Has the pressure on private landlords gone too far?
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The private rental sector provides vital shelter to over 5 million households, both those unable to access the housing market and those who choose to rent for lifestyle reasons. \\xa0
But the traditional landlords \\u2013 buy to let investors and small portfolio owners \\u2013 have come under increasing pressure from tax and legislative change.\\xa0 Savills analysis suggests that some 40,000 have exited the sector over the past year.
Further legislative change is being considered, including the ending of section 21 (which allows landlords to serve a minimum of two months\\u2019 notice on a tenant without giving a reason).\\xa0 Without question, legislation provides a vital layer of protection for tenants, but it needs to be sufficiently nuanced to achieve the objective of giving tenants more security without at the same time further reducing the number of homes available to rent.
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