Millennial landlords now account for a record 50% of shareholders in new buy-to-let (BTL) limited companies set up so far this year, Hamptons monthly lettings index reveals.
Hamptons says it estimates that they will set up 33,395 new BTL companies in 2025, which represents more than twice (142%) the number incorporated in 2020.
So far this year, 75% of shareholders in new companies were under the age of 50, which is a 68% rise from a decade ago.
Elsewhere, it shows that investor activity is increasingly concentrated in the North of England, where yields are higher and stamp duty costs are lower.
It found that 28.4% of homes sold in the North East were bought by a landlord in Q3 2025, compared to 8.0% in London.
In addition, the share of homes bought by a landlord remained unchanged from last year, despite the increase in second home stamp duty surcharge,
The latest data shows that nationally, landlords accounted for 11.3% of purchases in Q3 2025, a slight increase from 11.2% in Q3 2024.
However, it found that these purchases are increasingly concentrated outside the South of England.
Together, London, the South East, South West and East of England accounted for just 34% of investor purchases across England & Wales in Q3 2025. As recently as 2016, these regions had accounted for 50% of purchases.
Meanwhile, the average rent for a newly let home in Great Britain fell by 0.3% over the year to September 2025, down £4 per month.
Hamptons head of research Aneisha Beveridge says: “Landlord purchases haven’t collapsed in the face of higher taxes and tighter regulation – but they have shifted.”
“New landlords have increasingly become an endangered species in markets across Southern England, where big stamp duty bills and flatlining prices have nudged investors northwards. But in places like the North East, landlord activity remains close to all-time highs, showing that the buy-to-let market is adapting rather than retreating.”
“What’s striking is the rise of younger landlords. Millennials – many of whom have struggled to buy their own home – are now leading the charge in buy-to-let. Thirty years on from the invention of the buy-to-let mortgage, which kick-started investment by Baby Boomers, it’s clear that a new generation is finding alternative ways to build wealth through bricks and mortar.”
“Despite the challenges, Millennials and Gen Z are showing a similar appetite for long-term property investment, which is helping to stabilise the market.”
“Rental growth remained negative in September, with tenants finding they have more room to negotiate than they’ve had during the last five years.”
“While lower rents are always welcome news for tenants, there are still too many cost pressures facing landlords for a nominal fall in rents to turn into a more meaningful correction in the months ahead.”
