fell by four per cent in Q3 2025 compared to the previous quarter. The number of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears…
Read More