It is no secret that the younger generation is finding it more difficult than ever before to get onto the property ladder.

The number of private landlords has risen considerably in recent years as affordable properties to buy are decreasing and lenders are more reluctant to provide mortgages. Nearly 1 out of every 5 homes in the UK is owned by a private landlord and this is expected to rise by another million in the next 5 years. Across the UK there are around 5 million rented properties that are owned by 2 million landlords and this represents 18% of the market that now rent directly from a private landlord according to mortgage lender Paragon.

Indeed, a report by the government forecast that around 1 in 3 properties in the UK will be owned by a private landlord come 2032.

It has given rise to what many analysts deem as a ‘rent trap.’ It is increasingly difficult for those in their 20’s and early 30’s to demonstrate a stable income given the volatility of the employment market in the past 7 years and lenders are reluctant to provide mortgages in the same way they did a decade ago. Affordable homes are out of the question in many parts of the country meaning that people turn to rented properties instead.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the housing charity Shelter, explained that home ownership was at its lowest since the 1980s and many families and individuals were finding that they had to turn to renting which can cause instability and an uncertain future. In fact Alex Hilton, director of Generation Rent a campaign group that focuses on the private rented sector, claimed that renters work 2 days of every week to pay off the mortgage of a private landlord with no long term benefit to themselves.

For landlords however this is the golden period of investing in property and renting it out. The rise of online estate agents such as I Am The Agent where you can market your property online means that it is easier than ever before to find a tenant with minimal cost and as little fuss as possible. It is also expected that private landlords in the UK will own a combined total of £1 trillion worth of property come 2015 and this is three and a half times the size of the market just 13 years ago.

Indeed the new rules around pensions that come in effect from April 2015 means that the number of private landlords is likely to rise even given the reluctance of some lenders to offer reasonable mortgage rates to those over 50.

I Am The Agent is an online estate agent that can sell your property privately or allow you to let your property online for a small fee that is below anything on the high street. Private landlords can get advice and list their property online for thousands of potential tenants to view and this will significantly increase their chance of finding a prospective tenant with huge savings on fees at just £99 inc VAT and board. Call us today or go on line at www.iamtheagent.com to see how we could help you protect your rental years and find that perfect tenant.