Nearly 60% of all properties coming on to the market are buy-to-let investments, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).

However, over a quarter of this supply still belongs to small landlords letting their own homes, the traditional source of rental property. Corporate landlords put just over one in 10 properties on the market.

Adrian Turner, chief executive of ARLA, said: “Traditionally, a high proportion of homes to rent in the middle market have been supplied by landlords moving away from home, many to work overseas.

“Despite the different sources of rental stock from buy-to-let investors and the activities of corporate landlords, these homeowner-landlords are playing a significant role in the success of the modern private rented sector.”