Unfavourable tax measures include the imposition of a 3 per cent stamp duty surcharge; the abolition of mortgage tax relief and its replacement with a 20 per cent tax credit; and the impending cut in the personal capital gains tax allowance, which is set to fall from £6,000 to £3,000 next year.

Landlords have been singled out and are now being heavily taxed, says Evans. The crackdown on landlords has long been publicised and PRS has suffered untold losses as a result.

"They are leaving in droves - even though rents are going up. It's not right. They're paying tax on their profits."

"Every landlord will be hit by other rising costs, such as maintenance and repair bills and the extra expense of new energy efficiency regulations, but the landlord tax policy will hurt them the most - no other business will be taxed in this way."

The Liberal Democrats kicked off their conference season in Bournemouth on 23 September and have arranged a debate on the housing crisis for the 25th.

Liberal Democrat proposals include introducing a national register and minimum standards for landlords; abolishing all evictions unless it can be proved that the tenant has breached the terms of the tenancy agreement; and requiring owners of investment properties to "pay their fair share of tax".

The Conservatives will meet in Manchester on 1 October, but Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has gone on record as saying he will not include tax cuts in his Autumn Statement if inflation remains high.

Labour will meet in Liverpool in October and shadow chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves has ruled out increasing capital gains tax if she wins the next general election.

Reeves has also rejected a "mansion tax", a wealth tax or an increase in income tax.

I don't think prosperity can be achieved through taxation, she said in a recent interview with the Daily Telegraph. She also said that Labour would "do whatever it takes" to attract business investment to the UK.

Buy-to-let investors will be hoping this sentiment extends to PRS investors as well.

Evans said: 'Our senior politicians must understand that the PRS is currently in crisis and in exceptional circumstances.

"There is a chronic oversupply of homes across the UK and landlords continue to sell up, which only makes things worse for tenants."

"All they are asking for is a level playing field to do business. That's not too much to ask, is it?" |