I AM a Private Landlord, I have been one for over 15 yrs.

I saw the news clip on South Today regarding problems with anti social behaviour with an increasing number of short term holiday let’s in Brighton.

This problem has been caused by the additional tax assault by government

policy towards private landlords.

Previous chancellor George Osbourne’s ill thought out introduction of section 24 being the main cause,an additional tax on turnover, not profit.

Holiday lets are exempt from this tax, along with property held in a limited company.

Hardly a surprise why private landlords are either selling up and leaving the sector in droves or turning their properties into holiday lets. These properties should be rented to families.

But the policy has only increased tenant demand, higher rents and homelessness.

Most landlords are decent and have great relations with their tenants, the reality is that for every bad one, there are five bad tenants.

Yet they continue to be hounded in the press fuelled by the likes of anti landlord left wing Guardian and Shelter, who have never housed anyone.

Ignoring it is the historic failure by all governments, red or blue going back years to build enough houses, that’s the real problem, at least private landlords help plug that gap and provide a service to house people.

Yet they are all hated and used as an excuse. Also, I would point out that the vast majority of leases are ended by the tenant, not the Landlord.

Yet all we hear and see in the news is about no fault evictions.

It’s utter nonsense and this will only get worse.

Wake up.

Kevin Dray

Hove