Many landlords who have built their property portfolios over the years find themselves in a paradox. While the preference among landlords today is increasingly to hold properties within company structures, the majority remain tied to personal ownership. This contradiction highlights the challenges landlords face in adapting their existing portfolios to align with current investment preferences.

Legacy Decisions and Changing Preferences

Landlords who began acquiring properties under previous market conditions made ownership decisions based on the financing options, tax treatments, and practical considerations available at the time. Personal ownership was often the rational choice given these factors. However, as the property market and tax landscape have evolved, so too has the thinking around optimal portfolio structures.

Despite this shift in mindset, many landlords have not transitioned their portfolios to company ownership. The inertia stems from the complexities involved in changing ownership structures, which can include financing restrictions, tax implications, and legal hurdles. These barriers make it difficult to restructure portfolios, even when landlords recognise the benefits of company ownership for future acquisitions.

Evidence from Recent Research

The Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey for the first quarter of 2026 reveals this disconnect clearly. While a majority of landlords currently hold their properties personally, many express a preference for company structures when considering future investments. This suggests that awareness of the advantages of company ownership is widespread, but practical implementation remains a significant challenge.

The survey findings underscore that landlords are not unclear about how they would prefer to invest today. Instead, they are navigating the complexities of altering decisions made in the past, which continue to anchor their current portfolio structures. This tension becomes more apparent as portfolios mature and long-term strategic planning gains importance.

What this means for landlords

For landlords with relatively low borrowing or those beginning to reassess their asset structures, this is an opportune moment to take a more holistic view of their portfolios. Understanding how current ownership arrangements align with future goals is essential for effective planning. While wholesale changes are rarely immediate, recognising structural limitations can inform incremental adjustments that better support long-term objectives.

Landlords are encouraged to consider professional advice to explore the implications of restructuring and to identify practical pathways forward. Such conversations can help clarify how portfolios might evolve to meet changing market conditions and personal investment strategies.

An invitation for established landlords

Property118 offers landlords with established portfolios and modest borrowing the opportunity to engage in free initial discussions. These consultations aim to explore how portfolios function as a whole and what changes could enhance their effectiveness in the coming years. This approach supports landlords in navigating the complexities of ownership structures and planning for the future.

Source: Based on reporting from Property118

TLA Training Academy

The Landlord Association has launched its new Training Academy for UK landlords, providing structured guidance, compliance education, and practical knowledge to support landlords at every stage. Members can now complete the programme and become TLA Certified Landlords at no additional cost as part of their membership.

Landlords can explore the Academy here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/tla-academy/

Those looking to join and access the full training and certification can register here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/landlord-association-membership-uk/

TLA update

The Landlord Association is currently onboarding new service providers into its Trusted Partner Hub, a new initiative designed to support landlords, tenants, letting agents, and property managers with vetted, high-quality services. As one of the fastest growing landlord associations in the UK, TLA offers partners direct access to an engaged and active member base at the point of need. Service providers across legal, maintenance, insurance, finance, mortgages, tenant screening, and property services can register their interest here: https://landlordassociation.org.uk/become-a-tla-service-partner/