More than half of landlords consider managing their properties as a full-time job. This is evident from a study by buy-to-let lender Landbay.
The research also shows that only 19% of landlords rely on a property management company, while a quarter use an estate agent.
Among landlords who said they had no other job, the majority owned small portfolios of between four and ten properties, followed closely by 34% who owned more than twenty properties. Only 18% owned between 11 and 20 properties.
The research found that a limited company was the preferred option for most landlords, with 65% of landlords owning their properties through this mechanism.
The aim of Landbay’s research is to identify the key issues facing landlords and determine their views on the future of the buy-to-let market.
In addition to business and economic expectations, landlords were asked about their plans for their properties or portfolios, for rent and for refinancing mortgages.
Commenting on the analysis, Rob Stanton, distribution director at Landbay, said: “We are increasingly seeing landlords treating their portfolios as a full-time business, with the sector increasingly becoming a career choice.
“There is no doubt that managing your own portfolio can be very rewarding, although it is essential to seek professional advice at the right time. We continue to see high levels of activity in the buy-to-let sector. The sector is proving remarkably resilient, despite some challenges.”