Responding to warnings from the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) that tenants face continued rent increases over the next five years, as a result of the demand for private rented housing outstripping supply, David Smith, policy director at the Residential Landlords Association, said: “(The) figures demonstrate what we have long predicted, namely that because of recent tax hikes on the sector and threats to remove Section 21 repossessions without putting proper alternatives into place, landlords are not investing in new homes to rent, leading to demand outstripping supply. This only serves to hurt tenants as they face less choice and higher rents.

“Given how clear the evidence is, the Government urgently needs to change course, and end those tax measures which are choking off investment in new homes to rent.”