Over the last 6 months, the top UK landlords have been quietly exiting the sector. Likened to the “whales” of the crypto industry, they’ve been tapping out one by one, cashing in large cheques for their portfolios, mostly under the radar.
In the last two months, we’ve had 3 of them approach us at Landlord Sales Agency. Known for their large portfolios and monopoly over several regions of the UK’s rental space, it’s an indicator that something is coming. As landlords ourselves, we immediately took note. What do they know that others don’t?
Within the last year it’s well known that landlords are exiting and selling up. New research by Open Property Group has revealed a third of landlords plan to retire from or exit the buy-to-let market. A record 26% of landlords sold at least one property in the last 12 months while just 8% of landlords bought. Coupled with the Renters’ Rights Bill, which is already sending waves through the sector before it’s even cemented into law, it makes sense that smaller to mid landlords are over and out.
But why have the “whales” started to move? Why are the most unshakable high-profit super-landlords starting to sell?
A week speaking to just one of them will tell you all you need to know. The end of 2025 is set to trigger a mass landlord exodus. With policy shifts looming, Government closing in and sentiment turning sour, a flood of rental properties is about to swamp the market. When it does, prices will plummet. Panic will set in. And those who waited too long may find themselves stuck. Unable to sell, competing with thousands of desperate exits.
It’s time to move. And if you’re quick enough, you can get out now for high prices before the floodgates open.
That’s why I built Landlord Sales Agency, and clearly it’s working. Not just for the “big dogs” but in helping landlords like us too. If you’ve not yet heard about it, Landlord Sales Agency is a portfolio-exit company run by landlords for landlords and for the last 3 years we’ve been quietly building up a team of experts to create the perfect machine to get us all out before the ship sinks.
No matter what the tenant situation and regardless of the condition of your properties, our private database of over 30,000 buyers, plus relationships with property buying funds and companies means that we’ve got buyers who have 100% trust in us motivated and ready to buy, generating a bidding-war frenzy to drive up prices. It’s no wonder the biggest landlords have started to come to us; this month we were able to sell some properties within 1 hour of landlords contacting us. The only thing the buyers wanted in return was 85% - 90% market value, and the properties have to be freehold houses.
Before you think: I can’t accept that, think again, because the numbers are staggering when you look at them properly. Say you had a £120,000 freehold house in Manchester yielding £700 monthly. You're looking at roughly £4,000 annual profit after all expenses. But sell it for £102,000 in cash, and you've just banked 25 years of rental profit in a single transaction.
85% is a money-making chess-move in a market that’s still high, before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon, and the landlords selling know it.
So what does this all mean? As with anything: timing is everything, and it’s clear that the longer we wait, the more we’ll face a saturated market of ex-rental properties.
If you’re going to sell, you’re going to want to start the ball rolling now.
Because the question isn't whether you should sell, the question is whether you'll be smart enough to sell before everyone else reaches the same conclusion.
We’re here to offer you a lifeline. My advice is: take it.
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