According to a survey from Landbay, just 19% of landlords use a property management company and a quarter enlist the services of an estate agent.  

Among respondents who did not have another job, most had between four and 10 properties on their portfolio. Some 34% of unemployed landlords had more than 20 properties. 

Just 18% of landlords with no other form of employment owned between 11 and 20 rental properties. 

 

Management costs for landlords 

Landbay found that landlords who managed their own properties spent most of their rental income on managing their portfolio. 

Sponsored

Are you up to date with the latest vulnerability requirements?

Sponsored by Halifax Intermediaries

This was despite nearly half of the respondents who looked after their portfolio through an estate agent or property management company paying the same or less than those who took on the responsibility themselves. 

Some 15% of landlords spent 13% or more of their rental income on property management. 

Most respondents preferred to own their properties through a limited company, with this being the case for 65% of respondents. 

Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, said: “We are increasingly seeing landlords treating their portfolios as a full-time business, with the sector becoming more of a career choice.   

“There is no doubt that managing your own portfolio can be very rewarding although taking professional advice at the right time is essential.”  

He added: “We continue to see high levels of activity across the buy-to-let sector. The sector is proving remarkably resilient, despite some challenges.” 

Another survey from Landbay also backed this sentiment up, finding that 44% of landlords planned to invest in the rental market over the next year. 

The majority of landlords said the motivation for buying property was to increase their portfolio.