NLA backs buy-to-let investors

The National Landlords' Association (NLA) has jumped to the defence of the buy-to-let sector after it was cited as one reason for a decline in the number of first-time buyers (FTBs) entering the market.

Moneysupermarket revealed this week that there was a 20 per cent drop in the number of FTBs buying homes between March and October.

A number of analysts have laid at least some of the blame at the feet of buy-to-let investors but the NLA says that this is a "sweeping" generalisation and is unfair on landlords.

"This is too sweeping a statement. A great many buy to let properties, particularly in London, are not the type of properties that first time buyers will be buying," said Simon Gordon, head of public affairs at the NLA.

"What people are doing is they're treating the UK housing market as one market, but it's not one market. There are great differences between the north-east and London.

"Undoubtedly all the sections of the market have a knock on effect on each other, but I think we've seen more proper evidence that buy-to-let is what eases first-time buyers out," he added.

FTBs were given an affordability boost this month when the Bank of England maintained the base rate of interest for the third consecutive month.

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