Landlords cite interest rate rises and tax changes as key drivers for rent hikes

If you put landlords, banks and politicians together in a room and asked them who’s to blame for rents rising around the nation, they’d all simultaneously point at each other and say “they did it”.Each would have a point, but none would admit responsibility.We often hear of the ‘greedy landlords’, cashing in on tight markets and low vacancies to bump up the rents of struggling families by hundreds of dollars a week.Rents are rising as supply dwindles. Picture: Diego FedeleMORE: Council to rip down ‘now illegal’ home featureAnd yes, landlords may be the ones that actually raise their rents, but is it really fair to put it all down to greed?An exclusive new survey by money.com.au has revealed 45 per cent of landlords who have raised rents this year, or are planning to, are blaming rising interest rates; and 33 per cent say the budget changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing were also a factor. Just 23 per cent said market demand was the reason.Money.com.au property spokesman Nick Burgess said landlords “with a mortgage or two have now been hit with three rate hikes this year and for many, putting up the rent is the only way to claw back some of those higher mortgage repaymen...