Two-thirds of rental properties now professionally managed
Landlords are increasingly turning to professional property management, with the proportion of rental properties using letting agents at its highest level in two years. Two-thirds (66%) of properties are now managed by an agent for some or all aspects of the letting process, according to the latest Landlord Trends research from Pegasus Insight.
The figure is up from 61% in Q1 2026 and 62% a year earlier, with a growing demand for full property management services the main reason behind the increase. A quarter (25%) of rental properties now use a full management service, up five percentage points from 20% in the previous quarter.
Of those properties not fully managed, 34% of rental properties use an agent solely to find tenants, while a further 6% employ an agent for letting and rent collection. The remaining 34% are self-managed.
Time spent by landlords
Landlords spend an average of 33 hours per month overseeing their portfolios, but this rises to an average of 51 hours per month for those who self-manage, compared to 11 hours for those using a letting agent’s full management service.
Time spent also varies by portfolio size, at around 18 hours a month for landlords with between one and five properties, rising to 83 hours for those with 11 or more properties.
Among landlords with four or more buy-to-let mortgages, 39% of properties are self-managed, compared with 31% among those with one to three mortgages and 33% among those without mortgage borrowing.
Larger portfolio borrowers are more likely to be full-time landlords, with 37% of those holding four or more buy-to-let mortgages operating full time, compared with 13% of those with one to three mortgages and 18% of those with no mortgage borrowing.
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.”
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