Buy-to-let landlords are more Joe Public than Duke of Westminster, according to the largest ever survey of UK landlords* since the inception of the buy-to-let market...

The survey of nearly 5,000 landlords by Bradford & Bingley, the UK’s leading buy-to-let lender, revealed that those most likely to invest in the buy-to-let market in 2007 are everyday people who are looking for capital growth and a means to supplement their pension pots.

The majority successfully hold down a day job in addition to maintaining their rental properties. Only 10% of buy-to-let investors are self-employed as a full-time professional landlord.

Landlord confidence ‘high’

Contrary to the misconception that landlords are in it for a quick buck, most are investing for the long-term, with half of all respondents (50%), confirming that they have been investing in property for over five years, to date. Only 7% have been investing for under a year.

Given their long-term view, recent interest rate rises have failed to diminish landlords’ confidence in the market, with a greater number of respondents planning to increase or maintain their property portfolio (88%)** than at the same time last year (86%).

There was also increased landlord confidence in regard to rent levels, with 96% of landlords expecting rent levels across their portfolios to either increase (34%) or stay the same (62%) over the next six months. This was an increase of 7% on the same time last year.

Profile of the typical buy-to-let investor

• The typical buy-to-let investor is male (64%) and between 36 and 45 years of age (33%).
  
  
• 63% have between one and five buy-to-let properties***
  
  
• Half of landlords (50%) have been investing in property for over five years.
  
  
• 71% are either full-time employed or are self-employed in addition to renting out properties****
  
  
• The most popular investment property is still the terraced house, with 58% of landlords having at least one terraced house in their property portfolio, up from 52% last year.
  
  
• Across the UK, landlords reported a healthy mix of social groups amongst their tenants, with couples accounting for 45% of tenants, single people for 36% and students 12%.

Andy Wiggans, director of mortgages at Bradford & Bingley, said: “Despite recent reports of a slowdown in the buy-to-let sector, our biggest ever survey of those at the heart of the market shows it remains strong.

“Higher interest rates may have an effect on cash flow but they have no impact on long-term capital returns. Buy-to-let remains a popular market that attracts a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life looking for long-term capital growth or a means of supplementing their pension."