The British public’s appetite for bricks and mortar shows no sign of cooling, with a third of UK adults expressing a desire to become buy-to-let (BTL) landlords, according to new research — a striking vote of confidence in a sector often dismissed as being in decline.
A survey of 2,000 UK adults by Market Financial Solutions (MFS) reveals that 33% are keen to invest in rental properties. Enthusiasm is particularly high among younger generations, with 54% of 18- to 34-year-olds aspiring to enter the BTL market, compared to just 14% of those over 55.
Despite rising interest rates, regulatory hurdles, and surging property prices, real estate remains a cornerstone of long-term investment strategies for many. Six in ten respondents see property as a dependable route to wealth, and 37% favour it over stock market investments. More than half (53%) consider property a “safe and stable asset.”
Property Still a Prize
MFS chief executive Paresh Raja was quick to challenge the narrative that BTL investing is falling out of favour.
“It has become popular over the past decade to bash buy-to-let investing as increasingly unappealing,” Raja said. “Clearly, however, that is far from the case.”
Raja acknowledged that economic headwinds — including soaring house prices and higher borrowing costs — have made life harder for landlords. But he insisted that these factors haven’t dulled the nation’s passion for property.
“These survey results underline the love affair that the UK has with bricks and mortar,” he added.
A Lottery Win? Invest in Property
The research also found that 58% of people would invest some or all of a hypothetical £1 million lottery win into property. Among younger adults aged 18–34, that figure climbs to 68%.
But this generation also voiced its frustration, with 57% saying that rising house prices have made BTL investment far more challenging than it was for previous generations.
First-Time Landlords on the Horizon?
Despite the hurdles, Raja remains optimistic. “Many people aspire to homeownership and property investment,” he said. “The stability of the market, along with the opportunity for long-term capital growth and rental income, continues to attract new investors.”
He added that if BTL mortgage rates ease in the coming months, as forecasted, the market could see a new wave of first-time landlords entering the fray.
While the sector may face mounting pressures, the British belief in property’s enduring value appears firmly intact.