‘More than tinkering at the edges’

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner on buy-to-let tax loopholes:

“Solving the housing crisis and protecting private tenants facing spiralling rents will require a lot more than merely tinkering at the edges. The latest tax changes for buy-to-let landlords will not be effective if there are so many loopholes that allow them to recover their lost cash, including passing on the cost to their tenants.

“If anything, this situation shows the necessity for strong regulation. The UK rental market is the least regulated in all of Europe. We need rent controls, which have been shown to work in many countries, including Germany and Sweden, and we must ensure that private landlords are registered and licenced and that tenants’ rights are protected.”

Unite assisstant general secretary Steve Turner