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

Limited Company BTL Now Mainstream as Market Splits, Lendlord Reports

Lendlord’s Q3 report shows that 45.1% of UK buy-to-let (BTL) properties are now owned through limited companies. The data highlights a clear split in the market, with company ownership most prevalent among larger portfolio landlords and in certain UK regions.

According to the report, company ownership has overtaken private ownership in the 11-20 property bracket, accounting for 51% of holdings. Among landlords with 20 or more properties, company ownership rises to 57.6%. The report links incorporation closely to portfolio growth and professionalisation, with average portfolio values increasing from around £417,000 for landlords with 1-3 properties to £8.96 million for those with 20 or more. Over the same range, the proportion of privately held properties drops from 67.1% to 42.4%.

Regionally, the North East leads the UK in corporate BTL ownership, with 53.5% of properties held through companies. Yorkshire and the Humber follows at 53%, with Scotland ranking third. The North West is the next-highest English region, where company ownership accounts for 48% of the market. In contrast, private ownership remains dominant in Greater London and Northern Ireland, where 66.7% and 77.8% of BTL holdings respectively are owned in landlords’ personal names.

The report also notes differences in borrowing costs depending on ownership structure. Average mortgage rates are 4.76% for privately owned properties, compared to 6.44% for company-owned holdings. Lendlord highlights this as an important consideration for landlords, alongside tax and operational costs.

Aviram Shahar, co-founder and CEO of Lendlord, stated that company ownership is no longer a niche structure and is now the majority model among larger portfolios.

These findings are relevant for letting agents and inventory clerks monitoring trends in landlord structures, regional market differences, and the professionalisation of the sector.