Demand for rented homes is outstripping supply because of a rise in reluctant tenants, research has said.
The Association of Residential Letting Agents said fewer homes are available to let but demand for rented accommodation is rising because people are struggling to find properties to buy or mortgages they qualify for.
Around 41% of letting agents said there were more potential tenants than properties in the final quarter of 2009, up from 24% in the previous quarter.
Last year the rental market was flooded with properties from so-called accidental landlords, as people unable to sell their home when house prices were falling were forced to rent it out instead.
The number of "accidental" landlords has fallen in recent months because the property market has picked up.
Many people who would like to buy a home are struggling to find somewhere suitable because of a shortage of properties for sale. Others are unable to raise the deposits needed to meet strict lending criteria of banks and building societies, forcing them to rent instead.
Around 54% of letting agents said consumers are being forced to rent a property rather than buy one.
The research also showed that the length of time for which a property is empty between tenants fell slightly during the fourth quarter to 3.9 weeks, down from four weeks during the previous three months.
Ian Potter, the association's operations manager, said: "New tenants include those homeowners who were forced to sell their home during the last year either due to financial instability or a job move.
"And many people now in a position to buy are struggling to find the right property, as there is also a shortage of both properties for sale and realistic mortgages."
