Property maintenance is the biggest deterrent for would-be investors in the residential lettings market, according to a report by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

According to the report, 92% of chartered surveyors specialising in the lettings market cited property maintenance as the main hindrance for buy to let investors. Other disincentives included lack of suitable housing stock, and lack of tax incentives.

Other results did, however, confirm that the lettings market is strong, with demand for rented accommodation up on last year.