Zoopla boss Richard Donnell (main image) has urged private landlords and investors to steer clear of misinformation about the PRS and focus on the positives.

A 25-year industry veteran, the firm’s director of research tells the NRLA that long-term landlords, in it for the long haul, don’t have much to fear from upcoming industry reforms.

“There’s lot of noise, misinformation in terms of the way the private rented sector is discussed in the media, which isn’t exactly helpful” he says. “Despite the growing population and number of people looking to rent properties, the number of social rented homes in this country has been the same for 30 years. This has increased pressure on the PRS, which does all the heavy lifting.”

Accidental landlords

Donnell, one of the speakers at the NRLA Landlord Conference in November, believes it’s easy to forget that the PRS is comprised of many people who never envisaged becoming a landlord and are 'accidental landlords' - 35% bought their first rental property as somewhere to live.

“They never got into the sector as a business, however the reality is that being a landlord today is a business.”

His advice to those in it for the long term is to ignore house price growth and focus on cashflow. “Even with higher mortgage rates and all the additional rules and regulations that are coming down the line, the PRS is still a great place to be,” Donnell adds.

The conference at Birmingham’s NEC also features a keynote speech from former Dragon’s Den star James Caan.