Majority of landlords staying put with no plans to sell, Landbay survey reveals
UK landlords remain committed to the private rented sector with nearly 60% of buy-to-let landlords stating no intention to sell any of their properties in the next 12 months, latest research from Landbay has revealed.
In its latest survey, 58% of landlords told Landbay they will not dispose of any properties this year – a clear jump from just 47% in the previous survey last year, which took place immediately following the Autumn Budget.
Among those with no plans to sell, the strongest intention came from non-portfolio landlords with less than four mortgaged properties (32%), closely followed by more than one in five (24%) who own portfolios of between four and 10 rental properties.
While Landbay did find some appetite to sell, only 15% of respondents plan to sell up to 10% of their properties. Just 4% plan to sell up to quarter of their portfolio, while less than one in 10 intend to sell up to 50% of their properties.
As can be expected, the biggest reason among landlords to sell was the prospect of regulation, such as the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill. This was chosen by more than a third of respondents intending to sell (35%) and closely followed by landlord taxation – picked by 31% of respondents. In last year’s survey, this was chosen by more than half of landlords (51.4%).
Landbay conducted their research in May 2025, polling buy-to-let landlords with portfolios totalling approximately 3,000 properties. The survey took place prior to leaks of potential Treasury plans ahead of the Autumn Budget which could see landlords paying National Insurance (NI) on their rental income.
Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, said: “This latest survey data is hugely encouraging and once again demonstrates just how robust and resilient buy-to-let landlords are. In the face of increasing operating costs and the threat of new legislation, this commitment from landlords to stay put is a huge win for the PRS and for renters all over the country – especially when you consider the massive role rented accommodation plays in the UK’s housing mix.
“We know this isn’t the story for all landlords, and while selling is a natural part of a developing a successful portfolio, there are still those just looking to scale back. As a sector, we absolutely need to get behind these landlords and give them the confidence to not just stay put, but to expand and succeed. As a lender in this space, we take this role really seriously – whether it’s launching and expanding our innovative product transfer offering or providing competitive rates and a broad product range to help landlords of all sizes when the timing is right to scale their portfolio.
According to Landbay’s latest survey, buying intentions have also rebounded, with 52% of landlords intending to purchase new rental properties in the next 12 months. This is up from just 27% in the previous year’s survey.