Almost all limited company landlords planning to purchase another buy-to-let property over the next 12 months expect to do so through a corporate structure, according to new research from CHL Mortgages.
Analysis of Pegasus Insight's latest Landlord Trends report found that landlords who have already incorporated are overwhelmingly choosing to continue buying through companies as they expand their portfolios.
The findings suggest that limited company ownership is becoming an established long-term approach among these investors, rather than a structure used for individual purchases.
The report found that almost a quarter (24%) of landlords now hold at least one rental property through a limited company. This rises to 43% among portfolio landlords with four or more buy-to-let mortgages.
The proportion of rental properties held within corporate structures is also increasing among landlords who have incorporated. On average, 75% of their rental properties were held through companies in Q3 2026, compared with 57% in Q3 2021.
According to the report, much of this growth has come from landlords purchasing additional properties through companies rather than transferring properties they already own into corporate structures.
Kay Richardson, Head of Sales at CHL Mortgages, said, “Once landlords have adopted a limited company structure, there appears to be very little appetite to turn back. Almost all of those planning to purchase again over the next 12 months expect to do so through a company, suggesting that incorporation is becoming a lasting part of their investment strategy rather than a decision made one property at a time.”
Landlords operating through limited companies also tend to have larger portfolios, owning an average of 17 properties compared with eight across the wider landlord sample.
They are also more likely to be planning further investment. While 6% of all landlords surveyed intend to purchase additional rental property over the next year, the proportion rises to 18% among those operating through limited companies.
Richardson added, “This is not simply about more landlords using limited companies. It’s about the extent to which existing company landlords are choosing to build their portfolios through those structures. That creates a growing need for mortgage solutions capable of accommodating a wide range of circumstances, from properties held in personal and company names to borrowing across single or multiple limited companies.”
The findings indicate that landlords already operating through corporate structures could account for a significant share of new buy-to-let investment over the coming year.
Richardson concluded, “There’s a clear opportunity to support landlords who remain ambitious about developing their portfolios. Their ownership arrangements can be varied, so flexible underwriting and clear, consistent criteria are essential. Lenders and brokers that take the time to understand the complete picture will be best placed to help landlords secure finance that fits both their current circumstances and their longer-term plans.”
