Reports of buy-to-let investors facing a tax crackdown from HM Revenue & Customs has met with little sympathy from Times letter writers.

While HMRC has stated it was not looking to target buy-to-letters in particular, correspondence to the paper has seen little sympathy for the tax plight of landlords.

One reader said the middle-aged were buying-to-let and pricing first-time buyers off the property ladder, and action must be taken to discourage or at least make it more costly for the landlords.

'It should not be beyond the Treasury to tax in some way all second homes and of the government to stop council house sales and ensure that councils and housing associations build more properties to let at reasonable rates,' said Moira C Young, from London.

'Good luck to the landlords who have made fortunes from the rising property market,' said Robert Saunders from West Sussex, 'but let us not kid ourselves that in so doing they are making any greater contribution to society than a cigarette manufacturer or supercasino operator'.

Further reading:

Buy-to-let investors face tax crackdown

Taxpayers show little interest in amnesty offer

HMRC gears up for money laundering drive