PR: What are the biggest opportunities you see for landlords and investors in the current property market—and how can they capitalise on them?
ME: 2026 is shaping up to be a very exciting year in the property finance sector. As landlords and investors look to capitalise on the active specialist market, the desire to diversify portfolios has become more prevalent.
While standard buy-to-lets have faced margin pressure, the real opportunity lies in specialist assets, specifically Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and Multi-Unit Freehold Blocks (MUFBs).
As the market continues to mature and evolve, we have seen a trend of smaller landlords exiting due to regulatory shifts. This trend presents an opportunity for professional investors to acquire the properties and diversify the structure of the asset to enhance their income and capital gain.
PR: How has investor behaviour changed over the past year, and what trends do you expect to shape the sector in 2025?
ME: Over the past year, we’ve seen a transition from reactive to intentional investing. We are moving away from the era of the casual landlord as investors lean toward income-backed stability and away from capital growth speculation.
Key trends expected to shape the market in 2026 are a clear yield over capital shift particularly in the Midlands and the North where house-price-to-rent ratios remain most favourable. In the South region, we are seeing increased rent with the recalibration of assets. We are also seeing more use of Limited Company (Special Purpose Vehicle) structures and increased diversification of portfolios.
PR: What’s your view on the shift toward professionalisation in the landlord sector, and how can smaller investors stay competitive?
ME: The shift toward professionalisation is a natural and perhaps necessary move. With the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act this May, there will be a need for professional landlords and investors to operate with a business mindset. For smaller investors, this means they need to be more aware of these changes, the impact it could have on their portfolio, and how they operate their investment model.
PR: Where do you think landlords should be focusing their attention right now—whether it’s location, property type, or tenant demographics?
ME: Landlords that want resilience in 2026 need to focus on high-demand, low-supply niches. All three factors, location, asset type, and demographic, should all come into play when making a decision.
PR: If you could give one piece of advice to landlords looking to grow or futureproof their portfolio, what would it be?
ME: Treat your portfolio as a business, not a hobby. Futureproofing is no longer just about fixing a mortgage rate; it’s about legislative and operational resilience. This means maintaining an awareness of market changes, reinvesting capital to grow your portfolio, and diversifying assets if the opportunity arises to gain capital and rental enhancements. If a property doesn't work as a standalone business entity, it could end up being a liability, not an asset.
