Do you want the good news or the bad news?

While The Telegraph may have put it quite cynically in a recent piece (claiming lenders are ‘sweetening deals’ to keep landlords interested), it’s definitely the case that lenders are responding to the challenges facing landlords at the moment in the best way they can.

The industry, of course, has risen to the challenge in other ways too. Product development has seen an increase in the number of limited company mortgages coming to market, for example.

Lenders and landlords alike recognise the need for a thriving buy-to-let sector and are doing what they can to adapt to the new landscape – a landscape that has been created through a clear lack of understanding of the property market on the part of the government.

But, whilst the changes are bedding in and we’re all starting to get on with business, it seems the government is ready to meddle again.

At this week’s Conservative Party Conference it was announced that foreign property buyers and investors would face an additional Stamp Duty surcharge when buying in the UK, with the money raised said to go towards preventing homelessness.

Let me first say, clearly this cause is one that needs supporting. But an extra surcharge on foreign buyers is not the answer. Nor is it going to help solve the housing crisis.

The London property market is already being hit hard and this move will just cause more problems for the capital. Many London developers rely on overseas cash to fund projects and this will now impact their ability to build.

The high-end market that foreign investors are looking at does a lot for the economy in the capital and deterring these buyers is not a smart move.

This seems to be nothing more than a publicity stunt and I hope the government thinks twice before intervening in the property market once more.