Confidence returning:

Confidence amongst landlords is stabilising following government intervention in the buy-to-let market. Of the landlords asked 47% rated their prospects in the next three months as being either good or very good. This is 2% down on the final quarter of 2015, indicating that falling levels of confidence may have stabilised.

Lenders need to get it right:

March was very busy for the buy-to-let sector as everybody raced to get deals over the line before the introduction of the 3% stamp duty surcharge. We are now near the end of May and, while not quite so frantically busy, both landlords and lenders are still pleasingly active.

Lenders are positive:

Lenders remain positive about prospects for the buy-to-let market despite the Chancellor's tax crackdown. This is despite the fact that most expect the market to start slowing, according to the latest lenders survey. More than 80% of lenders recorded an increase in buy-to-let volumes over the last six months.

Great returns:

The stamp duty hike aimed at the buy-to-let market has boosted landlord returns in the UK to a four year high. The 3% surcharge on additional home purchases is part of a string of measures being introduced by the government to hit the private rented sector, but landlords have enjoyed an unexpected benefit. The latest buy-to-let index shows that the scramble to buy property before 1st April deadline boosted house values considerably, delivering a much needed increased equity bonus to existing landlords.