New research from Pegasus Insight indicates that 66% of rental properties in the UK now utilise a letting agent, marking the highest proportion recorded in two years. This figure has risen from 61% in the first quarter of 2026 and 62% a year ago.
The increase is largely driven by a sharp rise in demand for full property management services, which are now used by 25% of rental properties, up from 20% in the previous quarter. Additionally, 34% of properties use an agent solely for tenant finding, while 6% employ an agent for both tenant finding and rent collection.
The findings suggest that landlords are increasingly seeking professional support due to growing regulatory and compliance requirements, including adjustments to the Renters’ Rights Act. Bethan Cooke, director of Pegasus Insight, noted that legislative changes are adding to the complexity of being a landlord.
The research also highlights the time commitment involved in managing rental properties. Landlords who manage their properties themselves spend an average of 51 hours a month on rental-related tasks, compared to 11 hours a month for those using full management services. Despite the overall trend, landlords with larger mortgaged portfolios are more inclined to self-manage, with 39% of properties among those with four or more buy-to-let mortgages being self-managed.