Letting agents are now involved in managing or letting 66% of rental properties, the highest proportion for two years, according to research from Pegasus Insight.
The latest Landlord Trends survey found that agent involvement increased from 61% in the first quarter of 2026 and 62% a year earlier, with full property management services accounting for much of the recent growth.
A quarter of rental properties (25%) are now covered by a full management service, up from 20% in the previous quarter, as landlords face additional administrative and regulatory responsibilities.
The findings come amid preparations for changes under the Renters’ Rights Act, which will place further compliance demands on landlords operating in England’s private rented sector.
SELF-MANAGEMENT REQUIRES 51 HOURS A MONTH
Pegasus Insight found considerable differences in the time landlords devote to their properties depending on whether they employ professional management services.
Self-managing landlords spend an average of 51 hours a month overseeing their rental properties, compared with 11 hours for those using a full management service. Across all landlords surveyed, the average monthly commitment was 33 hours.
Portfolio size also has a substantial bearing on the workload. Landlords with between one and five properties spend an average of 18 hours a month on management activities, increasing to 83 hours among those with portfolios of 11 or more properties.
Despite the growth in demand for full management, tenant-finding remains the most commonly outsourced service. The research found that 34% of rental properties use an agent solely to secure tenants, while 6% use an agent for both lettings and rent collection.
The remaining 34% of properties are managed without an agent.
LARGER PORTFOLIO LANDLORDS MORE LIKELY TO SELF-MANAGE
The research also identified differences in the use of agents according to landlords’ mortgage borrowing, with those holding larger numbers of buy-to-let mortgages more likely to manage properties themselves.
Among landlords with four or more buy-to-let mortgages, 39% of properties are self-managed. This compares with 31% among those holding one to three mortgages and 33% among landlords without mortgage borrowing.
One possible explanation is the greater proportion of professional landlords among larger borrowers. Some 37% of landlords with four or more buy-to-let mortgages operate full time, against 13% of those with one to three mortgages and 18% of those with no mortgage borrowing.
This suggests that landlords treating property investment as their principal occupation may be better placed to absorb the management workload themselves, despite operating larger portfolios.
Bethan Cooke, director of Pegasus Insight, said: “Being a landlord has become an increasingly demanding responsibility, and the legislative and regulatory changes now facing the Private Rented Sector are adding to that complexity.
“It is perhaps unsurprising that more landlords are choosing to seek professional support, particularly with the day-to-day management of their properties.
“The difference in the amount of time spent managing properties is striking. For landlords who are juggling rental responsibilities alongside other commitments, or who are concerned about keeping pace with changing requirements, a good letting agent can provide valuable expertise and take on a substantial administrative burden.
“As the responsibilities associated with letting property become more complex, professional agents have an increasingly important role to play in helping landlords understand and meet their obligations, while ensuring tenants receive a professional and responsive service.”
