Letting agents expect a 71 percent reduction in buy-to-let investors this year, according to a new Iamproperty study that points to a weaker pipeline of landlord-led business and tighter rental stock.
Agents say landlord-led growth is fading
The proptech group’s research, based on interviews with more than 320 agents, found many firms are shifting attention away from expansion driven by investor purchases and towards owner-occupiers, needs-based movers and extra sales work.
For landlords, the message is less about agency strategy and more about what it says on supply. If agents expect fewer investors to buy this year, that usually means fewer rental homes being added at a point when availability is already stretched across much of the market.
The report also found that only 26 percent of agents feel optimistic about the current environment. Regulatory pressure was cited as a major factor, with respondents linking landlord exits to the approach of the Renters’ Rights Act and the broader cost of staying compliant.
Supply pressure has not gone away
That fits with recent evidence elsewhere in the market. Landlord Knowledge recently reported that RICS found tenant demand rising while landlord instructions stayed weak. This site also reported that rents had plateaued nationally but regional supply gaps were still driving uneven pressure.
The Iamproperty findings add another layer. They suggest the issue is not only that some landlords are selling, but that fewer replacements are stepping in to buy rental property. That matters because the private rented sector can cope with some churn. It struggles when exits outnumber new entrants for long enough.
Agents quoted in the study described a market where rents are still rising in many areas but stock is no longer keeping pace. That is a poor mix for landlords looking to expand cautiously, because the headline case for investment can still look attractive while financing, regulation and management risk are pushing others to stay out.
This follows Landlord Knowledge’s recent report on one in four landlords still planning to sell ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act deadline. The latest agency data suggests that even where the pace of exit stabilises, replacement buying may stay weak – and that keeps pressure on rental supply.
There is also a commercial warning for landlords who rely on agency advice. As agencies diversify income and spend more time on sales, some will be less focused on winning new landlord instructions. Portfolio investors may find the strongest agency support goes to clients who can offer scale or long-term management opportunities.
What this means for landlords
- If you’re looking to buy: weaker investor competition could create openings, but only if finance and compliance costs still stack up.
- Watch for: continued falls in rental stock, which can support rents but also increase political pressure on the sector.
- Bottom line: landlord exits remain a supply story, not just a sentiment story.
Editor’s view
Landlords should pay attention when agents stop talking about growth and start talking about survival. If new investors keep sitting out the market, supply will stay tight and the policy pressure around rents will only increase.
Author: Editorial Team – UK landlord & buy-to-let news, policy, and finance
Published: 13 April 2026
Sources: Iamproperty – The Real Estate Of It
Related reading: RICS: tenant demand rises as landlord supply stays weak
