Leeds' booming rented property market this week received a major boost after a survey revealed that more than half the landlords in the city are planning to invest in extra homes in the in 2002.

Leading letting agents Linley & Simpson, based at Oakwood and Horsforth, polled more than 300 landlords as part of a study into future trends in the market, which has undergone rapid growth as more people - particularly young, single professionals - now follow the European trend and buy a property later in life.

No fewer than 51 percent of landlords who were interviewed said that they were planning to rent out more properties in the coming year. Director Will Linley said: "This is the clearest signal yet that the residential lettings market in Leeds is poised to expand further in 2002. The year-on-year growth that we have witnessed since our launch in 1997 is not only set to continue but is likely to gather pace. With demand for good quality rented homes outstripping supply in some of the more popular areas of the city, we knew that astute landlords would be looking to expand their property portfolio.

"The fact that more than half of those surveyed said they were planning to invest in more properties is higher than we envisaged, and augurs well for the New Year. This finding has once again served to underline Leeds' reputation as a magnet for the growing number of investors targeting the property market. With doubts over the value of their share certificates, entrepreneurs are once again turning to bricks and mortar as a better investment."

With interest rates likely to stay low for the foreseeable future, the survey highlighted growing interest in specialist buy-to-let mortgages with one-in-three landlords considering taking out such a loan.