Buy to let rents are still going up, according to a new landlord survey.
More than a third of landlords (34 per cent) have upped rents in the past three months – consolidating the trend of increasing rents for the previous two quarters.

Around one in 10 landlords said their rental income had increased by between two per cent and four per cent, while 13 per cent put rents up by even more.

Not all rents went up – four per cent of landlords said their rental income fell in the quarter.

Two-thirds of professional landlords (39 per cent) said their rental income had increased during the last quarter, while three-out-four of landlords with smaller portfolios reported little change.

Nigel Terrington, of Paragon Mortgages, the lender conducting the research, said: “Tenant demand has been growing for a number of years, but in recent months it has accelerated considerably.

“As the report shows, a third of landlords are benefiting from increases in rental income without making their properties unaffordable for tenants.

“With tenant demand only looking to increase further in the coming months, landlords are likely to continue to experience increases in their rental income, especially given that half of landlords said they expect demand to further increase in the next 12 months.

“It is crucial then, with increases in demand, that investment continues to be made in the private rented sector, ensuring that it remains fit for purpose and continues to provide good quality and affordable housing to millions of tenants.”

Meanwhile, letting agents are also benefitting from rising buy to let rents as their fees are linked as a percentage of rents collected.

Franchise firm Winkworth, with 80 offices, has announced buy to let income has jumped by 10 per cent.

The firm also revealed many estate agents are struggling financially in the sluggish housing market and 35 firms had approached Winkworth to discuss selling offices this year.