Small Landlords More Likely to Hold Rents, Survey Suggests
UKPulse Property Desk
A recent survey by Property118 indicates that smaller landlords were more than twice as likely to have not increased rents in the past year compared to larger landlords.
- 35.8% of landlords with one to three properties reported no rent increase in the last year.
- 16.4% of landlords with 10 or more properties reported no rent increase in the last year.
- £4.2 billion has been invested in the UK's build-to-rent sector in the first nine months of 2026.
A survey conducted by Property118 found that 35.8% of landlords owning one to three properties had not increased rents in the previous year. This compares to 16.4% of landlords with 10 or more properties.
These findings are based on self-reported data from the site's readers and are not a representative sample of all landlords. However, the survey suggests that smaller landlords were more than twice as likely to have maintained rents.
The build-to-rent sector in the UK has seen £4.2 billion invested in the first nine months of 2026, a record for this period of the year. This investment includes development funding and purchases of existing portfolios.
Why this matters: The findings raise questions about affordability in the rental market and the potential impact of small landlords exiting the sector.
What this means for you: If you are a tenant, the departure of small landlords from the private rented sector could lead to changes in rent levels and the availability of properties.