Becoming a landlord has been an attractive proposition for anyone who could raise a deposit, thanks to a prolonged period of low borrowing costs and generally rising property values. However, interest rates have finally started to rise (they are now the highest they have been for a decade) and uncertainty in the housing market has reduced property prices, particularly across London and the south-east.

Despite these negatives, becoming a landlord may still be an appealing option given the perceived lack of good alternatives, with savings rates remaining low and restrictions on the amount that can be saved into a pension..