Fears of rent rise disaster as majority of landlords plan to sell up

More than half of landlords are considering leaving the sector following Labour's Autumn Budget, a new survey reveals, prompting fears a shortage of homes will spark steep rent rises for tenants already battling record-high costs.

Landlords will begin paying a four per cent surcharge on their rental income from April, after chancellor John Healey doubled a measure already scheduled by his predecessor Rachel Reeves in last year's Budget.