Rents are to shoot up over the next five years, easily outstripping inflation, two major agency groups have forecast – but a poll of landlords has drawn very different conclusions.

According to Savills, as a result of George Osborne’s tax changes the number of mortgaged buy-to-let investors is set to drop by one-third within two years. But a poll by Simple Landlords Insurance has found that only one-fifth of landlords plan to raise their rents next year, with 80% keeping rents as they are. It also found that most landlords will continue to invest in the market.

Some 70% of the 543 landlords polled said the reduction of tax relief on buy-to-let mortgage payments would not affect their plans, and 4% said they were planning to invest more. Another 12% said the changes meant they planned to wait before adding new properties to their portfolio, while 8% said they would now sell one or more properties.

Almost 90% said they intend to still be a landlord in two years’ time while a third plans to increase the number of properties they let in that time.

Despite the confidence shown, 48% said government legislation was their main concern alongside void periods, while 39% were worried about tax changes.