Average landlord portfolio generating almost £90,000

The average UK landlord portfolio is now generating almost £90,000 a year in gross rental income, according to analysis by Rushbrook.

The research shows that the average landlord currently owns 7.3 properties with a combined estimated value of £1.7m; both figures are unchanged on an annual basis.

However, the gross rental income generated by the average portfolio has increased by 22.9% year-on-year, from £9,860 to £12,117 in Q1 2026.

As a result, the estimated gross rental income generated across the average 7.3-property portfolio has climbed from £71,978 to £88,454 per year — an annual increase of £16,476.

While rental income has increased, so too has the level of borrowing associated with the average landlord portfolio.

The estimated amount owed through BTL mortgage borrowing has risen from £642,000 to £736,000. This is an annual increase of £94,000, or 14.6%, despite the estimated value of the average portfolio remaining unchanged at £1.7m.

Rushbrook also looked at the potential cost of professional management for the average landlord portfolio.

Fully managed rental services typically cost between 8% and 15% of monthly rental income, plus VAT. Using the midpoint of 11.5%, Rushbrook estimates that professional management of a single property generating the current average rental income would cost approximately £139 per month including VAT.

Across the average portfolio of 7.3 properties, this equates to an estimated £1,017 per month, or £12,207 per year, based on current rental income levels.

“It's important to distinguish gross rental income from profit,” said Roma Sharma, managing director at Rushbrook.

“When you're overseeing £1.7m worth of property and almost £90,000 in annual gross rental income, good management isn't simply about collecting rent and arranging the occasional repair.

“It's about protecting the performance of a significant property business and ensuring that its assets, tenants and regulatory obligations are being properly looked after.”