Growing numbers of incorporated landlords are holding 45.1% of all buy to let properties, against 54.9% in personal ownership.
Lendlord's latest buy to let market report also found that for landlords owning between one to three homes, the privately held share rises to 67.1%.
Landlords with company ownership becomes the bigger share for the first time in the 11 to 20-property band.
Large landlords favour companies
The firm's co-founder and chief executive, Aviram Shahar, said: "Company ownership is no longer a niche structure used only at the very top of the market.
"45.1% of BTL ownership is already sitting in a company, and among larger portfolios it is the majority model at 57.6%."
He added: "That split matters. Smaller landlords still tend to hold in their own name.
"Larger landlords, and more of the North, have already moved into companies."
Regional company ownership
Lendlord says that for landlord portfolios containing at least 20 properties, the company-held share stands at 57.6%.
The highest proportion of company ownership for landlords is 53.5% and that’s in the North East.
Companies also hold the bigger share of buy to let properties in Yorkshire and Humberside.
Scotland is the other part of Britain where company ownership exceeds private holdings.
Company ownership grows among landlords
Meanwhile, separate research has backed up Lendlord's findings with news that more landlords are holding property through companies as the private rented sector becomes increasingly business focused.
That's according to John Minnis estate agents which analysed the English Private Landlord Survey and found that 6% of landlords own property through a company, up from 4% in 2018.
That remains a small proportion of the market, but the firm says newer investors are more likely to treat property as part of a wider financial plan and take a structured approach to building portfolios.
The company says landlords are increasingly seeking advice from accountants and tax specialists, reviewing performance regularly and investing across different locations and property types.
The firm's founder, John Minnis, said: "Tomorrow's landlord is likely to be younger, more commercially minded and far more strategic in how they invest.
"They're treating property as part of a wider financial plan rather than simply a retirement asset, and they're increasingly willing to invest wherever the strongest long-term opportunities exist rather than just close to home."
He added that successful investors look beyond headline yields and short-term market movements, concentrating instead on property quality, long-term demand and local market conditions.
Landlord incorporation plan
The managing director of Accommodation for Students, Simon Thompson, said: "For me, the Lendlord research is a reminder that a landlord's chosen structure should follow the business plan rather than fashion.
"That means that the tax treatment, mortgage terms, legal costs and future intentions all need weighing together.
"It's worth noting too that incorporating an existing portfolio may bring expenses that erase any projected benefit."
He added: "That means that independent professional advice is essential before changing titles or borrowing arrangements.
"The takeaway, for me at least, is that scale influences the calculation, but a landlord's individual circumstances must decide it."
