Almost a third of amateur landlords are looking to sell up while those with bigger portfolios are still feeling positive, research claims.

A study of 500 landlords by insurer Simple Landlords Insurance found that 30% of single property landlords plan to sell, compared with just 8% of landlords with more than two properties.

Some 38% of the landlords with two or more properties said they plan to buy at least one more in the next year – dwarfing the 11% of landlords with single properties who are planning to expand.

Landlords ranked Stamp Duty as their main concern (18%) with another 17% worried about Capital Gains Tax and 15% troubled by stricter mortgage lending rules.

However, 48% of landlords said they weren’t concerned by any of these taxes.

The report also found that most new entrants to the market owned holiday lets, among 22% of policyholders, while just 16% owned flats.

Tom Cooper, director of underwriting for Simple Landlords Insurance, said: “From Section 24 to Right to Rent, increased Stamp Duty, Capital Gains tax, regulation and licensing, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was all doom and gloom in the private rented sector.

“But our evidence shows there are landlords adapting to the changes and emerging like phoenixes from the ashes. We wanted to find out more about them.

“The research reveals it is the landlords positioned at the larger end of the market – or aspiring to get there – who are least fazed by changes, and best poised to take advantage of increasing demand, bargain stock being sold off, and stable house prices.”