A growing number of landlords are operating as a full-time business and the number of properties per portfolio is increasing as the rental sector becomes more professional, new data suggests.
Pegasus Insight found the average landlord portfolio has risen to 7.3 properties, up from 6.6 in the final quarter of 2025.
The trend is particularly evident among limited company landlords, whose average portfolio has increased from 12.8 properties in Q4 2025 to 15.3 properties in the latest survey.
Pegasus says 21% of landlords now operate their rental business full-time, up from 17% at the end of 2025.
Around two-thirds of their properties are now held within a corporate structure.
The research also found refinancing is set to remain a key driver of mortgage demand.
Almost four in 10 landlords with mortgages expect to refinance over the next year, rising to 56% among those with four or more buy-to-let loans.
Portfolio landlords are almost twice as likely as smaller-scale landlords to be active in the remortgage market.
Pegasus Insight founder and managing director Mark Long says: “The private rental sector (PRS) is becoming increasingly professional and sophisticated.
“The image of the landlord with one or two properties operating on the side of another career no longer tells the full story.
“The PRS is undergoing a gradual but important structural shift.
“We are seeing fewer landlords treating property as a sideline investment and more operating as professional businesses with larger, more sophisticated portfolios.
“That has significant implications for the mortgage market.
“Larger landlords tend to have more complex borrowing needs, make greater use of limited company structures and are more likely to require specialist lending solutions and refinancing support.
“At the same time, these landlords are often the most committed to remaining in the sector for the long term.
“As the market evolves, there is a growing opportunity for lenders and brokers that can provide the expertise, flexibility and products needed to support increasingly professional property businesses.”
