A fifth of properties for sale are former rental homes For those of us who have spent many years in the lettings business this may be no surprise. However, this hard evidence does bring it very much into focus that landlords are quitting the sector at a greater rate than usual. Respected research firm TwentyEA latest report reveals that 18% of properties listed for sale last month (approximately 28,000) had also been listed for rent within the previous three years which is a shocking 100% higher than the previous year. The reasons for landlords leaving the sector are a mix of uncertainty about changes the government have in store, steep interest rate rises (especially for those landlords coming ending fixed rate mortgage deals) and a general increase in all costs. For those landlords who remain in the rental market there is some good news. Due to lower stock levels, the supply and demand balance is tipping their way and therefore rents continue to slowly rise as demand continues to increase.