The debate around landlord tax relief is heating up again, as Paul Shamplina, Founder of Landlord Action, urges the UK government to reinstate higher mortgage interest tax relief to ease pressures on the private rental sector.
Since 2017, landlords have no longer been able to deduct mortgage interest from their tax bills—something Shamplina says distorts the economics of renting and ultimately pushes up rents for tenants. He compares it to taxing a shop owner without deducting stock costs—something no other business would accept.
The situation is becoming more urgent due to rising interest rates, increased regulation, and general economic uncertainty. Many landlords are exiting the market, reducing the supply of rental homes just as tenant demand reaches record levels.
“Landlords have long been unfairly cast as villains, despite being providers of a vital service,” says Shamplina.
He advocates for tax incentives to reward landlords who offer longer tenancies, better property standards, and more secure homes for renters.
However, not everyone agrees.
Oxford professor Danny Dorling counters that if landlords leave, owner-occupiers will make more efficient use of the housing stock. He argues that giving tax breaks to “already well-off” landlords during a cost-of-living crisis is misplaced. Instead, the government should focus on building more social housing.
The clash of perspectives shows just how complicated housing policy has become—and how urgently a balanced solution is needed.
Disclaimer & Source
This blog post is a summary and commentary based on the article “Give landlords back tax relief to ease housing crisis, says Shamplina”, published by LandlordZONE on May 13, 2024. Views expressed by Paul Shamplina and Danny Dorling were originally featured in The Times and LandlordZONE.
Author credit: Nigel Lewis, experienced UK property journalist.
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