Millennials are increasingly driving the limited landlord surge, with half of shareholder BTL limited companies established this year done so by those born between 1981 and 1996.
The analysis from Hamptons estimates that millennials will set up a record 33,395 new BTL ltd companies in 2025, more than twice what was incorporated in 2020.
This is the first time millennials have accounted for half of new shareholders in new BTL companies, having accounted for 40% five years ago.
The number of new companies set up by Millennials has outpaced those led by Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) since 2017 and overtook Gen X-led (born 1965-1980) incorporations in 2022.
This shift away from older generations reflects the fact that Baby Boomers, now in their 60s and 70s, are less likely to be setting up new portfolios.
Meanwhile, the number of Gen Z-led companies (today aged between 13 and 28) overtook new incorporations from Baby Boomers (aged between 61 and 79) for the first time this year.
So far this year, 75% of shareholders in new companies were under the age of 50 — up from 68% a decade ago.
Elsewhere, Hamptons found that the average rent for a newly let home fell in Great Britain by 0.3% in the year to September 2025. This is the equivalent of a £4 fall to £1,398.
London drove the slowdown where rents fell by 2.7% or £65 per month. In inner London, rents declined by 4.6% year-on-year, bringing the average to £2,766 pcm, £165 lower than the October 2024 peak.
In contrast, rents for renewed contracts continued to rise and outpaced inflation, increasing by 4.6% over the past 12 months. The average renewal rent now stands at £1,307 per month, surpassing the £1,300 per month mark for the first time.
