Fact check: Do landlords give anything to society?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal that landlords do provide significant contributions to society, though these contributions are often overlooked in public discourse. The evidence shows multiple ways landlords benefit their communities:

Economic Contributions:

• Landlords make substantial investments in local economies, with 79% preferring to use local tradespeople and spending an average of £6,003 annually on local services ^{[1] [2]}
• The apartment rental sector generates $3.9 trillion annually to the national economy and supports jobs at local establishments through resident spending and property operations ^[3]
• Landlords are described as "crucial to meeting the UK's housing demand" while simultaneously boosting local economies ^[2]

Housing Supply:

• Landlords provide essential rental housing stock, with some becoming "accidental landlords" who contribute to rental market availability ^[4]
• The analyses indicate that policies targeting landlords, such as eviction moratoriums and rent control, have led to decreased supply of affordable housing as some landlords were forced to sell properties ^[5]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important nuance about the different types of landlords and their varying impacts on society:

Corporate vs. Small Landlords:

• Large corporate landlords face different scrutiny, with the Biden administration proposing to cap their rent increases at 5% annually due to concerns about excessive profits ^[6]
• Small landlords were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 policies, experiencing significant financial hardship that reduced their ability to maintain affordable housing ^[5]
• Local practitioners have raised concerns about institutional investors regarding code enforcement, housing quality, and community responsiveness ^[7]

Economic Recovery Data:

• During COVID-19, while rental revenues initially declined, landlords recovered quickly with only modest annual declines, suggesting resilience in the sector ^[8]
• Government support through expanded unemployment benefits and stimulus checks helped prevent more catastrophic losses for landlords ^[8]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question "Do landlords give anything to society?" contains an implicit bias by framing landlords as potentially parasitic rather than acknowledging their established economic role. This framing benefits:

• Political figures and policymakers who gain support by positioning themselves against landlords, such as those supporting rent control measures
• Corporate interests that benefit from reduced competition in housing markets when small landlords exit
• Advocacy groups that fundraise by portraying landlords as societal burdens

The question ignores the fundamental economic function landlords serve in providing rental housing and fails to distinguish between different types of landlords. The analyses show that landlords contribute through direct economic investment, job creation, and housing provision - contributions that are measurable and significant ^{[1] [3] [2]}.

The framing also overlooks that housing policy decisions affecting landlords have broader consequences for housing supply and affordability, as demonstrated by the unintended effects of well-intentioned COVID-19 policies ^[5].