The unintended consequences of the Government’s war on landlords

sir – As a landlord for more than 30 years, I find it hard to fathom how Michael Gove thinks the Renters’ Reform Bill (report, May 16) will produce a fairer deal for tenants.

Already the results of the proposed legislation are showing: as landlords have left the market, a boom in rental prices has begun, especially in London. Until 10 years ago, my rents had increased by roughly 70 per cent in 20 years, about in line with inflation. The last flat I relet had 35 viewings in two days, and the offer that won was 45 per cent above what I had been getting. That’s market reality.

Each of the three tenants will now be spending nearly £1,000 a month from their taxed income, just to live – and that’s not even considering council tax, gas and electricity. How will they save enough on top of that to get on the housing ladder?

As usual, whoever dreamt up these measures hadn’t thought through the consequences, and with every new announcement the situation will only get worse. I’m hanging on for the moment, hoping that, at some point, somebody in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will see sense. Rupert Godfrey Heytesbury, Wiltshire sir – Last week Sherelle Jacobs (Comment, May 9) wrote that “the PM’S meticulous ‘Third Way’ strategy seems to have collapsed. Until now, he has sought to be all things to all people.”

There can be no clearer demonstration of this than the Renters’ Reform Bill. Put simply, it throws away the reforms introduced by Margaret Thatcher that were so successful in expanding the private rental sector and replaces them with regulation that favours tenants’ rights over those of landlords.

While it might be attractive to young voters, they are, as we know, unlikely to vote Conservative. On the other hand, it will cost private landlords dearly. We have sold one of our buy-to-lets, and many other landlords are doing the same. This is reducing the supply of rental properties, which is why rents are increasing dramatically. Those young voters will not only be unable to buy a property, but they will also be unable to rent. Still think they will support the Conservatives? Richard Duncan

Guildford, Surrey

sir – My husband and I own a two-bed rental property in Bristol. Our lovely tenants have decided to leave and we have decided to sell the house.

We have recently paid £1,000 for a licence for a house of multiple occupancy. The council is getting all this money with no input. Net-zero demands loom, and now landlords are to be squeezed further by rules that can make it impossible to take possession of their property if they need to. We do not have a mortgage on the house, but the tax rules would have been another reason to sell. We just have to bite the bullet and suffer the pain of capital gains tax. Rona Taylor Bristol