Majority of landlords committed to improving housing standards

Landlords have had to endure a somewhat negative perception over the years but, by and large, this is a community who are keen to demonstrate their ongoing support for tenants. A positive feature which was especially apparent over the course of the pandemic and increasingly so during a period when a host of additional financial burdens continue to impact household finances across the UK.

In many cases, these challenging times have actually helped to bring many tenants and landlords closer together, especially when it comes to cementing how much they need each other and the value that both parties can offer. And this commitment to providing good quality housing from a landlord perspective was evident in research from Paragon Bank which found that six in ten landlords back the government's proposed introduction of a minimum set of property standards for the private rented sector as part of its Renters Reform Bill.

Of the 500 landlords who took part in the survey, 34% of landlords strongly supported the government's proposed introduction of a minimum set of property standards for the private rented sector as part of its Renters Reform Bill, with 28% expressing general support. A further 8% weren’t aware of plans to introduce minimum standards to the sector.

Additionally, landlords expressed frustration at a lack of action to drive out rogue elements of the sector. 74% said they felt frustrated that Local Authorities don’t act against landlords who let sub-standard homes.

The private rented sector has experienced a significant improvement in the standard of homes over the past 15 years, correlating with the growth of buy-to-let finance. The results of this research also signify an encouraging ongoing commitment from the majority of landlords to continue improving standards. And this is an ongoing commitment which should be heralded.