Mick Roberts, one of Nottingham’s prominent landlords specializing in housing benefit tenants, has voiced strong criticism against the media for what he perceives as a biased and negative portrayal of landlords. In an interview with Property118, Mr. Roberts expressed concern over the lack of balanced coverage, which he believes unfairly demonizes property owners.
Roberts specifically took issue with investigative programmes, such as those by journalist Daniel Hewitt, which often highlight the struggles of tenants without considering the challenges faced by landlords. “How is a landlord supposed to reclaim their property when they want or need to? Are you suggesting that a tenant can never be asked to leave?” Roberts questioned, emphasizing that such one-sided narratives could deter potential landlords from entering the rental market.
A case in point, according to Roberts, involved a tenant featured in a programme who struggled to find affordable housing after receiving a Section 21 notice. Roberts highlighted that the tenant had been paying £500 less per month than the market rate, a detail he feels was overlooked. “Why didn’t you go to the landlord to thank him and ask why he was offering such a significant discount?” Roberts argued, pointing out that the media often misses opportunities to acknowledge landlords’ contributions.
Roberts also addressed the broader issues facing the rental market, calling for the government to provide more support to landlords. He specifically targeted the controversial Section 24 tax rule, introduced by George Osborne in 2015, which limits mortgage interest relief for landlords. Roberts described this policy as a “cruel tax trap” that has led to many landlords selling their properties, thereby exacerbating the housing crisis.
“We need more help from the government to support tenants,” Roberts told Property118. “If more light is shed on this, the government might be seen as responsible for this mess and could fix it by scrapping this crazy tax rule.”
Roberts’ comments highlight the ongoing debate over landlord-tenant relations and the impact of government policies on the rental market. His plea for a more nuanced media approach and policy reform reflects the frustrations of many landlords who feel their side of the story is often neglected.