12:12 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago 39
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Nick Bano’s recent article in The Guardian, “The End of Landlords,” proposes the radical idea of driving private landlords out of the UK housing market to solve the housing crisis. It’s a bold claim, but one that doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Bano’s arguments are based on outdated views and unrealistic ideas that would harm both renters and landlords, leading to higher rents and fewer options for tenants.
1. Nick Bano’s Misrepresentation: Are Landlords Really Driving Up Costs?
At the heart of Bano’s article is the argument that landlords are to blame for the high cost of housing. But the reality is that it’s the Government’s heavy-handed policies and excessive taxation that have driven up costs. Regulations like Section 24 and the SDLT surcharge don’t hurt corporate landlords; they hurt the smaller landlords who provide the majority of rental homes across the UK. Blaming landlords for the impact of policy decisions is a major flaw in Bano’s argument.
2. Ignoring the Realities of Supply and Demand
Nick Bano argues that there is enough housing to meet demand, claiming that landlords are hoarding properties. However, this oversimplification overlooks the need for suitable, quality housing in the right locations. Private landlords offer diverse housing options in areas where government social housing has long been insufficient. Bano’s “solution” would strip the market of these options, creating a gap that government intervention cannot realistically fill.
3. Bano’s Fantasy of “Municipalisation” Ignores Economic Realities
In calling for a return to municipalisation, Bano fails to recognise the massive financial and logistical barriers such a policy would create today. The Government would require billions in taxpayer funding to buy out properties and an administrative infrastructure to maintain them. Is Bano suggesting that we create a bureaucratic nightmare and force private landlords to surrender their investments? Municipalisation isn’t a solution; it’s a recipe for disaster.
4. Bano’s Villainisation of Private Landlords is Completely Baseless
Bano’s article paints all landlords as exploitative profiteers, yet this couldn’t be further from the truth. Most landlords are ordinary people who have invested responsibly, providing much-needed housing and contributing to the local economy. Bano’s “plan” would drive these responsible landlords out of the market, leaving corporate entities to dominate. Tenants are far more likely to benefit from renting with independent landlords who have a personal stake in maintaining their properties.
5. Excessive Regulation, Not Landlords, Is the True Culprit
Rather than focusing on the punitive measures landlords already face, Nick Bano proposes adding more controls to “end landlordism.” But it’s precisely these heavy regulations that have led to a market overwhelmed by high costs. Adding more restrictions won’t reduce rents or improve housing; it will further discourage independent landlords from participating in the PRS, leaving only corporate giants to dictate rents and housing terms.
6. Why Nick Bano’s Solution is a Fantasy That Will Hurt Tenants
Bano’s “vision” of a landlord-free Britain might sound good to some, but it’s an unworkable fantasy that would have disastrous consequences for tenants. By eliminating private landlords, the PRS would face a housing drought, skyrocketing prices, and limited availability. Bano’s proposal isn’t just impractical; it’s harmful. The solution to housing affordability lies in supporting responsible landlords, not demonising them.
Nick Bano’s Anti-Landlord Agenda Ignores Reality
Nick Bano’s call to abolish private landlords is based on flawed assumptions and an unrealistic nostalgia for policies that would devastate the UK’s rental market. Private landlords play a critical role in housing millions across the country, and the idea of eliminating them would cause chaos for tenants. Instead of tearing down landlords, we should be reforming policies to support them, ensuring housing options remain affordable and accessible for everyone.
At Property118, we advocate for fair and balanced policies that recognise the essential role of private landlords. It’s time to end the anti-landlord rhetoric and focus on meaningful reforms that protect both renters and landlords alike.
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Beaver
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Sign Up15:06 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Downsize Government at 07/11/2024 - 13:55
They won't get that far. According to this link:
https://ifamagazine.com/the-number-of-homeowners-who-own-their-home-outright-has-increased-over-the-last-10-years-according-to-new-data/#:~:text=with%20a%20mortgage.-,The%20number%20of%20owner%2Doccupied%20households%20in%20the%20UK%20has,Today%20that%20figure%20is%2064%25.
64% of the property in this country is owner-occupied. This is down from 68% in 1992, but still up from 59% in 1982. Most people in this country either own their own property (albeit with a mortgage) or aspire to. Socialist governments are the death of aspiration but in the end if they take aspiration away from the electorate en masse they also destroy themselves.
In the meantime if they destroy the rental market the people on whom they inflict the most pain are the people who rent, but some of whom also aspire one day to own their own home. For those who don't have this aspiration they still want choice over where they live and that choice can only be delivered by a diverse marketplace with competition.
It is the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that needs to take a look at this and tell the government some home truths about homes.
Yvonne Francis
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Sign Up16:12 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
I find it ironic that Nick's solution i.e. more restrictions to get rid of Landlords is also one of the causes of the crisis. Did he not know many Landlords are already leaving? Don't worry they'll miss use when we've gone. It will be back to the late Sixties when I searched for two weeks for somewhere to live in the greater London area. It all smacks of Totalitarianism to me.
Peter Merrick
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Sign Up16:13 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
I can only presume that Nick "Ban Private Landlords" O only deals with problematic cases in his role as a barrister, which is by no means representative of the typical tenancy. Thus it is likely that he is projecting from this small sample to advocate for a policy designed to help the few without regard to the needs of the many.
Getting rid of private landlords would of course get rid of many benefits that are not found elsewhere, especially when it comes to personal service and flexibility. Imagine a council house tenant trying to move house for a new job and having to wait 5 years for a suitable place in a new part of the country!
Kurt Peterson
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Sign Up16:27 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Ivor Tennant at 07/11/2024 - 14:48
Same here please
GlanACC
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Sign Up16:29 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
To be honest, as long as I got bought out at the going rate, I would be happy to get shut of my remaining 6 properties
JamesB
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Sign Up17:27 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Happy Landlord at 07/11/2024 - 13:10
"I was amazed at the clap trap which came out of Sussex University when my daughter was there"
Funny you should say that. My son is in his final year there. Yesterday he told me that he was given a leaflet about protesting about tuition fees. He took one look and said "yuck". The chap asked why. My son pointed out that the leaflet was from a Socialist movement. He then got into a discussion with the guy. The bloke started ranting about the "Super rich". My son asked who he thought the super rich were. "You know the types, multimillionaire landlords with loads of property". Coming from a landlording family my son just laughed.
I said to my son you get these strange socialist types at uni, I'm sure he'll grow up. Apparently though the chap was more like my age. Who are these people corrupting our youngsters?
PAUL BARTLETT
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Sign Up19:02 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118 at 07/11/2024 - 15:02
Mark,
Further the book that he is promoting is presented on that site
https://gardencourtchambers.co.uk/nick-banos-new-book-against-landlords-how-to-solve-the-housing-crisis-out-today/
"More people live in private rented accommodation than ever before, and rents rise without apparent reason."
Bano doesn't understand why rents increase over time and government interference, central and local.
"Homes are smaller every year"
Physically impossible given building regulations.
"Homelessness is at a new high"
Bano still doesn't understand..
"one out of every twenty-one adults is a landlord, and it is this group... that are represented by the political class."
Bano has no clue about Section 24 - Finance Act, Rental Reform Bill, Letting Fees Act, Housing Acts, yet is positioned as a Housing specialist.
"Bano explains how this environment set the conditions for the Grenfell Tower fire"
PRS has almost nothing to do with Social Housing, and their corrupt inability to consider tenant health and safety when designing and building a property.
"It is a problem that stretches far beyond London and one inherently racist in nature"
No, failure to comply with safe building regulations and best practice is a Social Housing competence and governance problem.
One more Activist along the lines of Sh##er and GR, who house nobody and have no insights into the reality of PRS.
No acknowledgement of the edge case scenarios that are resolved by law (his work), compared to the vast majority that just work without going to law.
graham mcauley
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Sign Up21:16 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
Don't worry, he cant even iron a shirt
TheMaluka
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Sign Up21:48 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
Reply to the comment left by graham mcauley at 07/11/2024 - 21:16
Or knot his tie.
Cathie
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Sign Up22:56 PM, 7th November 2024, About a month ago
Bano should just tell all the tenants to boycott the PRS!