Letting agents are handling a growing share of rental properties, with demand for full management services rising sharply.
New research from Pegasus Insight shows that 66% of rental properties now use a letting agent. This is the highest proportion recorded in two years.
The figure has increased from 61% in the first quarter of 2026 and 62% a year ago.
Demand for full property management has seen the biggest increase.
A quarter of rental properties (25%) now use a full management service, up from 20% in the previous quarter.
The findings suggest landlords are increasingly turning to agents as regulation and compliance requirements place greater demands on property owners.
Full management services gain ground
The latest Landlord Trends research reveals how landlords are using agents.
Alongside the 25% opting for full management, 34% use an agent solely to find tenants.
A further 6% employ an agent for tenant finding and rent collection.
The remaining 34% of rental properties are managed without an agent.
The shift comes as landlords adjust to the Renters’ Rights Act and wider changes affecting the private rented sector.
Self-managing landlords spend 51 hours a month on rentals
The research also highlights the time involved in managing rental properties.
Landlords spend an average of 33 hours a month overseeing their portfolios.
Those managing properties themselves spend an average of 51 hours a month on rental-related tasks.
By comparison, landlords using full management services spend just 11 hours a month.
That represents a saving of 40 hours each month, according to the survey findings.
Portfolio size also makes a substantial difference.
Landlords with one to five properties spend an average of 18 hours a month on management.
For those with 11 or more properties, the figure rises to 83 hours.
Larger landlords more likely to self-manage
Despite the growing use of agents, landlords with larger mortgaged portfolios are more inclined to manage properties themselves.
Among those with four or more buy-to-let mortgages, 39% of properties are self-managed.
That compares with 31% among landlords holding one to three mortgages and 33% among those without mortgage borrowing.
One possible explanation is that larger portfolio landlords are more likely to operate professionally on a full-time basis.
Some 37% of landlords with four or more buy-to-let mortgages work as full-time landlords.
The proportion falls to 13% among those with one to three mortgages and 18% among landlords without mortgage borrowing.
Regulation driving demand for agents
Bethan Cooke, director of Pegasus Insight, said: “Being a landlord has become an increasingly demanding responsibility, and the legislative and regulatory changes now facing the Private Rented Sector are adding to that complexity. It is perhaps unsurprising that more landlords are choosing to seek professional support, particularly with the day-to-day management of their properties.
“The difference in the amount of time spent managing properties is striking. For landlords who are juggling rental responsibilities alongside other commitments, or who are concerned about keeping pace with changing requirements, a good letting agent can provide valuable expertise and take on a substantial administrative burden.
“As the responsibilities associated with letting property become more complex, professional agents have an increasingly important role to play in helping landlords understand and meet their obligations, while ensuring tenants receive a professional and responsive service.”
