John Chappell, an East Midlands surveyor, said more landlords are withdrawing from the sector to sell up “especially since seeing rumours of the Government’s plans for further strengthening of tenants’ rights”.

He added: “No self-respecting professional supports poor housing or [poor] landlords, but this has the potential to cause a supply shortage crisis.”

Allan Fuller, a surveyor in Putney, south west London, said landlords are anticipating legislation which will be “too biased” towards tenants.

Fellow west London surveyor William Delaney added: “Further rent increases this year are inevitable as the private rental sector shrinks.

“Faced with yet more legislation, a dysfunctional court service, and an unfair tax regime, the appeal of retaining their investment considerably diminished.”