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14/7/25 8:13 pm
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Families will be uprooted, social housing will face greater pressure, and the private rental sector will shrink if the government continues with its “politically motivated tax raids”, a Conservative activist has warned.
Kimberley Harmer, who owns three rental properties, believes Rachel Reeves’ proposed 8% National Insurance on rental income alone would add hundreds of pounds per property per year, on top of mortgages, licensing fees, possible EPC changes, and already significant compliance costs. Writing in Conservative Home, she says Labour’s Renters’ Rights Bill, while well-intentioned, risks tipping the balance too far.
“Policies that treat all landlords the same…may unintentionally push conscientious landlords out of the market, reducing the very housing supply the legislation aims to safeguard,” adds Harmer. “Many of the families who rent cannot afford a mortgage, are restricted by debt, or rely on benefits. If forced to sell, the three families we currently house would face a stark choice: move into an already overstretched social housing system or risk homelessness.”
She says small landlords fill a vital gap in Britain’s housing market, as well as supporting the broader economy by stabilising communities, reducing reliance on state-funded housing, and keeping families in secure environments where they can work and contribute.
Conservatives should be clear: private landlords are vital to Britain’s housing system, adds Harmer. Policies should encourage investment in rental stock, stabilise the tax framework, and simplify compliance. “Sensible regulation that protects tenants and landlords alike, without punishing small, responsible investors, will do far more to increase housing supply than politically motivated tax raids,” she says.
“Small landlords like us are helping Britain’s families today while securing a future for our children. We must not tax them out of existence tomorrow.”
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