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 . Research has shown that as many as 80,000 properties in the UK were put up for rent adding to the rental housing stock across the UK. 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 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 .