Landlord company registrations in the UK rose from 1,882 in 2000 to a record 34,128 in 2025, an increase of more than 1,700%. This data comes from an analysis of Companies House records conducted by specialist insurer Just Landlords.
The trend of landlords operating through limited companies has continued into 2026, with nearly 14,000 additional businesses incorporated during the first five months of the year. The research indicates that 141,292 landlord businesses were registered between 2020 and 2025, surpassing the 101,095 companies formed in the two preceding decades combined.
Clark Ross, managing director of Just Landlords, noted that this shift suggests a continued professionalisation of the private rented sector. He highlighted that growth is no longer concentrated solely in London, with strong increases observed across Scotland, the Midlands, and the North of England.
Factors that may be contributing to this shift include changes to mortgage interest tax relief, higher stamp duty costs, regulatory requirements, and longer-term portfolio planning. London has historically been the largest market, accounting for almost a third of all landlord company registrations since 2000, but its share of new annual incorporations has decreased as registrations in other regions have risen.
Between 2020 and 2025, Scotland recorded the fastest growth in annual registrations at 171%, followed by Northern Ireland at 148% and Wales at 144%. Among English regions, the West Midlands saw the largest increase at 108%.