How many buy to let landlords are there in the UK? Government release latest figures

New data revealed by the Treasury provides greater detail on the number of landlords in the UK.

Until now, the Office for National Statistics tracked the number of private rented homes through the English Housing Survey and the governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland monitored the number of buy to lets and houses in multiple occupation with licensing schemes. However, the governments did not count landlords.

New information released by Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride, in response to a written question in Parliament by Shadow Secretary of State for Housing John Healey, provides greater clarification.

The number of landlords totals 2,594,720 – with the most (2,266,770) living in England. Scotland has 158,505 landlords, Wales 104,450 and Northern Ireland 64,995.

Counting the number of private rented homes is still fragmented. The latest data from each government shows around 5.45 million homes are let as buy to lets or shared houses.