A survey of more than 1,000 landlords in the Deposit Protection Service shows the scale of change in the private rental sector.

The survey shows that double the proportion of landlords with two or fewer properties are planning to sell up and leave the rental market, compared with those who have portfolios comprising more than 10 properties.

The research also shows how almost three times the proportion of landlords with portfolios larger than 10 properties intend to buy more compared with those who own one or two.

The survey also reveals that, of those intending to leave the market, over twice the proportion of landlords who do not operate as a business intend to sell all of their properties and leave the PRS altogether compared to those operating a limited company.

Separate research by the organisation also suggests that some larger landlords are buying up the properties of those with smaller portfolios.

DPS managing director Matt Trevett says: “Whilst the volumes of tenancies we protect remains unchanged, the data suggest that landlords operating on a larger scale are showing a stronger commitment to the PRS compared with those with fewer properties.  

“Landlords with a higher number of properties typically choose to place their businesses inside limited companies in order to better manage their costs, which are impacted by high interest rates and tax changes.

“We are also seeing different intentions emerge among landlords who use companies compared with those who don’t, suggesting that how a landlord chooses to organise their business has a significant impact on their attitude towards the market.”

The survey also reveals that six times the proportion of landlords who operate a limited company intend to buy more property compared to those who are not set up as a business for the purpose of renting.

Only eight per cent of landlords operating as sole traders intend to buy more rental properties; 21.72 per cent of them intend to sell all their properties and leave the rental market altogether, the DPS adds.

And the survey reveals that twice the proportion of landlords renting out property that used to be their own address intend to sell all their properties and leave the rental market altogether compared to landlords that bought their property to rent it out.

By contrast more than twice the proportion of landlords who bought property to rent it out intend to buy more property compared to those renting out property that used to be their own address.