Just 7% of homes that were made available to be rented out this year were listed for sale during July to December 2018.

According to a UK estate and letting agents' research, it shows that this is the first reported fall in the level of rental properties owned by 'accidental' landlords in the past five years.

In 2018, 8.6% of homes that had been previously listed for sale became available to rent.

The research shows that throughout England every region has experienced a drop in the proportion of rental homes owned by accidental landlords with the capital losing the most; it is still has the highest amount of accidental landlords pro rata, in the country.

Since the beginning of the year 10.1% of homes available to rent in the capital had been up for sale during the latter half of 2018, his has dropped from 12.6% in the previous year.

The agents said during the last couple of years because of the slowing sales market, many people had opted to rent out their homes before they eventually sell up.

But many people wishing to move nowadays who would have normally let their home before putting it on the market, are now reconsidering this option as they are aware of the impending tax changes and have a short window of opportunity not be caught out by CGT increases.

Last year's Budget announced that as from April 2020 that Capital Gains Tax will be increased for any landlords that have previously lived in the property before renting it out.