Around 45% of landlords own a single property and they have an average age of 59, the English Private Landlord Survey 2024 from Propertymark found.
Despite the rising impact of institutional landlords the number of small investors has remained largely unchanged across the private rental sector.
A further 38% own between two and four homes, while the remaining 17% own more than five, though that demographic still accounts for around half of tenancies.
Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, said: “As debates on rental standards and tax policy continue, it’s vital to ensure that reforms recognise the diversity and motivations of landlords, particularly smaller investors who make up the backbone of the private rented sector.”
Propertymark added that reforms which increase financial or administrative risk disproportionately impact small landlords.
Upcoming legislation likely to add to the burden is the Renters’ Rights Act, which will abolish Section 21, introduce periodic tenancies, and increase pet rights.
Landlords operating as individuals will also be taxed on their rental income by 2% more from April 2027.
Propertymark also raised concerns about the lack of investment into property upgrades designed to make homes more energy efficient.
Only a minority of landlords with properties rated EPC D or lower plan to upgrade their properties.
The government plans to make it so rental properties need a minimum EPC of C by 2030, though this is a deadline that’s known to shift.
The EPC C deadline was previously 2025 for new tenancies, until then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled the plan in 2023.