The proportion of homes being bought by landlords across Great Britain has risen to its highest level since 2016, according to the latest Hamptons Monthly Lettings Index, as investors increasingly buy properties from other landlords rather than first-time entrants joining the market.

Between January and April 2026, landlords accounted for 13.3% of all property purchases across Great Britain, up from 9.9% during the same period last year. The sharpest growth was seen in the North West, where landlords represented 25.3% of buyers, more than double the 12.4% recorded in 2025.

Hamptons said the increase has largely been driven by landlord-to-landlord sales as smaller investors leave the sector amid higher borrowing costs and the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act.

A record 23.0% of homes bought by landlords this year had previously been rented out, compared with 16.0% in 2025 and a five-year average of just 9.9%. Investors purchasing these properties achieved an average gross yield of 6.7%, up from 5.7% in 2022.

Meanwhile, rental growth also accelerated. The average rent on a newly-let property increased by 1.9% year-on-year in April, taking the average monthly rent across Great Britain to £1,396. Inner London recorded the strongest growth, with rents rising 6.7% annually to an average of £2,840 per month.

Beveridge, Head of Research at Hamptons, said: “The recent spike in landlord purchases reflects homes changing hands between investors, rather than the dawn of a new buy-to-let boom.”

The figures suggest that while some smaller landlords continue to exit the market, professional investors remain active in regions where stronger yields continue to offset rising costs and regulation.