SIC code 68209 (Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate) is one of the most widely used business classifications in the United Kingdom, with 267,955 active companies registered under this code. This makes it one of the largest individual SIC categories in the UK economy. It falls under Section L (Real estate activities) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate industry page.
With a 96% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 218 of 280,347 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. Companies in this sector average 9.7 years old, reflecting a balanced mix of established businesses and newer market participants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 55% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 28%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (53,308), MANCHESTER (5,416), GLASGOW (4,347), which together account for 24% of active companies.
SIC code 68209 stands for "Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section L — Real estate activities. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 267,955 active companies registered under SIC code 68209 in the UK, out of 280,347 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 96%, meaning 4% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for other letting and operating of own or leased real estate companies (SIC 68209) are: LONDON (53,308), MANCHESTER (5,416), GLASGOW (4,347), BIRMINGHAM (4,217), BRISTOL (3,347). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 55% of currently active SIC 68209 companies were formed since 2020, and 28% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for other letting and operating of own or leased real estate services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 68209 have an average age of 9.7 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include MANCHESTER SETTLEMENT, TWI LIMITED, BHT SUSSEX.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 68100 (Buying and selling of own real estate), 68320 (Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis), 68310 (Real estate agencies), 68201 (Renting and operating of Housing Association real estate). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 68209 (Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 267,955 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.