The number of landlords who are selling up their buy to let properties is at its highest since May 2018, a report reveals.
The findings have been published by Arla Propertymark who say that letting agents are recording landlords exiting the market has increased from four per branch in March, to five in April.
They also point out that the numbers of tenants who have experienced rent increases in April grew by 33%.
The number of tenants who saw rents falling dropped to 1.9% in April, from March's figure of 2.9%.
Also, the number of rental properties available has fallen slightly per member branch to 202.
That's a decline from the figure of 203 for March which was the highest since records began in 2015.
‘Landlords are selling their buy to let properties’
The chief executive of Arla Propertymark, David Cox, said: "April's findings have, as predicted, shown an increase in the number of landlords who are selling their buy to let properties.
"With the Tenant Fees Act coming into force in England, and along with the proposed scrapping of Section 21, these issues are forcing landlords to either leave the market or increase rents."
He added: "The supply of rental homes is falling so tenants will be faced with more competition, while the rents on well-managed properties will be pushed up. In order to be profitable, landlords will have to increase their rents for covering additional fees and it is tenants who will continue feeling the burn."
Students choose to be close to supermarkets
Meanwhile, one study has revealed that student tenants are looking for homes that are closer to supermarkets than they are to pubs.
The findings from Towergate, a landlord insurance provider, also found that the average student is paying between £300 and £499 to rent a room every month in a property they are sharing with at least two other people.
The findings also show that a large bedroom is the most sought after feature in a property student property.
Students would like to remain in the same accommodation
Also, 68% of students say they would like to remain in the same accommodation throughout their time at university with 64% saying they would prefer to live closer to a supermarket than they would to a bar or restaurant.
Students say that they also prefer to use email when communicating with their landlord and 15% are not satisfied with their accommodation.
Among the issues about dealing with student landlords are frustrating behaviour and 73% of students say their landlord is too slow when responding to issues, followed closely by their landlord turning up unannounced for a visit - which is illegal.
