Up to one in three homes on the UK housing market is owned by an " accidental " landlord – a property owner who struggled to sell – with the majority of them in London and the south east , according to data from estate agency Countrywide . It revealed that London was responsible for 12.5 % of new rental homes , compared to 5.6 % in Scotland , while accidental owners face extra financial risk , from mortgage repayments outstripping loans , to 3 % stamp duty if they buy a new property before selling their old home .
Up to one in 12 homes on the UK rental market is owned by an "accidental" landlord – a property owner who struggled to sell – with the majority of incidents in London and the south east, according to data from estate agent Countrywide. It revealed that London was responsible for 12.5% of new rental homes, compared to 5.6% in Scotland, while accidental landlords face extra financial pressures, from mortgage repayments outstripping rent, to 3% stamp duty if they buy a new property before selling their old home.