The legal bid to force a judicial review of the Government’s controversial Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR) or Tenant Tax, plans failed at the High Court.  All is not lost but the RLA needs your help.

It is vital that landlords contact their MPs to explain the devastating impact that this unfair tax grab will have on them and their tenants.  They are also being asked to meet their MP to discuss the issues face-to-face.  The RLA have a template letter to use.  If you are not an RLA member please email us and Lucinda will send you the template letter.

Steve Bolton and Chris Cooper have confirmed they will not appeal the High Court’s decision, but the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) is continuing to lobby at the very highest level to persuade the Chancellor to rethink plans to stop buy-to-let finance costs being a legitimate business expense.

The RLA has been campaigning since the proposals were first announced in 2015, with representatives already meeting with Treasury officials to discuss the issue and lobbying work beginning to make an impact in Westminster.

There has also been a surge of support from Tory backbenchers and the association is continuing to campaign – asking that MIR changes be scrapped, or at the very least applied to new borrowing only, a move that will minimise the impact of these changes on established landlords.

RLA representatives have a further meeting with the Treasury scheduled ahead of the Autumn Statement, as well as a round table meeting with Tory MPs and Peers.

An RLA survey of landlords showed these changes will lead to higher rents for tenants, see repair and maintenance standards slip and stem the supply of PRS housing at just the time when demand is soaring. This is bad news for everyone involved and the RLA says now is the time to let the Treasury know that.

Alan Ward, RLA Chairman said: “We need to spread the word to as many people as possible.

“Hundreds of landlords have already backed the campaign writing to and meeting with MPs and we are asking those who have not yet got involved to join them.

“We need a last push ahead of the Autumn Statement. We need to hammer home to the Government just how devastating these changes will be and we need to stand together to oppose this unjust tax and fight for a fair deal for the PRS landlord.”