A survey of over 1,000 landlords finds they appear largely reconciled to the election of a Labour government after 14 years of tax and regulation changes under the Tories.

Some 82% have chosen to maintain the size of their buy-to-let portfolio under the Conservative Government. However, one in 10 have chosen to reduce its size, while just 6% have added to it.

And 78% stated that they will continue to maintain the current size of their portfolio should Labour win the general election.

However, almost two in 10 (19%) stated that if Labour were to win they would reduce the size of their portfolio, double that to have done the same under a Conservative government.

When asked which of Labour’s rental market promises they were least in favour of, the intention to end automatic evictions for tenants who fall into rent arrears ranked top.

Rights for renters to have pets was the second least favourable Labour policy, while mandatory EPC upgrades also rank high at number three.

The abolition of Section 21 notices only placed fourth, with four month notice periods also making the top five.  

A spokesperson for Zero Deposit, the company that commissioned the survey, says: “The election itself has inadvertently shelved the implementation of the most significant rental sector changes in many years and while it remains to be seen just what will come of the Rental Reform Bill, most landlords will be understandably lacking confidence that either party will drive any real improvement in the sector.”

The company used a PR firm to question 1,095 landlords on June 5.