Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Property Industry Eye. Read the original article for full details.

Company Ownership of UK Buy-to-Let Properties Nears 50%

Nearly half of UK buy-to-let properties are now held through companies, according to new figures from Lendlord. The data shows that company ownership is most common among landlords with larger portfolios.

Figures from Lendlord’s Q3 2026 UK BTL Market Report reveal that 45.1% of buy-to-let properties are company-held, while 54.9% remain in private ownership. The trend towards company ownership becomes more pronounced as portfolio size increases. Among landlords with 20 or more properties, 57.6% of ownership is through companies.

For smaller landlords, individual ownership remains dominant. The data shows that 67.1% of landlords with between one and three properties hold them privately. Company ownership overtakes private ownership in the 11-to-20 property bracket.

Regional differences are also highlighted in the report. The North East has the highest proportion of company-owned buy-to-let property at 53.5%. Company ownership also exceeds private ownership in Yorkshire & Humberside and Scotland.

These findings indicate a growing divide in ownership structures within the private rented sector. Smaller landlords are more likely to hold properties personally, while limited company structures are increasingly prevalent among those with larger portfolios.

This shift in ownership models is relevant for letting agents and inventory clerks, as it may affect client profiles, compliance requirements, and property management processes across different regions and landlord types.