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Private landlords forced to rely on savings to cover lost rental income

The majority of private landlords helping tenants out during the pandemic by cutting their rent absorbed the losses from their savings according to new research. 

The research conducted by BVA/BDRC for the National Residential Landlords Association shows that 61% of those landlords who, in the second quarter of the year, had offered at least one tenant a rent free or deferred rent period absorbed the losses from their savings. 

With recent YouGov figures suggesting that 61% of landlords rent out just one property, and 34% are retired with rental income representing all or part of their pension, the NRLA is warning that reliance on landlord savings is not sustainable in supporting tenants facing rent problems. 

Government data shows that in April-May this year, 7% of tenants in England, almost 800,000, were behind with their rent. This was more than double the number who said they were in arrears in 2019/20, before lockdown measures started. 

Responding to the findings, Ben Beadle, chief executive at the National Residential Landlords Association said: “These figures show the extent to which landlords have worked to sustain tenancies as a result of the pandemic, many at the expense of their retirement savings. But this cannot continue indefinitely. 

“After months of calling on the Government to help tenants who through no fault of theirs got behind with their rent, we have welcomed the funding now made available to help those affected to pay off COVID rent debts.”

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