A new analysis of over 25 years of Companies House data reveals the scale of growth in the professional landlord industry.
Just 1,882 new landlord companies were registered in 2000, compared to a record high of 34,128 in 2025.
The pace of growth has accelerated sharply in recent years, with nearly 14,000 new companies registered in the first five months of 2026 alone, and the 2020s already accounting for more new landlord businesses than the entire period from 2000 to 2019 combined.
Clark Ross of Just Landlords – the firm which conducted the research – comments: “The scale of this shift is remarkable. We’re seeing clear evidence of the continued professionalisation of the private rented sector, with a growing number of landlords now operating through formal business structures.”
While the long-term trend has been one of consistent growth, there are a range of factors that may have encouraged incorporation over recent years, including changes to mortgage interest tax relief, higher stamp duty costs for additional properties, evolving regulatory requirements and a growing focus on long-term portfolio management.
The introduction of the 3% stamp duty surcharge on additional properties in April 2016 triggered an immediate surge in incorporations, with registrations jumping by nearly 59% in the following two years as landlords restructured their portfolios to manage their tax position more efficiently.
Where are landlord companies growing the fastest?
While London remains the single largest market, accounting for nearly a third of all registrations since 2000, the data reveals a striking shift in the regional picture. London’s share of annual registrations has been declining in recent years, as growth accelerates across the rest of the country.
The devolved nations have seen some of the most dramatic recent growth, with Scotland’s annual registrations more than tripling since 2020 (+171%), and Northern Ireland (+148%) and Wales (+144%) following closely behind. Scotland now records over 2,100 new landlord companies per year, up from fewer than 400 in 2015.
Annual Registration Growth, 2020 vs 2025:
- Scotland: 171%
- Northern Ireland: 148%
- Wales: 144%
- West Midlands: 108%
- North West: 106%
- Yorkshire & Humber: 106%
- London: 104%
- East Midlands: 99%
- England: 95.3%
- East of England: 92%
- North East: 79%
- South East: 75%
- South West: 70%
Ross continues: “What’s particularly interesting is that growth is no longer concentrated in London alone. Some of the strongest increases have been seen across Scotland, the Midlands and the North of England, suggesting that professional landlord businesses are becoming an increasingly important part of regional housing markets across the UK.
“There are a number of factors that may be driving this shift. London’s property values have long made it the dominant market, but the comparatively lower entry costs in regional cities mean landlords can build a more diversified portfolio for the same initial outlay, and potentially see stronger yields in the process. Rising house prices in the South have also pushed more renters into regional markets, increasing demand and making those areas more attractive to professional investors.
“At the same time, improved transport links and the lasting legacy of flexible working patterns since the pandemic have made regional cities more appealing places to live, which in turn has strengthened the rental market in those areas.
“In Scotland and Wales, we’ve also seen significant legislative change in recent years, which may have encouraged landlords to formalise their structures to ensure they’re operating compliantly within those frameworks.”
