The proportion of properties bought by landlords with a
sitting tenant has reached the highest level since 2005, according to
Countrywide Residential Lettings, which analysed over 65,000 rental
properties. Last year 11% of all rental
properties bought by a landlord came with a sitting tenant, a fourfold increase
on 2008. Landlords are increasingly recognising the value of keeping a
reliable, long term tenant and are prepared to reward them with longer
contracts. Tenants in properties sold as occupied have lived in their home
significantly longer than the average tenant: a quarter of these tenants signed
contracts of two years or longer compared to just 5% of tenants overall. This means
for a growing number of renters, the decision to sell by their landlord does
not affect their living conditions. Read more on the Countrywide website.
