WIREDGOV

In the wake of comments from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer MP implying that landlords do not fit the Government’s definition of ‘working people’, the NRLA has published a statement questioning this suggestion.

In its response the NRLA points to findings from the last English Housing Survey which illustrate the extent to which private landlords are in full or part-time work.

The figures are a reminder that the profile of the average landlord is very far from the historic stereotype of the ‘wealthy property tycoon’.

Responding to the Prime Minister's comments, Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said:

“It is simply not true that landlords are not working people.  

“Official data shows that 30 per cent of landlords are employed full time, with a further 10 per cent working part-time. 28 per cent are self-employed in some way, while 35 per cent are retired and are likely to rely on their rental income for their pension.

“Rather than stoking misconceptions, the Government needs to focus instead on the key challenge in the rental market, namely a lack of homes to rent to meet ever growing demand.”

Notes

• The Government’s most recent English Private Landlords Survey notes: “In 2021, 30% of landlords were employed full-time and 10% part-time. Over a third of landlords (35%) were retired. Less than a fifth (15%) of landlords were self-employed (not as a landlord), with a further 13% self-employed as a landlord. Landlords with five or more properties were much more likely to be self-employed (as a landlord) (39%) compared to landlords with one property only (5%) or landlords with two to four properties (13%). Landlords with five or more properties are also less likely to be full-time employed (17% vs 37% and 26%)". You can find further details on this data by clicking here.
• Further information about the NRLA can be found at www.nrla.org.uk.  It posts on X @NRLAssociation.
• The NRLA’s press office can be contacted by emailing press@nrla.org.uk or by calling 0300 131 6363.