RESULTS of the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey (Q1 2026)

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RESULTS of the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey (Q1 2026)

2,380 landlords completed our recent Property118 landlord survey.

If you were one of them, Thank You; it’s by far the UK’s largest landlord sentiment survey, EVER!

We have published the high-level results below, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. As always, the devil is in the detail.

The raw data captured will enable us to drill down to create thousands of additional unique datasets and valuable insights. That will, in turn, provide content for many more research articles in the coming weeks and months. Examples might include subjects like; what percentage of landlords over the age of 60 have no mortgages or an LTV of under 30% and use life insurance as part of their property rental business strategy, or …

What percentage of portfolio landlords who own over 20 properties are planning to exit completely, and why?

This is likely to be of interest to mainstream media, political analysts, future corporate sponsors, and academic research organisations, all of which we will be delighted to hear from.

All data collected is, of course, anonymised for confidentiality purposes.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

This is just the beginning. The raw data will allow us to explore cross-tabulated insights, such as the relationship between age, leverage, and exit intentions, or regional variations in ownership structures and management approaches. These deeper analyses will follow in dedicated articles over the coming weeks and months.

Why your constructive feedback matters

We plan to run the Property118 Landlord Sentiment Survey around the last day of every quarter. This was our first, and we’ve already received some extremely constructive feedback following the article announcing the lauch. The more feedback we receive in the comments below, the better our future surveys will become.

These surveys are YOUR way to influence future legislation, and perhaps even cause u-turns and repeals of existing legislation.

We also need your help to share this message on Social Media such as Linkedin, Twitter, Reddit, Facebook and X, to reach other landlords.

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Landlords to tighten tenant checks before Renters’ Rights Act

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Property118

Landlords to tighten tenant checks before Renters’ Rights Act

Landlords are tightening tenant screening ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force on 1 May, with nearly seven in 10 planning more stringent checks to manage eviction risk.

Paragon Bank’s survey of 500 landlords shows 69% intend to introduce more in-depth vetting of prospective tenants.

Another 70% say they will be more selective about where they advertise their properties.

Three-quarters say they feel prepared for the new regime and 42% point to the removal of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions as the change most likely to affect their business.

Also, 43% raise concerns about tenants falling into arrears or engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Landlords must adapt

The bank’s mortgage lending director, Lisa Steele, said: “The Renters’ Rights Act represents a major policy shift, and landlords are adapting their approach accordingly.

“Given the pressures expected on the courts through the change to the eviction process, landlords are understandably planning to make more expansive checks on prospective tenants as they don’t want the cost and time involved in a lengthy eviction process.”

She added: “This creates challenges for those new to the rental market who have not yet built-up a tenant reference history, as well as those with infrequent income schedules.

“This was always the challenge for the RRA; while in brings in extra protections, it could exclude some of those tenants at the periphery of the market.”

Court backlog fears

Paragon says that over the past year, 51% of landlords report at least one instance of rent arrears or a late payment.

Anti-social behaviour has been encountered by 27%, while 22% say tenants remained in a property longer than intended.

A further 18% report damage linked to pets.

Court capacity is also a worry with 65% wanting faster court processes to reduce delays.

And 39% say the number of mandatory grounds for possession should be increased.

More than half put up rents

Around 35% of landlords say they are expecting a direct financial impact from the Act.

In response, 53% say they will consider increasing rent and 37% plan to review rents more frequently.

However, 18% are looking at cost savings across their portfolios, including changes to maintenance schedules and white goods replacement.

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Landlords turn to incorporation as Renters’ Rights Act approaches

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Property118

Landlords turn to incorporation as Renters’ Rights Act approaches

Buy-to-let incorporation is set to boom ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force, claims software company.

Data by Propoly reveals the number of companies being set up to hold buy-to-let properties has increased every year since 2015, with annual increases of up to 35.9%.

The company says for many landlords, with the Renters’ Rights Act just around the corner, incorporation is emerging as a popular strategy.

Renters’ Rights Act is playing an important role

According to the data, analysed data on the number of companies that are set up each year to hold buy-to-let properties in the UK, and found that an estimated total of 401,744 such companies were operational in 2025.

This marked an annual increase of 13.7%, equivalent to the creation of an additional 48,252 companies compared to 2024.

Propoly has forecast that in 2026, the number of companies is going to increase by a further 7.6%. This will see the creation of another 30,354 companies, bringing the UK total to 432,098.

Sim Sekhon, group CEO at Propoly, said: “While tax efficiency has been a major driver behind the rise in incorporation, the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act is now playing an increasingly important role in how landlords are choosing to structure and manage their portfolios.

“As the sector becomes more regulated, many landlords are recognising the need to operate in a more formal, business-like way, and a limited company structure naturally supports that shift.

“The Renters’ Rights Act is expected to introduce stronger tenant protections and place greater obligations on landlords, from tenancy management through to compliance and dispute resolution. For many, this will mean tighter margins and a greater administrative burden, which is prompting a reassessment of how their portfolios are run.”

More landlords to consider a company structure

He adds: “Operating through a company can provide a clearer framework for managing these responsibilities, while also allowing landlords to take a longer-term, more strategic view of their investments.

“It enables better organisation of finances, easier reinvestment, and a structure that is more aligned with running a professional rental business rather than holding property as a sideline.

“That said, incorporation still isn’t the right move for everyone. There are additional costs, tax considerations, and lending challenges that need to be carefully evaluated. But as legislative change continues to reshape the private rental sector, we expect more landlords to consider whether a company structure offers the resilience and flexibility they need to adapt.”

Important context: Property118 is not currently recommending Section 162 incorporation for landlords with mortgages while legal uncertainty remains over the treatment of mortgage liabilities. Read our current position here: Why Property118 is not currently recommending s162 incorporation to landlords with mortgages

A conversation worth having?

If you are weighing up your own strategy, whether that’s to sell, expand, or restructure to improve profitibility, it is worth having a discussion with a Property118 consultant to take a closer look at how your portfolio is structured as a whole now, and to forecast the outcomes based on multiple scenario’s.

These conversations are typically most useful for landlords with established portfolios and relatively modest borrowing who are beginning to reflect on how their assets could work more effectively in the years ahead.

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Financial penalties won’t solve empty homes crisis – Propertymark

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Property118

Financial penalties won’t solve empty homes crisis – Propertymark

More than 300,000 homes across the country have been left empty for over six months, prompting an industry body to call on the government and councils to take action.

Propertymark has published a policy paper outlining how the government can address empty properties and bring them back into use.

The industry body warns that financial penalties and council tax premiums, such as the 100% extra council tax charged on long-term empty properties in Brighton and Hove, are a “blunt instrument” that can actually discourage owners from investing in returning properties to the market.

Financial penalties alone will not solve the problem.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Long-term empty properties are a visible reminder of a system that is not working as effectively as it should. At a time when housing demand continues to outstrip supply, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes unused is neither economically nor socially sustainable.

“Our research shows that while governments across the UK have introduced a range of measures, too many local authorities lack the dedicated resources, funding and strategic framework needed to deliver meaningful change. Financial penalties alone will not solve the problem.

“What works is sustained local engagement, professional advice, and properly funded empty homes teams that can support owners through the process of bringing properties back into use.

“This paper sets out practical, deliverable reforms that would help unlock this wasted stock, revitalise high streets and neighbourhoods, and provide much-needed homes for communities across the country.”

Financial support and advice

Propertymark recommends that the government and councils work collaboratively with the third sector to understand the underlying reasons why homes become empty.

The industry body says: “This could be an opportunity to engage local people, utilise data and intelligence, and identify local solutions.”

They also suggest that local authorities across the UK should have a dedicated officer responsible for tackling empty properties, a clear strategy for addressing them, and sufficient revenue and capital budgets to implement these plans.

Other recommendations include providing owners with financial support and practical advice instead of relying solely on penalties, and introducing a targeted government investment programme focused on areas with high concentrations of long-term empty homes.

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Charity calls for action to support older private renters as LHA rates remain frozen

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Charity calls for action to support older private renters as LHA rates remain frozen

A charity is urging the government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates after research reveals an increase in pensioners living in poverty.

New data by the government reveals the number of pensioners living in poverty in the UK increased by 200,000 in just one year.

Independent Age says the government should do more to help older private renters.

Older private renters not forced into dangerous sacrifices

During the Autumn Budget, ministers announced that LHA rates will remain frozen for a second consecutive year in 2026/27.

According to government data, almost 1.7 million private rented households across the country were receiving housing cost support as of August this year, with 53% of those households facing a gap between their housing benefit payments and their monthly rent.

Independent Age director of policy and influencing, Morgan Vine, said: “We want to see Local Housing Allowance uprated, to ensure older private renters are not forced into dangerous sacrifices simply to keep a roof over their head.

“And the delivery of a comprehensive, all entitlement take-up strategy which can overcome the barriers that prevent people in later life from accessing the vital financial support they are entitled to. With the political will, a future without pensioner poverty is possible.”

One-way street to hitting low-income tenants

As previously reported on Property118, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) Ben Beadle warned the current freeze on LHA rates, combined with a 2-percentage-point increase in taxes on dividends, property, and savings income in the Autumn Budget, will ultimately harm renters.

He said: “It beggars belief that the government thinks it is helping renters.

“Piling on further tax rises that will drive up rents, whilst keeping housing benefit rates frozen, is a one-way street to hitting low-income tenants the hardest.

“This can only be described as a deeply regressive package that will make life more difficult for renters across the country.”

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Plea for government to help ease growing landlord costs

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Property118

Plea for government to help ease growing landlord costs

The government is being urged to intervene and help landlords as buy to let borrowing costs rise, adding fresh pressure to rents and landlord finances.

The National Residential Landlords Association points to an analysis from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk which found that landlords are paying an average £1,100 more a year than in January.

That’s down to market shifts linked to conflict in the Middle East feeding through into costs.

At the same time, landlords are contending with a series of further financial demands.

Those include a planned increase in income tax on rent from next year is expected to feed directly into higher rents, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Landlords need help

The NRLA’s chief executive, Ben Beadle, said: “Whilst the government cannot be held responsible for the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, it should take action where its own policies will lead to higher rents.

“Growing taxes, uncertain costs associated with the Renters’ Rights Act and the ongoing housing benefit freeze will create the perfect storm for tenants.

“With so many people reliant on the sector for a place to call home, ministers need to recognise the real-world consequences of their decisions.”

He added: “It is simply stereotyped nonsense that every landlord can somehow absorb ever-increasing costs indefinitely.

“They can’t, and as a result, it is tenants who will suffer most as rents continue to creep up.

“The government needs to take action to support renters and ensure a healthy, vibrant market.”

Other costs to absorb

The NRLA also says that there is also uncertainty around the cost of joining the proposed Private Rented Sector Ombudsman and database under the Renters’ Rights Act.

Also, landlords may need to spend up to £10,000 per property to meet new energy efficiency requirements.

The organisation says most landlords cannot absorb these increases without raising rents.

It points to HM Revenue and Customs data shows average declared rent income for unincorporated landlords stands at £19,400 a year.

That figure sits below earnings from a full-time minimum wage role, limiting scope to offset higher costs.

Solutions for government

There’s also an issue for tenants on lower incomes who are facing rising rents while housing benefit rates remain frozen.

Calls for rent controls have been made, yet the NRLA said such measures would restrict supply.

Zoopla reports almost five tenants competing for each available home to rent.

The association is calling for changes to reduce cost pressures, including scrapping the planned tax rise and keeping new regulatory costs as low as possible.

It also wants reform of the tax system to support energy efficiency improvements and for the unfreezing of housing benefit rates.

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Council row almost leaves tenant and child homeless with more tenants to be evicted

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Council row almost leaves tenant and child homeless with more tenants to be evicted

A dispute over Gas Safety rules and selective licensing nearly left a parent and child without a home but more tenants are facing Section 21 notices.

The landlord, Mick Roberts, says he is fed up with struggling to get Nottingham City Council employees to understand housing law.

He says the situation escalated after council officers challenged the validity of a property’s Gas Safety certificate.

That came despite changes introduced in April 2018 allowing checks to be carried out up to two months before its expiry without altering the renewal dates.

Council won’t listen

Mr Roberts also says tenants are being forced to make repeated visits to council offices to resolve issues, claiming one tenant made three separate trips with five children.

Each of those trips involved hours of travel, only to be told that the tenancy documentation was insufficient before later being accepted unchanged.

He told Property118: “I am serving 10 Section 21s the next month, but hopefully if the council get the paperwork right, most tenants will be able to stay with the new landlord buyer with assistance from the council on deposit and rent up front.

“Twenty years ago, I let tenants move in and pay me at the end in four weeks or 12 weeks when the housing benefit started paying in arrears.”

He added: “I want the council to get their understanding of the paperwork right to save this 20 hours or so it took me last week on very simple case.”

Mistakes happen

Mr Roberts continued: “I understand that mistakes happen and sometimes people don’t know all the rules to start with.

“But it is so annoying when the council sticks to their guns and will not be open to listening ‘just in case they are wrong’.”

The Nottingham landlord pointed to the Gas Safety Regulations, which allows a new certificate to retain its original renewal date if completed within a two-month window before expiry.

He said the council’s interpretation has delayed rehousing efforts.

Alongside the certificate dispute, Mr Roberts said council officers requested a selective licence for a property where no tenant was in place.

He argues that under the rules, this requirement does not apply until a property is occupied.

Council don’t know rules

Mr Roberts said: “The council is also asking for a selective license before the tenant has moved in.

“This is incorrect and the fact that no one in the council appears to know the rules is making me poorly.”

In that case, Mr Roberts responded by stating the tenant had already been rehoused and the property was empty, questioning why licensing requirements were being pursued.

He also raises the cost implications of licensing when the sale of a rented property is in progress.

Applying for a licence for an empty property means spending £900 which would then, perhaps a week later, become invalid once ownership changes.

Selective licence issues

If it was to remain a rented home, it would require a new application and fee from the incoming landlord.

He told us: “I spend £900 for one week, then a new landlord has to spend £900 again. It’s bonkers.”

He has also asked Nottingham City Council: “Have you any idea how many times selective licensing are wrong?”

He added that delays in resolving the Gas Safety certificate issue had taken several days despite the documentation being compliant.

Mr Roberts has now warned the council that unless the situation is resolved soon, he plans to serve around ten Section 21 notices in the coming weeks.

Nottingham City Council has been contacted for comment.

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UK house prices rise in March – Nationwide

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Property118

UK house prices rise in March – Nationwide

Annual UK house price growth reached 2.2% in March, up from 1% in February with values also rising 0.9% month on month, Nationwide reveals.

The average price climbed to £277,186 in March from £273,176 the previous month.

Robert Gardner, the lender’s chief economist, said: “The pickup in house price growth suggests that the market had regained momentum after the slowdown recorded around the turn of the year.

“However, the sharp rise in global energy prices in response to developments in the Middle East represents a significant shock to the global economy, clouding the outlook.”

Housing affordability reversed

He continued: “In the near term, UK economic growth is likely to be slower and inflation higher than previously expected, although ultimately the impact will depend on the duration of the shock as well as the policy response.

“The outlook for interest rates is particularly uncertain and dependent on whether the demand or supply side of the economy is more adversely affected.”

He added: “If sustained, this could reverse some of the improvement in housing affordability that has taken place in recent years.

“With consumer sentiment also likely to be dented by the uncertain outlook and the prospect of rising energy costs, housing market activity is likely to soften.”

House price growth

Nationwide’s quarterly data showed most regions recorded annual price growth, although gains were limited in several parts of England.

Two regions posted annual declines in Q1, with outer South East down 0.7% year-on-year and East Anglia falling 0.4%.

Elsewhere, growth remained below 1% in the West Midlands, East Midlands and the South West.

Northern Ireland recorded the strongest performance, with prices rising 9.5% over the year.

This compared with 1.5% across the UK in Q1 and 3.3% in the North West, the next strongest region.

Scotland recorded annual growth of 3.0% in Q1, up from 1.9% in the previous quarter, while Wales saw prices increase 2.7% year-on-year.

In England, annual growth slowed to 0.9% from 1.2% in Q4.

Northern regions including the North, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands and West Midlands saw prices rise 1.5% year-on-year.

The North West remains the strongest performing English region at 3.3%.

Property sector reaction

Karen Noye, a mortgage expert at Quilter, said: “Today’s figures capture the early stages of the repricing that has taken place in mortgage markets since the start of the Iranian conflict.

“While some resilience in house prices appears to have remained for now, momentum will likely soften in the months ahead as higher mortgage rates and increased economic uncertainty weigh on buyer confidence.”

Nathan Emerson, the CEO of Propertymark, said: “An uplift in house prices will be welcomed by the market and suggests that buyer demand remains resilient despite ongoing economic headwinds.

“Improved sentiment, coupled with marginally better affordability conditions earlier in the year, appears to be supporting price growth.”

Tom Bill, the head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said: “The impact from the Middle East conflict on the housing market is still in the post.

“The fact mortgage offers last for six months means the effect of higher borrowing costs will filter into the market this spring and summer, putting downwards pressure on prices and transaction volumes.

“The longer-term impact hinges on the intensity and length of the conflict.

“That said, one mitigating factor is the amount of equity in the system and the fact more homes are now owned outright than with a mortgage.”

Jason Tebb, the president of OnTheMarket, said: “This data shows just how much market activity and sentiment continued to pick up at the start of this year, with buyers and sellers proceeding with their moves with more clarity and confidence.

“While interest rate rises, rather than previously expected reductions, seem increasingly likely depending on inflationary pressures, six interest rate cuts in the past 20 months have greatly assisted affordability and put borrowers in a stronger position.”

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Property118 launches the UK’s largest ever landlord sentiment survey

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Property118

Property118 launches the UK’s largest ever landlord sentiment survey

At midday today, Property118 launched what is expected to become the UK’s largest recurring landlord sentiment survey, reaching 47,886 members across its network.

The objective is simple, but long overdue: to give landlords a clear, consistent voice, backed by real data, rather than anecdote.

For years, policy debates have been shaped by selective evidence, lobbying narratives, and lagging official statistics. What has been missing is a reliable, repeatable measure of how landlords themselves are actually thinking and behaving in real time.

This survey is designed to change that.

A live picture of landlord decision-making

The survey takes less than three minutes to complete, yet the questions go directly to the heart of the decisions landlords are making right now.

Participants are asked about:

• Whether their portfolios have grown, shrunk, or remained stable over the past two years
• Their likely direction of travel over the next 12 months, including buying, selling, or exiting
• Whether they expect to refinance in the coming year
• The factors most likely to influence both acquisition and disposal decisions
• Preferred ownership structures for future purchases
• The role of life insurance in managing risk and legacy planning
• Age profile, providing context to long-term decision making

Each question has been deliberately framed to capture behaviour, because what landlords say they feel is interesting; what they are actually planning to do is far more valuable.

Why this matters now

There is a growing disconnect between how the sector is portrayed and what is happening on the ground. Legislative changes, tax policy, and regulatory pressure have all combined to create a sense of uncertainty. Many landlords are not reacting immediately, but they are reassessing, often adjusting strategy rather than making headline decisions.

That kind of shift rarely shows up in official data until it is too late. This survey is designed to capture those early signals.

It is not just about whether landlords are selling. It is about understanding why, when, and under what conditions they might change course. Equally, it identifies what would give landlords the confidence to invest again.

Built for consistency, not a one-off headline

This is not a single survey designed to generate a one-off headline. Property118 intends to run this survey at the end of every quarter, creating a consistent data series over time. That consistency is what will give the results real weight. Trends will begin to emerge, confidence levels can be tracked, and behavioural shifts can be identified before they become visible elsewhere.

In time, this will provide something the sector has never had before, a reliable benchmark for landlord sentiment.

From data to influence

The intention is not simply to publish results, but to use them. Aggregated findings will be shared with lenders, policymakers, journalists, and industry bodies. The aim is to ensure that decisions affecting the private rented sector are informed by real behaviour, not assumptions.

There is also a commercial reality underpinning this. Lenders, brokers, and insurers all operate more effectively when they understand the direction of travel within the landlord community. Better data leads to better products, better risk assessment, and ultimately more stable outcomes for everyone involved.

Early indicators to watch

While results will not be published until later this week, there are already some key areas of interest:

• The balance between buying, selling, and holding
• Appetite for refinancing in a higher rate environment
• The extent to which ownership structures are shifting
• Whether life insurance is becoming a more mainstream risk management tool
• How age influences decision-making across portfolios

Each of these points speaks to a broader question: are landlords retreating, repositioning, or preparing for the next phase?

A collective voice

Perhaps the most important aspect of this initiative is participation. With nearly 48,000 landlords invited, even a modest response rate will produce one of the most meaningful datasets the sector has seen.

For landlords, this is an opportunity to contribute to something that goes beyond individual portfolios. It is a chance to shape the narrative with evidence rather than opinion.

The results will be published on Property118 later this week, and for once, the story will be told using the landlords’ own data.

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Why Whole of Life in trust might be the most misunderstood legacy savings plan available

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Why Whole of Life in trust might be the most misunderstood legacy savings plan available

Most landlords do not think of insurance as a savings strategy; they see it as a cost. A necessary one perhaps, but still a cost. That instinct is understandable, because most forms of insurance are designed to protect against events that may never happen – e.g. buildings insurance, liability cover, rent guarantee, etc. – you pay the premium and hope you never need to claim.

Whole of Life insurance written in trust sits in a very different category. It is not protecting against a possibility; it is planning for a certainty.

The difference most people overlook

Every landlord who has built a meaningful portfolio faces the same eventual outcome. At some point, their estate will be assessed for inheritance tax. This is not a remote risk; it is a known future event. That distinction matters because it changes how the numbers should be viewed.

A typical scenario might look like this. A couple in their fifties are quoted around £770 per month for £1 million of cover. The immediate reaction is to view that as an outgoing of £770 leaving the household each month, but let’s look at it another way. That £770 is not disappearing; it is being converted into a guaranteed future payout that will be triggered at exactly the moment the liability arises. In that sense, it behaves far more like a ring-fenced legacy fund than a traditional insurance policy.

A savings plan with a defined purpose

Most savings plans are open-ended, in that you build capital over time and then decide later how it will be used – for example: retirement income, reinvestment, gifting, or simply holding cash for optionality.

Whole of Life in trust works in reverse.

The purpose is defined first, e.g. cover the inheritance tax liability.

The funding mechanism is then structured to deliver that outcome with certainty.

For property investors, this clarity can be particularly valuable. Their wealth is often tied up in appreciating assets that generate income but do not easily convert to cash at short notice. A policy written in trust creates liquidity precisely where the portfolio cannot.

Why it often outperforms “do nothing and invest”

A common objection is that the premiums could instead be invested elsewhere. On the surface, that seems reasonable. £770 per month invested over time could accumulate into a substantial sum.

However, the problem is not the potential return, it is the timing and certainty, because inheritance tax does not wait for markets to be favourable. It does not pause while assets are sold. It does not adjust based on whether a portfolio is temporarily illiquid. Instead, it becomes payable when the estate is assessed, and an investment portfolio may or may not be worth the right amount at the right time, whereas a Whole of Life policy is designed specifically to be. That difference removes a layer of uncertainty that many families only recognise when it is too late.

The trust structure changes everything

The “in trust” element is often treated as a technical detail, but in reality, it is fundamental.

When structured correctly, the policy proceeds do not form part of the estate. Instead, they are paid directly to trustees, who can then use the funds to settle the inheritance tax liability. This avoids two critical problems. First, it prevents the payout from increasing the taxable estate. Second, it ensures that funds are available immediately, rather than being locked inside the probate process.

For families with property portfolios, this can be the difference between orderly succession and forced decision-making under pressure.

Certainty versus flexibility

There is a broader philosophical point here. Many financial strategies prioritise flexibility. Keep options open, retain access to capital, adapt as circumstances change.

That approach has merit during the accumulation phase, but legacy planning is different. At that stage, certainty often becomes more valuable than flexibility.

Whole of Life in trust is, in effect, a decision to exchange a known monthly cost for a known future outcome. For some, that trade-off will feel restrictive. For others, it provides a level of clarity and control that no other structure quite replicates.

Why timing matters more than the product

As our previous article demonstrated, the availability and pricing of cover can change quickly. Health events, even relatively minor ones, can alter the economics permanently.

The irony is that the best time to consider this type of planning is often the moment when it feels least urgent. That is also the moment when it is most efficient.

A different way to think about legacy

Seen through the right lens, Whole of Life in trust is not simply about covering a tax bill. It is about protecting the integrity of a lifetime’s work. It allows a property portfolio to pass intact, without the need for distressed sales, emergency borrowing, or compromises that undermine long-term plans.

For many landlords, that is the real objective. Not just to build wealth, but to pass it on in a controlled and deliberate way.

In that context, the question is not whether the premiums represent good value in isolation, the question is whether the outcome they secure is worth the cost.

Final thoughts

Most savings plans are judged on growth, Whole of Life insurance in trust should be judged on certainty, and for families whose wealth is tied up in property, certainty at the right moment can be the most valuable asset of all.

In terms of viability, £770 per month for £1 million of cover works out at roughly £9,200 per year. Even over 30 years, that is in the region of £276,000 in total premiums. They would need to live a very long time before the premiums paid exceed the £1,000,000 payout. More importantly, the outcome is not linear. They could pay a single premium and die the following month, in which case the full £1 million is paid. Also, if they were to delay they could suffer a change in health, and find the same cover is no longer available on comparable terms.

Get A Quote

Our research into Whole of Life insurance was kindly assisted by Alice Ward-Smith, a whole of market, FCA regulated, Independent Financial Adviser.

To arrange a free consultation with Alice or her team, please complete and submit the form below.

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