Letting agent use has reached a two-year high, with 66% of rental properties now employing an agent for some or all of the letting process, according to the latest Landlord Trends research from Pegasus Insight.
The figure has risen from 61% in Q1 2026 and 62% a year earlier, with demand for full management driving most of the increase. A quarter (25%) of rental properties now use a full management service, up five percentage points from 20% in the previous quarter.
The rise in letting agent use comes as landlords face a more complex regulatory environment. The Renters’ Rights Act, changing compliance requirements and continued pressure on rental accommodation are adding to the demands on property owners.
Among properties that are not fully managed, 34% use an agent solely to find tenants, while 6% use one for letting and rent collection. The remaining 34% are managed without an agent.
The research also measured the time landlords spend on their properties. Landlords overseeing their portfolios spend an average of 33 hours a month. Those who self-manage spend 51 hours, compared with 11 hours among landlords using a full management service.
Time commitment also rises with portfolio size:
- landlords with between one and five properties spend an average of 18 hours a month on management
- landlords with 11 or more properties spend 83 hours a month
However, larger buy-to-let borrowers are not necessarily more inclined to outsource. Among landlords with four or more BTL mortgages, 39% of properties are self-managed, against 31% for those with one to three mortgages and 33% for those without mortgage borrowing.
Pegasus Insight points to the share of full-time landlords, which stands at 37% among those with four or more BTL mortgages, 13% among those with one to three and 18% among those with no mortgage borrowing. The research suggests full-time landlords may be less inclined to hand management to an agent, which would keep letting agent use lower among larger portfolio borrowers.
“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,” said Bethan Cooke, director of Pegasus Insight (pictured).
“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.”
