The Association of Residential Lettings Agents reports a return of the reluctant landlord - the vendor who needs to move but can't "vend", and so lets instead. The figures are waited toward areas with the sickest (in the conventional sense of the word) property markets. In the North East, 58% of agents reported a rise in the phenomenon, compared to just 15% in London. Landlords shouldn't allow this news to panic them, however. Any claims of increased competition or over-supply in the lettings market overlooks the fact that reluctant landlords have to live somewhere, and unless they've huge reserves of cash they're unlikely to find the finance to buy, and so will be looking to rent, themselves.

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