Fewer than a quarter of the UK’s landlords feel planning reform will positively impact their business.

According to polling undertaken by specialist buy-to-let (BTL)lender Landbay, more than three-quarters of property investors (77 per cent) think planning reforms will not affect their BTL businesses in a positive way.

Only one in eight landlords (13 per cent) think the easing of planning rules could create more opportunities to purchase new-build properties.

And just one in every eleven landlords (9 per cent) think that planning reforms could lead to more jobs and economic growth – that demand for rental accommodation could rise, boosting occupancy rates.

Will not solve housing crisis

Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, said: “If property investors are not convinced planning reform will positively affect their business, we’re in real trouble. 

“Landlords are an important stakeholder in the planning system and the wider housing market, driving the conversion of properties to HMOs, refits and extensions – not to mention a chunk of new-build housing.  So this level of scepticism and cynicism surrounding proposed reforms to our planning system is absolutely damning. 

When asked if they thought planning reform could help solve the housing crisis, nearly half (47 per cent) said that planning reform alone will not solve the housing crisis, citing factors such as the ongoing skills shortage in the construction sector – which hinders building at the  pace required.

Speaking on planning reform and the wider property market, one landlord said housebuilding targets were “impossible to achieve with current level of skills available; I own and operate a development company and construction company.  The shortage of trades is very limiting.”  Another said targets were “unrealistic while insufficient skills are available” and another said, “the government has been setting new homes targets for years – nothing ever changes.”