With reports that the Chancellor is considering a year-long rent freeze in the Private Rented Sector, new research from Pegasus Insight has revealed that 61% of landlords are planning rent increases in the next 12 months.

Mark Long, founder and managing director of Pegasus Insight, said: “A rent freeze would represent unprecedented intervention in the private sector, thwart the business plans of the majority of landlords and potentially force some out of business.

“Landlords are not setting rents in a vacuum. Many are already factoring in the impact of the Renters’ Rights Bill, alongside higher costs, and that is feeding directly into pricing decisions.

“Introducing a rent freeze into that environment could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for those already struggling to balance the books.”

75% of landlords have stated their reason for doing so is due to the increase in regulation brought by the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill.