Investors URGE for Software in 2026 as Property Management Becomes Increasingly Unsustainable
- My Property Organiser
- Dec 10, 2025
- 3 min read
Landlords across the UK are accelerating their move toward digital portfolio management in 2026 as traditional paper-based and manual methods struggle to keep pace with the increasing complexity of modern property regulation.
Many landlords who previously relied on spreadsheets, email threads and filing cabinets to manage their properties are finding that the method is very outdated. One independent landlord from Birmingham put it, “It’s not the rules that overwhelm you, it’s trying to keep all the paperwork in order. The moment something is misplaced, you’re on the back foot".
"I use a management company for 4 properties and it's getting out of control. Paperwork, Documents and Numbers are Everywhere"
This sentiment is becoming common, particularly among landlords with small to medium-sized portfolios. Councils are carrying out more inspections, lenders are requesting more evidence during refinancing, and insurers have become stricter about documentation requirements. These pressures are exposing the limitations of outdated admin systems.
Property Software is KEY for Investors to stay organised and on top of their Properties.
Agents have noticed the same trend. A letting agent in Manchester described the difference: “When a landlord wants there property rented, they need to provide us with the relevant documents and sometimes this takes weeks . It simply delays the landlord getting there property rented out. When everything is digital and ordered, it changes the entire management relationship. We can work faster, and the landlord avoids a lot of unnecessary exposure.”
Financial Pressures are Real
The financial side of property management has also changed significantly, further pushing landlords toward digital systems. The volatility of interest rates over the past two years has led many landlords to review their mortgage products more frequently. Brokers report that lenders increasingly expect a clear, trackable financial history, something that is difficult to produce accurately from handwritten logs or irregular spreadsheets.
Accountants are experiencing similar issues. Many now request structured exportable data rather than multiple receipts or manually prepared summaries. “Tax submissions used to be about collecting figures,” explains an accountant in London. “Now, clients need evidence, breakdowns, reconciliation and clarity. Landlords who use modern software simply have fewer problems.”
The biggest change is in Local Licensing.
Throughout 2025, dozens of councils introduced or extended selective and additional licensing, and more are considering similar plans for 2026. These schemes require landlords to demonstrate compliance in detail, often at short notice. A licence application may demand proof of EICRs, gas safety certificates, EPCs, tenancy agreements, deposit protection documents, floor plans, fire safety equipment and more.
For landlords managing these requirements manually, the process can be overwhelming.
A landlord from Nottingham, which operates one of the country’s largest selective licensing areas, described the challenge:
“The council asked for documents that I simply didn't know where to find. I had to check old emails, ring my agent, re-download certificates and look through my laptop. A digital system isn’t a luxury anymore, it’s essential.”
Software is a MUST in 2026!
As more investors adopt digital tools like Property Software in 2026, the divide between those with organised, accessible records and those without is becoming more apparent. The former group navigates compliance, refinancing and tenant relationships more smoothly, while the latter often finds themselves scrambling to meet basic administrative expectations.
Experts predict that by the end of 2026, digital portfolio management will no longer be considered an optional enhancement but a standard part of responsible property management.
“It’s not about software replacing landlords,” one advisor noted. “It’s about landlords finally having a system that keeps the pace with the responsibilities they’re expected to meet.”
With further licensing expansions expected and continued scrutiny from lenders and insurers, the move toward digital organisation appears not only practical but inevitable. The landlords who adapt early are likely to find 2026 far more manageable, and far less stressful, than those who continue relying on outdated tools.