New research suggests sentiment is recovering as landlords adjust to a tougher market
Confidence among UK private landlords has strengthened over the past year, according to new data from Rely, the specialist buy-to-let lender under OSB Group.
The latest Landlord Leaders 2025 report indicates that sentiment has shifted from caution towards renewed stability, even as higher costs, tighter regulation and tenant affordability remain significant concerns.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents now say they feel optimistic about being a landlord in the future, compared with 47% a year earlier.
Fewer landlords are actively questioning their position in the market. The proportion who say they are worried and rethinking their future as a landlord has fallen to 24%, from 29% in 2024. The share of those describing themselves as pessimistic has also reduced, suggesting apprehension is easing rather than escalating.
The research points to a sector that is adjusting to new conditions rather than withdrawing from them. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of landlords surveyed believe they provide a vital service to the UK by housing those who need it most, underlining the continued role of the private rented sector in meeting demand.
For mortgage professionals, the findings point to a cohort of landlords more inclined to hold and manage their portfolios, rather than exit, creating ongoing demand for specialist advice on funding, restructuring and navigating regulatory change.
“We are seeing a clear shift in sentiment in the buy-to-let space,” said Adrian Moloney (pictured top), group lending distribution director at Rely Mortgages. “Confidence is returning as landlords adapt to a new operating environment. This is a sector that is becoming more professional, more informed and more deliberate in how it responds to change.
“Rising optimism reflects landlords taking control of their businesses, seeking advice, planning for the long term and focusing on sustainability rather than short-term reactions. That matters not just for landlords themselves, but for brokers, lenders and tenants who all rely on a stable and functioning private rented sector.”
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