The private rented sector is becoming increasingly professionalised, with landlords expanding their portfolios, adopting corporate ownership structures and treating property investment as a full-time business, according to new research.
The latest Landlord Trends report from Pegasus Insight found that the average landlord now owns 7.3 properties, highlighting the continued shift towards larger-scale portfolio ownership.
The research also found that 21% of landlords now describe themselves as full-time or self-employed, up from 17% at the end of 2025.
Limited company landlords continue to hold the largest portfolios. On average, they own 15.3 properties, compared with 12.8 in the fourth quarter of last year, while around two-thirds (66%) of their portfolios are now held through a limited company structure.
The report also points to continued demand for specialist finance. Nearly 40% of landlords with borrowing expect to remortgage within the next 12 months, rising to 56% among those with four or more buy-to-let mortgages.
Pegasus Insight said portfolio landlords are almost twice as likely as smaller landlords to be active in the refinancing market, reflecting the increasingly commercial nature of the sector
Mark Long, founder and managing director of Pegasus Insight, commented: “The PRS is becoming increasingly professional and sophisticated. The image of the landlord with one or two properties operating on the side of another career no longer tells the full story.
“The PRS is undergoing a gradual but important structural shift. We are seeing fewer landlords treating property as a sideline investment and more operating as professional businesses with larger, more sophisticated portfolios.
“That has significant implications for the mortgage market. Larger landlords tend to have more complex borrowing needs, make greater use of limited company structures and are more likely to require specialist lending solutions and refinancing support.
“At the same time, these landlords are often the most committed to remaining in the sector for the long term. As the market evolves, there is a growing opportunity for lenders and brokers that can provide the expertise, flexibility and products needed to support increasingly professional property businesses.”
