Research by the buy to let specialist Sequre Property Investment suggests that landlords are largely undeterred by the slew of government restrictions imposed on the sector via stamp duty and stamp duty changes.

In recent years just 10 per cent of landlords have exited the sector, the research suggests, while 19 per cent say they are thinking of quitting over the next five years. 

Of that 19 per cent, most were considering selling their portfolios because of tenant-related issues rather than fiscal or government policy.

Sequre sales director Daniel Jackson says: “Investing in property remains one of the safest options you can make in this day and age and so it comes as little surprise that the majority of landlords remain confident with their investment and have no plans to exit the buy to let sector.

“It’s also interesting to see that the government has failed to intimidate the nation’s landlords, despite a consistent campaign to reduce profit margins and force them out of the sector. In fact, more landlords have decided to leave having grown tired of dealing with tenants than they have because of various government tax changes.

“So it looks as though the government will have to actually build some more homes if they wish to address the current housing crisis, rather than rely on hard-working landlords to boost the nation’s property stock levels.”

The survey was of 797 landlords, conducted last week.