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More and more people who have been renting their homes because they were unable to move from them have thankfully been leaving the rental sector as the residential market warms up.

According to the Association of Residential Letting Agents, the number of reluctant landlords has dropped for the third consecutive quarter. Its research shows that 60% of its members' reported property being rented out rather than sold during the third quarter of 2009. This number has dropped from 80% in the second quarter and 95% in the first three months of the year.

These figures suggest that fewer homeowners are struggling to sell their property and being forced to rent it out – supporting industry-wide speculation that the housing market downturn is coming to an end.

Ian Potter, operations manager of ARLA, says: "The fact that the number of reluctant landlords has dropped once again, and supported by the rise in demand for buy-to-let, suggests that movement is beginning to occur across the market."

Many landlords may have been exasperated over the last few months as rent and demand fell in their area. People, unable to buy or sell, opted for renting property to make ends meet and wait for the markets to improve. Well, if the statistics are a real reflection of the housing market then landlords may be able to relax a little.

If you have been affected by the spate of 'accidental landlords' but have since seen your business improve, it might be time to look into a remortgage or even a new loan. Rents can move up and down, and you have to make sure that your mortgage is working alongside your income as well as it can.

SOURCE: ARLA, 30/10/09

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