NEARLY half of all buy to let landlords in the UK are using their property investment as a pension pot, new analysis has found.

The latest annual landlord survey from estate agency network Your Move also shows that 23 per cent of pension-pot landlords have been investing in the buy to let sector for over 15 years.

The survey defines a pension-pot landlord as being over the age of 45 with a portfolio as a long-term retirement investment and found that over four in 10 owners in the buy-to-let sector are investing as a pension.

Your Move surveyed 1,071 buy to let landlords to learn more about their portfolios, and behaviours.

The research found that 29 per cent are accidental landlords, those who were not expecting to be landlords, while 20 per cent described themselves as professional landlords.

The survey also revealed that accidental landlords are most likely to be female and under the age of 45, often thrust into the market through inheritance or other changes in their personal circumstances. Professional landlords, however, tend to be male, over 45 years old, and consider being a landlord as a job or career.

The findings also showed that pension-pot landlords are more likely to live close to their rental properties than either accidental or professional landlords, with 41 per cent living within one to five miles of the property.

Martyn Alderton, national lettings director at Your Move, said: “It’s also clear that pension pot landlords are keen to build a personal rapport with tenants who will look after their investment.”