Neglecting property maintenance could cost landlords up to £75,000 over typical ownership period

With the average buy-to-let property currently valued at £242,857 in today’s market, this means that landlords who shy away from properly managing and maintaining their rental property portfolio could see the value of each property fall by between £24,286 and £36,429 when they decide to exit. 

However, this cost can be far more significant depending on where these rental properties are located and in London, where the average buy-to-let property commands a current market value of £500,000, failure to maintain a property’s condition could see landlords hit by a reduction of £75,000 in value. 

Across the South West, failure to maintain a property could reduce its value by as much as £52,381, whilst in the West Midlands this figure stands at £39,286 and £35,000 across the South East. 

Even in more affordable regions such as the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber, landlords risk losing as much as £28,481 and £25,000 respectively, simply by failing to properly manage and maintain their rental property. 

Roma Sharma, Managing Director of Rushbrook & Rathbone, commented: 

“Property is a long-term investment, but it’s one that requires consistent care and attention in order to perform at its best. 

Of course, it’s understandable that maintenance and management can sometimes be overlooked due to the cost involved, particularly as landlord profit margins have come under increasing pressure due to ongoing legislative changes. 

This is particularly true at present, with many landlords now facing further investment requirements to ensure their properties meet the evolving standards set by the Renters’ Rights Act, particularly the Decent Homes Standard. 

However, neglecting ongoing maintenance can gradually erode both the appeal and value of the asset, often resulting in a far greater financial impact in the long run. 

Proactive upkeep not only helps to preserve the condition of the property, but also ensures it remains competitive within the market, attracts reliable tenants, and ultimately allows landlords to realise its full value when the time comes to refinance or sell. 

Professional management plays an important role in this process, ensuring that maintenance is planned appropriately, issues are addressed early, and the long-term integrity of the investment is protected.” 

Data Tables and Sources

• Average buy-to-let property values sourced from The Mortgage Works Landlord Trends Report (2025).

• Cost of neglecting property management and maintenance based on applying industry-recognised annual maintenance recommendations of 1.0% to 1.5% of property value to the average ownership period of 10 years, equating to a cumulative 10% to 15% potential value impact where maintenance and upkeep is neglected.

• Regional value impact calculated using current average buy-to-let property values across each area of England.

• View full data tables and sources online here.