LONDON'S UNPOPULAR LANDLORDS

The city's private rented sector is a political battleground

News that some London landlords want to evict tenants, so they can re-let to Olympics visitors at many-times-the-usual rent, will surely feature in next May's London mayoral election. Several mayoral candidates are gunning for landlords.

Liberal Democrat candidate, Brian Paddick, says property investors have priced-out first-time-buyers from the sales market, and Labour's, Ken Livingstone, currently leading in the polls, has challenging policies for landlords - he wants rent controls introduced - no Londoner should pay more than one-third of their salary in rent he says. At the moment, it is 50 per cent in two-thirds of London boroughs. Even sitting Conservative mayor, Boris Johnson, wants reform – he supports an accreditation system for landlords that will distinguish the good from the bad.

The politicisation of London's private lettings market has been stoked by the London Assembly, the body that monitors the mayor and champions causes of concern to Londoners. Its report Bleak Houses states one-in-three landlords are "rogues" and that one-third of private rented housing is below standards considered acceptable in the social housing sector.

Conditions suffered by some private tenants are Dickensian – noise, overcrowding, insanitary conditions and landlord harassment. Piled on top of that are high rents - they remain close to the record high achieved in 2011, and yet incomes are being squeezed, jobs lost and taxes raised. Meanwhile, many landlords benefit from tax allowances and low mortgage rates. Such discrepancies fuel tenants' resentment and their desire for revenge or, at least, reform.

Some landlords play down the politics. Yes, a Parliamentary vote may be needed for Livingstone to introduce rent controls and he is unlikely to get that, but that is not the point. Landlords will not be let off the hook in May - one-quarter of Londoners are private tenants – that is a lot of voters, so politicians will want them on their side.

To help save landlords from being pilloried by Londoners, the National Landlords Association ought to take the initiative by calling for all landlords to be licensed (much stronger than accreditation), so only responsible investors are allowed to let-out property. Removing rogues from the scene has two advantages for competent landlords – less competition and an improved public image. A landlords licensing system is being piloted in Newham. The NLA ought to do more to help it succeed.