The average UK landlord portfolio is now making almost £90,000 a year in gross rental income, according to analysis by property management firm Rushbrook.

The figures show that the average landlord now owns more than seven properties worth a combined £1.7m.

Rushbrook analysed the latest landlord portfolio data, examining portfolio size and value, buy-to-let mortgage borrowing and rental income, as well as how these figures have changed over the past year.

The firm also modelled the estimated cost of professionally managing the average portfolio based on typical fully managed property management fees.

The research found that the average landlord currently owns 7.3 properties with a combined estimated value of £1.7m. Both figures are unchanged from a year earlier.

However, rental income has risen significantly.

Estimated annual rental income per property increased by 22.9%, from £9,860 to £12,117 in Q1 2026.

Across the average 7.3-property portfolio, this means estimated gross annual rental income has risen from £71,978 to £88,454 — an annual increase of £16,476.

The increase in rental income has been accompanied by a rise in borrowing.

Rushbrook estimates that the amount owed through buy-to-let mortgage borrowing across the average landlord portfolio has increased from £642,000 to £736,000.

That represents an annual increase of £94,000, or 14.6%, despite the estimated value of the average portfolio remaining unchanged at £1.7m.

The figures underline why higher gross rental income should not necessarily be read as an equivalent increase in landlord profitability.

Rushbrook also examined the potential cost of professionally managing the average portfolio.

Fully managed rental services typically cost between 8% and 15% of monthly rental income, plus VAT. Using a midpoint of 11.5%, the firm estimates that professional management of a single property generating the current average rental income would cost approximately £139 per month including VAT.

Across the average 7.3-property portfolio, that equates to an estimated £1,017 per month, or £12,207 per year, based on current rental income levels.

The estimated annual management cost is 22.9%, or £2,274, higher than a year earlier.

Rushbrook managing director Roma Sharma said: “There’s still a tendency to think of a landlord as someone who owns one or two properties and collects the rent each month, but these figures demonstrate the scale of the property businesses many landlords are actually running.”