A recent Landlord Sentiment Survey, conducted by Property118 between 1 and 8 October 2026, found that landlords with larger portfolios are more likely to have increased rents. The survey, which included 1,654 landlords, revealed that 26.4% made no rent increase in the past 12 months, while 20.9% raised rents by more than 5% on average.
The data suggests that the smallest landlords have been more likely to hold rents steady. For instance, 37.8% of single-property landlords made no increase, compared to 13.2% of those with 25 or more properties. Conversely, 29.2% of landlords with 25 or more properties raised rents by over 5%, while only 14.5% of single-property landlords did so.
This trend is expected to continue, with 28.0% of landlords with 25 or more properties planning above-inflation rises in the next 12 months, compared to 9.9% of single-property landlords. Landlords who made no increase last year are also more likely to plan to hold or reduce rents again (44.1%).
Regionally, landlords with property only in London were the most likely to have made no rent increase (35.6%), while those with property in the North, particularly Yorkshire and the Humber, saw larger rent rises. Mortgage-free landlords and those who manage their own properties were also more likely to have frozen rents.
The survey also indicated that landlords currently making a loss are more likely to be planning above-inflation rent rises in the coming year (23.7%) compared to those with no losses (17.8%).