“Hiking property income tax won’t just hit landlords – it will hit renters in the pocket too"

Jonathan Stinton, head of mortgage relations at Coventry Building Society: “Hiking property income tax won’t just hit landlords – it will hit renters in the pocket too. When the cost of being a landlord rises, those pressures almost always find their way into monthly rents — meaning those who don’t own a home pay the price. A similar rise to tax on dividends means the cost will also go up for landlords who hold their property in a limited company.

“The more landlords are taxed the less appealing it is to let a property — which could lead to fewer landlords and reduced choice for landlords. The simple but powerful forces of supply and demand would then push rents higher, making it much more difficult to rent a home. First time buyers who are trying to save a deposit while renting could especially struggle and worry that their homeownership dreams are pushed even further out of sight.”