Reform UK exclusive interview: A return to landlord rights and tax relief

Landlords across the UK can look forward to having more rights and tax relief on their costs if Reform UK gains power in the 2024 General Election.

In an exclusive interview with Property118, landlord David McLennan is representing Reform UK in the Livingstone seat in Scotland.

As a former policeman who once delivered a baby on a bus, he has 40 years of landlord experience.

The 64-year-old is now semi-retired, and it was Reform’s plans for the housing sector that initially attracted David to stand as a prospective MP.

‘Landlords will be able to gain possession’

He says: “What we’re planning to do is to take us back to that era where landlords will be able to gain possession of their house. Absolutely.

“Landlords will be able to claim mortgage interest as an expense. Absolutely.”

He adds: “You know, it’s not the landlord’s fault that social housing doesn’t exist anymore.

“The days of landlords being used as de facto social housing by providers that just aren’t providing the social housing for those that need it, it’s over.

“So, we are looking to be on the landlord side. We’re very much a landlords’ party.”

Labour is ‘castigating landlords’

David went on to say that Labour is ‘castigating landlords’ and is working to protect a ‘tenant’s right to stay as opposed to a landlord’s right to repossess’.

He points out that Reform’s manifesto, called ‘Our Contract With You’ is a ‘two-way street, not a manifesto’.

David says: “The contract is what we’re going to do for you and how we’re going to do it.

“The other thing that attracted me was the fact that at the heart of the housing section is mortgage interest relief, section 24, and address the ridiculous situation that is section 21.”

Section 24 was brought in by the then Chancellor George Osbourne that prevents landlords who don’t have a limited company from claiming their BTL mortgage costs against turnover.

Section 21 is known as a ‘no-fault’ eviction and is a quicker route for landlords to gain possession of a property than using Section 8.

Bid to make the Renters (Reform) Bill law

David is also scathing about the Conservative Party’s bid to make the Renters (Reform) Bill law.

He explains: “I think it’s very significant that the fact it was even being considered by a Conservative government that is supposed to be pro-landlord with the background of the Right to Buy and the background of the assured tenancies that they introduced, which gave great flexibility to both landlords and tenants, but gave the fundamental right of possession.

“I can’t stress enough; this is one of the big things that we will be measured on.

“I am having an input into policy in Scotland on the housing matter, and it’s absolutely one of the things that we will ensure we will enshrine it in the legislation, that possession is going to be made available.

“That’s not to say that we don’t have sympathy for the plight of tenants.”

‘Not our fault that rents have escalated’

David adds: “It’s not our fault that rents have escalated to the level they’ve gone to. It’s not our fault that mortgage interest rates are the rate that they are just now.

“And if Labour wins in Scotland, they’re talking about rent freezes, a 3% rent cap, and they’re talking about capital gains tax.

“When you eventually sell your house, you’ll pay more in capital gains tax from the profits. It’s completely anti-competitive and anti-landlord.”

David acknowledges that as a new party, Reform is unlikely to win the election, but winning seats will be welcomed.

He says: “This is the start of the journey of a thousand miles. This is the start of the campaign, really, for 2029, for English electors and 2026 for those of us up in Scotland.”

David also warns that those voting for Labour will be left with higher tax bills to plug a £28 billion financial hole.

He adds: “Don’t kid yourself. Capital gains tax is going to be hit.

“Remember what they say now, and what they do when they’re in power are two separate things.”

Why should landlords vote Reform UK?

David is encouraging all landlords to vote for Reform UK and says: “The Reform party is a completely different political animal to anything that you’ve seen or heard over the past 40 or 50 years, and our candidates are normal people. “They have working lives; they have working experience. They are not professional politicians. They are not professional civil servants.

“They are people that have done it the hard way.

“We’ve seen life how hard it can be, but we’re going to do our best to change the direction of this country, to give you landlords and the people some sense of direction and try and make Britain great again.”

If you know of any candidate who is standing in the election for another party and wants to talk about the future of landlords and the private rented sector, then get in touch with the team at Property118.

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