Investors in buy-to-let have been increasing the size of their portfolios and forecasting they will not sell their investment properties should property prices fall. This was revealed in the latest review of the second quarter of this year by ARLA, the Association of Residential Letting Agents

The average size of portfolios held by landlords has risen from 4.9 to 5.7 properties since the beginning of this year, a trend that has continued from last year when the average was just 4.1 properties.

Over half of investors have three or more properties, whilst as many as two in ten have a portfolio of six properties or more. The greatest increase since the start of 2005 was seen in the number of landlords with 11 to 20 properties, doubling to eight percent of all landlords surveyed.

“Another important fact to come out of this survey is that landlords are in it for the long haul. Despite the apparent slow down in the housing market, nearly two-thirds of landlords are still saying that they expect to hold onto their investment for at least 10 years. This is an important stabilising influence on the housing market.” says Stephen Goddard of A120 Lettings, who specialise in the letting and management of quality lets for Stansted airport and the A120 corridor.