Why MPs are probably biased when it comes to deciding rent policy

There are 126 private landlords in the House of Commons – with another 10 MPs letting out commercial property, analysis of the Register of Members’ Financial Interests has revealed.

While the number has actually decreased since the election, the figures still show that 19 per cent of MPs are landlords compared to just 3 per cent of the UK population, according to Generation Rent, the housing pressure group which carried out the research.

While many MPs are letting out second homes bought when they could still put mortgage payments on expenses, not all are accidental landlords: 52 MPs have more than one rented property.

And while many MPs detail the type, number and location of their properties, some simply list 'property' making it impossible to know how big their portfolio is.

• Generation Rent

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it has also been revealed that Conservative MPs are those most likely to be a landlord with 89 letting at least one residential property - that's 27 per cent of the parliamentary party. Among Labour MPs, 25 are landlords (11 per cent), as are 8 SNP MPs (14 per cent).

Of the MP’s declaring more than one property, the biggest landlord is Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton) with 12 properties, followed by Michelle Thompson, the SNP MP for Edinburgh West - with 9 properties.

I am certain that the 126 landlords in Parliament have an impeccable record, responding quickly to disrepair, letting their tenants create homes, and not raising the rent unnecessarily. However, this shouldn’t blind them to the exploitation that is happening in the worst parts of the lettings market.

• Betsy Dillner, director of Generation Rent

Generation Rent is now calling on private renters to email their local MP to remind them of the need to make renting more stable.

Some of the most vulnerable members of society rely on private landlords for a roof over their head, and they rely on Parliament to make sure they’re properly protected.

• Betsy Dillner, director of Generation Rent

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