93,000 BTL landlords set to exit the PRS – claim

Researchers have found that a shocking 93,000 buy to let landlords are set to abandon the PRS this year.

The findings from Black & White Bridging show that brokers are predicting a 6% drop in landlord numbers.

HMRC data shows 2.84 million unincorporated property owners operating in the UK during 2023, with 57% of them with BTL mortgages.

A previous analysis by the firm found that between 2023 and 2024, the PRS lost 4%, or 65,000 landlords.

Rate of loss accelerating

The firm’s Damien Druce said: “Not only does this survey indicate the loss of more than 150,000 landlords from the rental market over a two-year period, it also shows the rate of change is accelerating year-on-year.

“It’s likely these are landlords with small portfolios of one or two properties, landlords who don’t want to face the ongoing changes to regulation and rising costs.

“Being frank, brokers who write a lot of vanilla BTL business may be nervous to find that there will be fewer buy to let landlords overall going into 2026.”

Drip in landlord numbers predicted

He added: “But we think the industry will be left with a more professional cohort that is more likely to embrace opportunities or property deals that require specialist finance.

“Professional landlords are more likely to be interested in bespoke auction products or a residential bridge to make quick property acquisitions and provide them with the time they need to organise tenants.”

Of the brokers surveyed, less than a quarter (23%) expect BTL landlord numbers to grow this year.

In contrast, more than half (56%) are forecasting a drop in numbers.

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