The UK’s private rented sector is over-regulated, over-taxed and reeling from a deluge of costs and legislation … “but it’s also a time for real optimism” according to the Residential Landlords Association.

“It’s not all doom and gloom for landlords because there are genuine opportunities in the property market,” says Mark Butterworth a property developer and director of the RLA whose members own over 100,000 private rented properties throughout the UK.

“It’s easy to see stormclouds everywhere - and not look beyond the ‘credit crunch’, property market problems, the industry’s licensing controversy, housing health and safety issues, deposit legislation and Energy Performance Certificates – but there is a bright silver lining.

“The rental market has not collapsed as the sales market has – so if people are not buying they will need to rent. And a lot of property that was built for sale is now going to rental so it’s time for professional landlords to step up to the mark and take advantage of weaker prices.

“When there’s a gap between interest rates and return on investment this helps underpin the value of investment property. In the last dire spell of 1991-4 rentals continued and values stayed largely static before showing useful gains in 1995.

“The main thing this industry needs is a well-run professional sector that is allowed to move forward instead of being over-taxed and over-regulated by people who are decades out of touch and are largely unaware how dramatically expectations and standards have risen over the last decade.”

With over 80 pieces of legislation affecting private sector landlords they are now, says Mark: “forced to spend a disproportionate amount of time on paperwork and form-filling … instead of just being allowed to get on with the job.”