Estate agent Countrywide has found that large numbers of landlords are paying for buy - to - let properties in cash . The midlands and Wales continued to be the drivers of rental growth, where rents rose 2.2% and 2.6% over the last year to £677 and £658 a month respectively. Over the past year , 70 % of all homes bought by a landlord were purchased with cash , up from 60 % in 2011 . The figure is the highest since 2007 when Countrywide began keeping records . Over the past year landlords paying with cash bought £ 21bn of homes , spending £ ##30 m more than in 2016 , and 32 % more than in 2007 . The average rate of rental growth dropped to 0 % in October , from 1.1 % in September , with the average British new let being £ ##50 a month .
Estate agent Countrywide has found that large numbers of landlords are paying for buy - to - let properties in cash . Over the past year , 70 % of all homes bought by a landlord were purchased with cash , up from 60 % in 2011 . The figure is the highest since 2007 when Countrywide began keeping records . Over the past year landlords paying with cash bought £ 21bn of homes , spending £ ##30 m more than in 2016 , and 32 % more than in 2007 . The average rate of rental growth dropped to 0 % in October , from 1.1 % in September , with the average British new let being £ ##50 a month .