"There is often a perception that letting property is a relatively passive activity, that landlords just sit back and let the cash roll in. But the data tells a different story"
- Mark Long - Pegasus Insight
The latest Landlord Trends Q4 2025 data shows landlords now spend an average of 31 hours per month managing their rental properties, equivalent to nearly four full working days. For those with 11 or more properties, the time commitment rises sharply to 78 hours a month, or almost 10 working days.
The findings highlight the growing operational demands of portfolio management, particularly for larger and more complex landlords. While 57% of properties are managed using some form of letting agent service, reported time commitments are broadly similar whether landlords use an agent or not.
This suggests that oversight, compliance, property upkeep, and financial management remain largely the responsibility of the property owner. Time invested is highest among landlords with buy-to-let mortgages, HMO holdings, and larger portfolios, reflecting the additional complexity of scale and structured borrowing.
Alongside this 'sweat equity,' landlords also face significant financial outlay. On average, they estimate that around 23% to 24% of their gross rental income goes toward running and maintenance costs, underlining the dual time and cash burden of managing a portfolio.
“There is often a perception that letting property is a relatively passive activity, that landlords just sit back and let the cash roll in. But the data tells a different story," Notes Mark Long, managing director and founder of Pegasus Insight (pictured). "For many landlords, particularly those operating at scale, portfolio management represents a significant monthly time commitment."
He added, “As regulatory and operational requirements have increased, so too has the administrative and compliance workload. Larger landlords, those whose properties are financed using a mortgage and those operating HMOs, are naturally exposed to greater complexity, and that is reflected in the hours they invest.
“The combination of rising time demands and ongoing cost pressures reinforces the fact that the Private Rented Sector is becoming increasingly professionalised. Successful landlords are devoting both capital and active management effort to sustain the performance of their investments.”
