While rents across the country continue to rise, changing tax policies and increasing costs have made it harder for landlords to translate high turnover into high profit. Furthermore, the end of fixed-term tenancies and the abolition of 'no-fault evictions' have added layers of complexity to the sector.

A new survey reveals that even amid changes to stamp duty relief and an uncertain housing market, a third of Britons still want to own their own rental property and earn income as landlords.But given the latest tax changes, is property investment really still the easy route to passive income it once seemed to be? Why are so many choosing to dip into their pension pots early rather than waiting until full retirement age?