Without rental sector 'there would be serious problems'

Landlords and the private rental industry have been the "white knight" of the UK's housing market in recent years, one sector commentator has suggested.

A spokesperson for the National Approved Letting Scheme said with the cost of housing still rising, many Britons could be finding it difficult to take their first steps on the property ladder.

This meant it is "very arduous" for young people looking to buy their first home, meaning without the rental sector individuals could find themselves in "desperate straights".

Another reason rented property plays such an important role in housing, according to the commentator, is that the credit crunch has changed the attitudes of many Britons.

"More and more people who could afford to get on to the housing ladder actually prefer to rent. The reason for that is it gives them much more flexibility," he explained.

It could be this thinking that has prompted people to consider flats to rent in Fulham or another part of London, rather than buying in the same area.

The comments come after recent findings from the British Property Federation revealed that private landlords are the only way to fill the housing gap.

Written by Andy Britten

Published 29th January, 2010

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