Landlords air
their grievances

Survey reports dislike over adverse burdensome legislation

Landlords have been airing their grievances over burdensome legislation and according to BDRC’s latest quarterly survey, Stamp Duty Land Tax and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) are front runners. The research agency found almost one in four landlords adverse to SDLT, and one in five to EPCs.

BDRC director, Mark Long, commenting during December: “It may not be a surprise that Stamp Duty is so unpopular, it’s likely to become even more disliked when the ‘holiday’ for properties under £175k comes to an end in January 2010.”

Looking in more detail at the responses, the study found significant differences in “least popular legislation” depending on a landlord’s portfolio size.

Stamp duty is less of an issue for professional landlords (those with 20 or more properties) and while 7 per cent of all private landlords would like to see the tax removed, the proportion reaches 13 per cent when it comes to landlords with one property.

However, EPCs are equally unpopular with all private landlords; an EPC costs around £100 and can be valid for 10 years, although every time a property is put on the market, a new certificate is required.

Mr Long concludes: “Stamp Duty and EPC’s lack of popularity come from their ubiquity and their thinly veiled revenue-raising by HM Revenue and Customs.”