The buy-to-let sector is dominated by long term, mature investors says the Association of Residential Letting Agents’ quarterly Review and Index for Residential Investment.

Buy-to-let investors borrow an average of 73% of the purchase price for their property investments, while a sizeable minority, one in eight, borrow less than half. Over 40% of these investors buy properties that are over 50 years old and less than a fifth buy new build. Nearly two thirds of residential landlords expect to hold on to their property investments for more than ten years. Less than 2% see buy-to-let as a short term speculation in property by holding their investments for under two years.

Even if house prices were to fall, 86% of all investment landlords would not sell, 12% are unsure and 2% would sell.

Investment landlords report that tenants stay in their properties for an average of 18 months, and 40% stay for longer than this period. A fifth of landlords reported tenants staying for more than two years and one third reported stays of less than a year.

“Once again, our quarterly survey shows that the market for residential investment property is dominated by long term, mature buyers whose tenants are also happy to stay for the long term. This augers well for the private rented sector and this is what buy-to-let is all about”, said Adrian Turner, ARLA’s chief excecutive.