One in five new buy to let businesses are being set up by overseas investors.

Figures from the lettings agency Hamptons, part of Connells Group, show that 27,200 BTL companies were set up in the first six months of 2026.

The agency tells The Times that 19.5% of them had at least one non-UK director. 

Indian investors accounted for the highest proportion of non-UK directors, followed by Nigerians and the Irish.

A Hamptons spokesperson tells The Times: “While overall numbers of b uy to let company creations are levelling off at between 4,000 and 5,000 a month following years of rapid expansion in the UK, international engagement in the UK private rented sector remains historically high, 

“Crucially, however, buy-in is largely driven by non-UK nationals who are living in the UK, rather than overseas investors.

“For those investing from abroad, personal ownership [rather than company ownership] remains the preferred vehicle, given many overseas tax regimes tend to be more generous than HMRC regarding how they treat rental income.”

Hamptons estimates that 75% of new BTL purchases are now within company structures, and some 67,000 BTL companies were set up last year.