A significant portion of buy-to-let landlords appear unfazed by the turbulence in the property market, with nearly half exhibiting no inclination to offload any of their rental assets within the next year, according to the most recent survey conducted by Landbay.

Engaging with the specialist buy-to-let lender, an assertive 47% of landlords declared a steadfast commitment to retaining their properties, demonstrating an enduring confidence in their investments.

A closer examination reveals that this sentiment is particularly pronounced among landlords who own between four and ten rental properties, accounting for 36% of the respondents with no intention to sell. Hot on their heels, landlords with portfolios ranging from 11 to 20 properties made up 26% of this resolute group.

A striking 75% of those surveyed operate their rental portfolios under the structure of a limited company, further underscoring a strategic approach to property management in the face of evolving market conditions.

Conversely, just over a third (35%) of landlords indicated their intention to part ways with at least some of their holdings, marking an uptick from 29% in the previous iteration of Landbay’s survey.

Taxation emerged as the predominant catalyst for this decision, with more than half of the landlords seeking to divest citing fiscal pressures as their principal motivator. This represents a notable increase from the preceding survey, in which just over a third of respondents pointed to taxation as a determining factor.

Concerns surrounding tenant evictions, particularly in light of impending legislative shifts under the Renters’ Rights Bill, also played a pivotal role. Nearly 46% of those intending to sell identified difficulties in removing problematic tenants as a major concern.

Interestingly, fluctuating mortgage rates, while still on the radar, appeared to have lost some of their previous weight. A total of 39% of landlords referenced mortgage rate volatility as an influencing factor in their decision to sell, a decline from the 48% recorded in the last survey.

Notably, only a minuscule 1% of respondents signalled an intent to completely liquidate their portfolios, reinforcing the resilience of the sector. Meanwhile, a significant minority—less than 20%—remained on the fence, uncertain about their next move.

Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, remarked: “As ever, I think landlords and the buy-to-let market in general have once again shown to be more resilient than many people give them credit.

“Our research has shown that not only are a good proportion of landlords intending to buy this year, but they are also keeping hold of the properties they have.

“This is hugely encouraging and absolutely critical to the overall health and wellbeing of the private rented sector (PRS) and wider UK housing market.”

He further emphasized: “While government policy and taxation may be out of our control as a lender, it’s important that we continue to use the skills and capabilities we do have to give landlords the options and the confidence to stay put in the market.

“Just recently, we launched our product transfer offering to give brokers another option to support landlords when refinancing.

“The initial feedback has been really positive and we hope it continues to help landlords of all sizes as they weigh up their options.”

Despite the ongoing economic headwinds and legislative adjustments, the buy-to-let sector continues to exhibit remarkable fortitude. While a subset of landlords is opting to sell, the overarching narrative remains one of stability and strategic adaptation.