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Is buy-to-let still a good investment?

Knowing when it’s a good time to buy a house as a prospective homeowner is hard enough, nevermind when you’re thinking about becoming a landlord.

Ultimately, no investment is without risk, and with coming changes in landlord legislation and market fluctuations, investing in property can certainly feel overwhelming. Factoring in whether now is a good time to buy makes the decision even trickier, but learning how to read the market means you can make an informed decision.

What’s the market like right now?

While there have been bumps in the road regarding mortgage rates, and many lenders pulled deals from the market after Kwasi Kwarteng’s 2022 mini budget announcement, investors can rest assured that it seems like the dust is settling.
Unfortunately, interest on buy-to-let mortgages has increased since the start of 2022 after historic lows. Like homeowners, those with existing fixed-year rates won’t see an impact on their finances now, but those looking to buy or refinance soon are likely to see fewer deals and higher rates for a while.

Although, it’s not all doom and gloom. With the close of the Help to Buy Scheme, there may be a larger number of first time buyers waiting to enter the housing market without the means to immediately do so. As such, they are naturally turning to rented accommodation as an alternative to buying. This is good news if you’re a landlord or are considering becoming one.

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Are you looking for a long or short-term buy-to-let investment?

While a transient first time buyer may only be a short-term tenant, it’s enough for you to get your foot in the door and give you time to start to think about your future buy-to-let plans.

Consider how long you want to be a landlord for, as this could impact whether it’s worth doing right now. If you don’t need easy and immediate access to the money you’re investing, then making a long-term investment is a good option. However, if you’re only in it for the short-term, then you may be subject to fluctuating house prices. That’s not to say that a return on your investment isn’t still possible, just less likely.

Understanding your local market

Planning is everything when it comes to investing in property, so taking the time to brush up on your local knowledge is invaluable, as each region differs from the next.

Get to know what the demand is like in your area by speaking to other landlords, estate agents, and by reading online forums. Doing your research and asking local experts means you’re able to make an educated decision about what is going to work best for you. For example, you might realise that buying a little further afield from where you originally planned is worth it if the rental market is flourishing in that area.

Read about the UK Housing Market via our Specialist Residential & Buy to Let Division.

Landlord responsibilities

When making your final decision, keep in mind the purpose of letting out property is not solely to make money. You also have a responsibility to provide safe and secure housing to your tenants.

By RACHEL GEDDES

Source: Property Reporter

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Landlords invest £839m a year upgrading new rental property

Landlords spend an estimated £839m each year upgrading newly purchased rental property before letting it out to tenants, research from Paragon Bank has revealed.

A survey of approximately 900 landlords showed that nearly four in five (77%) invest in upgrading property after purchase, spending an average of £8,720 each.

Based on the average number of buy-to-let mortgages granted each year since 2015, this spend would equate to a £839m annual investment in upgrading private rental stock.

The most common work undertaken is general painting and maintenance (67%), electric or plumbing work (44%), and laying new flooring (37%). A third of landlords (32%) install a new kitchen or bathroom, with nearly a quarter (24%) installing a new boiler or upgrading windows (23%).

Richard Rowntree said: “Landlords typically will make significant improvements to a property before letting to tenants, helping to improve standards across the private rented sector.

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“Landlords will of course benefit from this investment through capital appreciation, but it always results in better quality homes for tenants.

“There is a clear correlation between buy-to-let investment and improving standards in the quality of private rental homes. Standards of property in the PRS have increased significantly over that period.

“Overall homes in the sector are newer, larger, warmer and more energy efficient than they were 10 years ago and tenants have more choice.

“Whilst we recognise more needs to be done to improve standards, since 2009 there are nearly three times the number of properties with an energy rating of C or above, a 100% increase in the number of homes built after 1990 and a substantial expansion in the types of property available to rent in the PRS.”

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Paragon’s new report, Driving Standards in the Private Rented Sector, highlights how the standard of property in the sector has improved over the past 10 to 15 years.

Since 2006, the portion of homes in the sector classed as ‘decent’ under government standards has increased from 53.2% to 76.7%. Overall, 3.6 million homes are now classed as decent, compared to 1.4 million in 2006.

Over that same period, 1.4 million buy-to-let mortgages for house purchase have been approved.

Conversely, the number of homes classed as non-decent in the PRS has not reduced significantly, with 1 million homes categorised as non-decent today compared to 1.21 million in 2006. This suggests that the growth in new properties coming into the PRS over that period is driving up standards for the sector overall and diluting the stubborn proportion that remains non-decent.

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Northern regions remain strong for buy-to-let investment

Buy-to-let properties in the North continue to present an attractive investment opportunity for landlords, offering some of the highest price rises and rental yields.

The UK house price index for February showed the North West was the English region with the highest annual price growth. Average prices in the region rose by 11.9 per cent to £184,351 in the year to February, up from 10.5 per cent in the month before.

By comparison, London saw the lowest annual growth, where average prices increased by 4.6 per cent over the year to February, down from 5.7 per cent in January.

Rental yields in Q1 2021 were also highest in the North, particularly in the North East (9.1 per cent), Yorkshire and Humberside (8.2 per cent) and North West (7.8 per cent), according to data.

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Angus Stewart said: “For landlords it is all about yield – how much rental income versus the price they pay for the property.

“For quite some time this has meant a shift away from London and the South East where historic higher house prices have outweighed the rental income available. This has been exacerbated by the Covid crisis that has hit rental income in London in particular.

“So, it’s not surprising to see in these figures house prices have been rising in the North West and Yorkshire in particular as investors chase those higher yields. At the moment these areas still look attractive for landlords as they are providing the rental income and the opportunity for capital appreciation.”

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Average rental yields by region, Q1 2021

RegionAverage rental yield
North East9.1%
Yorkshire and Humberside8.2%
North West7.8%
East Midlands6.7%
West Midlands6.5%
South West6.0%
Wales5.8%
East Anglia5.6%
South East5.1%
Greater London5.0%

Anthony Rose added: “Buy-to-let investors are viewing areas in the North as having very strong rental yields and the opportunity for further house price growth.

“As currently they only have to pay the 3 per cent stamp duty surcharge, this is offering very attractive investment opportunities with relatively small initial capital outlays, which is further increasing demand in these areas.”

By Chloe Cheung

Source: FT Adviser

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Holiday let deals surge – can supply keep up with demand?

A jump in the sale of homes for holiday let purposes has corresponded with an increase in mortgage options for borrowers keen to cash on this flourishing areas of the buy-to-let market.

This is according to the latest data from Moneyfacts.co.uk which has revealed a ‘notable’ rise in the number of buy-to-let options for holiday lets over the past six months.

The figures are released as prospects of Brits being able to travel overseas for holidays this year continued to look uncertain.

Moneyfacts revealed today mortgage options for borrowers looking at holiday lets had grown by 45% in the past six months and product availability was double that in August 2020.

The analysis drew on research from Hodge Bank, which showed, over the past six months, there had been a surge in sales of holiday homes near the coast.

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Moneyfacts said the abundance of holiday let products had returned to levels seen a year ago. However, supply of housing overall meant the market was failing to keep up with demand.

According to Rightmove, new listings of properties overall were not satisfying record buyer demand, with available stock down nationally by 25% year-on-year.

Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said: “Consumers may have taken some time to reflect on staycations in light of uncertainties surrounding international travel and how a holiday let could be a worthy investment.

“Lenders have moved over the past six months to cater to the demand for those looking to invest in property, as there has been a rise in holiday let deals of 45%, and product availability has in fact doubled since August 2020.”

Buy-to-let mortgage market analysis 
BTL options available(fixed and variable)Mar-20Aug-20Oct-20Now
Available to holiday let16274103149
Lenders offering holiday let deals20141721
Average fixed rate available to holiday let3.37%3.53%3.79%3.95%
Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk

Trends

According to Moneyfacts it is the building societies which seem more likely to provide the deals to meet the growing demand – whether for someone who uses their own home or takes out a new loan to fund the holiday let investment.

Springall cited research from Hodge Bank, which revealed of those purchasing a holiday home, 65% took out a new holiday let specific mortgage and 35% remortgaged their existing home to finance their holiday home.

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Supply and demand

Springall added: “Supply and demand may well be a key issue in 2021 for investors who feel staycations are here to stay awhile yet, and indeed according to Rightmove, national new listings stock is down 25% year-on-year.

“Any lack of holiday home opportunities will come as frustrating news for investors considering the return of holiday let deals on to the market, especially as sales figures nationally are rising and some consumers have more disposable income from lockdown and are therefore ready to invest.

“Data from PropertyMark cited that one in nine properties nationally sell more than the asking price, with recent figures hitting a five-year high.

“Clearly, for any opportunities that prospective borrowers are contemplating, it is wise they approach an independent qualified financial adviser to go through the deals currently available and to get some valuable insight into the workings of a holiday let, including tax benefits, rules regarding residency periods, rental income desirability and requirements, and other potential expenses outside of utility bills.”

Source: Mortgage Finance Gazette

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BTL mortgage availability Almost half One in 10 North West Stamp Duty holiday Buy-to-let 5-year fixed BTL mortgages buy to let investment areas UK property investment locations buy-to-let lenders BTL properties buy-to-let landlords Number of UK buy-to-let landlords buy-to-let limited companies
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These 10 UK cities are the most profitable for buy to let landlords

CIA Landlord has revealed its annual ranking of the best UK cities to buy to let for 2021, with some areas proving to be more profitable than others. The analysis is based on the average property price, mortgage cost, average rent income, and the monthly costs of being a landlord to calculate the monthly profit. Listed are the 10 cities with the highest monthly earnings for landlords.

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  1. Brighton
    Average property price: £410,541. Average rent: £2,044. Monthly mortgage cost: £1,411. Monthly profit: £571.85
  2. Bangor
    Average property price: £185,833. Average rent: £1,193. Monthly mortgage cost: £639. Monthly profit: £500.53.
  3. Portsmouth
    Average property price: £243,945.. Average rent: £1,379. Monthly mortgage cost: £838. Monthly profit: £479.27.
  4. Leeds
    Average property price: £228,424. Average rent: £1,323. Monthly mortgage cost: £785. Monthly profit: £477.60.
  5. Lancaster
    Average property price: £210,979. Average rent: £873. Monthly mortgage cost: £725. Monthly profit: £474.54.
  6. Bristol
    Average property price: £344,667. Average rent: £1,699. Monthly mortgage cost: £1,184. Monthly profit: £453.20.
  7. Coventry
    Average property price: £209,309. Average rent: £1,213. Monthly mortgage cost: £719. Monthly profit: £432.27.
  8. Manchester
    Average property price: £200,517. Average rent: £1,176. Monthly mortgage cost: £689. Monthly profit: £425.48.
  9. Nottingham
    Average property price: £225,917. Average rent: £1,248. Monthly mortgage cost: £776. Monthly profit: £410.21.
  10. Salford
    Average property price: £172,622. Average rent: £1,048. Monthly mortgage cost: £593. Monthly profit: £393.33.

By Claire Schofield

Source: The Scotsman

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BTL mortgage availability Almost half One in 10 North West Stamp Duty holiday Buy-to-let 5-year fixed BTL mortgages buy to let investment areas UK property investment locations buy-to-let lenders BTL properties buy-to-let landlords Number of UK buy-to-let landlords buy-to-let limited companies
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BTL mortgage availability at pandemic high

The availability of buy-to-let mortgages has remained relatively high during the pandemic, giving landlords cause for optimism, according to Moneyfacts.

Figures from the data provider showed there were 1,976 buy-to-let products available in mid-January, fewer than before the pandemic began but more than the 1,455 available in May.

The provider also suggested lender confidence as the number of deals available in the 80 per cent LTV tier has risen by 26 since December.

Average rates have also increased, with two- and five-year fixed rates standing at 2.92 per cent and 3.29 per cent respectively for all LTV brackets, the highest levels recorded by the provider since November 2019.

But Eleanor Williams, finance expert at Moneyfacts, warned the market has been “volatile” since the start of this year.

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She said: “Lenders have been adjusting their offerings and consequently availability continues to fluctuate – there are now 27 fewer mortgage products on offer than there were just a couple of weeks ago, and so those considering exploring a new BTL mortgage could do well to secure the knowledge and advice of a qualified adviser, to ensure they keep abreast of any relevant changes.”

Buy-to-let mortgage market analysis

PRODUCT NUMBERSJan-20Mar-20May-20Dec-20Jan-2115.1.21
BTL product count – fixed and variable rates2,5832,8971,4551,8182,0031,976
All 80% LTV BTL products – fixed and variable rates2973681974100100
AVERAGE RATESJan-20Mar-20May-20Dec-20Jan-2115.1.21
BTL two-year fixed – all LTVs2.82%2.77%2.51%2.89%2.89%2.92%
BTL five-year fixed – all LTVs3.19%3.24%2.94%3.25%3.27%3.29%
Data shown is as at first working day of month, unless otherwise stated. Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk

The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association has meanwhile highlighted the opportunity for remortgage business from landlords who took out five-year deals before the stamp duty surcharge was introduced in 2016.

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The trade association predicted the five-year anniversary of the surcharge would enable demand in the mortgage market to stay strong this year despite the end of the stamp duty holiday.

A survey by Paragon Bank also found that half of buy-to-let brokers said they would focus on five-year remortgage business when the stamp duty holiday ends.

But Kevin Dunn, director at Furnley House, commented that he expected demand to fall.

Mr Dunn said: “Whilst demand has remained strong in this area over the last six months, I expect demand in buy-to-let mortgages to decrease once the stamp duty holiday ends at the end of March, however not quite in the same way it fell off a cliff when the stamp duty surcharge was announced at the beginning of 2016.”

By Chloe Cheung

Source: FT Adviser

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BTL mortgage availability Almost half One in 10 North West Stamp Duty holiday Buy-to-let 5-year fixed BTL mortgages buy to let investment areas UK property investment locations buy-to-let lenders BTL properties buy-to-let landlords Number of UK buy-to-let landlords buy-to-let limited companies
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Number of UK buy-to-let landlords has increased by 49% in five years

The number of UK buy-to-let landlords has risen 49% in the last five years to an all-time high of 2.7 million, research from ludlowthompson estate agents found.

The residential market has stayed relatively strong during the coronavirus pandemic, though the commercial property market has fared poorly, as 54% of tenants have held discussions with their landlords about taking a rent holiday.

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Stephen Ludlow, chairman of ludlowthompson, said: “The buy-to-let market has continued to provide a reliable return on investment for landlords, even during the worst of the pandemic when other forms of investments went through a period of intense volatility.”

“The historic resilience of residential property means many private investors are still looking to add to their holdings, particularly before March 2021 when the stamp duty holiday ends.”

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“We would advise existing and prospective landlords to consider re-purposing their properties to meet the changing needs of tenants.

“With people spending more time at home, having extra space both in and outdoors has become more important than ever. Outdoor areas and home offices are both in very high in demand, as is accessibility to high-speed WiFi.”

BY RYAN BEMBRIDGE

Source: Property Wire

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Manchester is top UK location for buy-to-let investment

Manchester has been revealed as the top location for buy-to-let investment, according to Aldermore’s Buy-to-Let City Tracker.

Cambridge was noted as the second best location for BTL investment and London as the third.

The tracker analysed 50 cities from across the UK and assessed the best location based on average total rent, the best short-term returns through yield, long-term return through house price growth over the past decade, the lowest number of vacancies as a proportion of total housing stock, and percentage of the city population in the rental market.

According to the lender, significant investment in commercial and residential developments over the past five years in Manchester contributed to it being the top BTL investment location.

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The cities main selling points for private landlords include rental returns and long-term house price growth, but more importantly it has one of the biggest rental markets in the UK, with 31% of Manchester’s population being private renters.

In addition, it has low vacancy rates, above average rental prices and property prices increased by 4.1% annually.

Jon Cooper, head of mortgage distribution at Aldermore, said: “There has been a high level of uncertainty for landlords since the COVID-19 outbreak and they have had to continuously adapt to a raft of challenges but, with so many working from home right now, it reinforces the importance of a robust and diverse private rented sector.

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“The changing needs of renters, whether to move to a new location or a different type of property to fit flexible working demands, has created investment opportunities for landlords.

“The private rented sector is vital to the economy right now and its recovery from the pandemic so landlords should seek portfolio advice from their lenders to see how they can look at new ways to support the sector.”

By Jake Carter

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Rental Market Buoyant Except In London

Rents in London have fallen during the Coronavirus pandemic, property portal Zoopla has reported. However, London is the exception and rents risen in a buoyant rental market across the UK as a whole, it said.

‘Average rents in London have fallen by 5.2 per cent over the last 12 months, reaching levels last seen in 2014’, Zoopla found. It puts this down to ‘new working patterns and lack of tourism during pandemic’.

In contrast, rents increased outside London by 1.7 per cent and rental has increased by a fifth over last year – strong demand that is being driven by a squeeze on lending to potential first-time buyers, said Zoopla.

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‘At the same time, supply remains constrained with levels of investment in buy to let still reduced following the changes to Stamp Duty (the additional 3 per cent surcharge on second properties) and the wider tax regime introduced from 2016 onwards’.

Renters are showing increasing interest in larger properties, especially those that may have access to outside space.

‘The search for space, first seen in the sales market, is now being firmly replicated by renters. Zoopla’s top searches for rental properties include the terms gardens, parking, garages, balconies and pets, reflecting a need for outdoor space and freedom necessary to cope with lockdown. There is also evidence that while the market as a whole is moving more quickly, the market for rented houses is moving more quickly than that for rented flats, reflecting this desire for more space among renters’.

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‘For most of the UK, the demand/supply gap is underpinning moderate levels of rental growth’, said Zoopla head of research Gráinne Gilmore.

‘The split in the rental market caused by COVID-19 has now crystallised and we are seeing the two-speed market firmly entrenched.

‘We haven’t seen the exodus of students from cities and, as more people are staying in the rental market given the squeeze on mortgage lending, higher levels of demand will continue to underpin rents. At the same time however, muted earnings growth will start to limit the headroom for rental growth in some markets.

‘The search for additional space, both indoor and outdoor, within the rental sector is also set to continue as the country goes through additional periods of lockdown’

Source: Residential Landlord

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More landlords look to expand outside London and the South East

One in 10 landlords plan to purchase buy-to-let properties this year, up from 3% at the end last year, Source Business research shows.

The rise in landlord confidence and a change in tenant priorities following the lockdowns is leading investors to a move away from London and the South East, to less built-up areas.

Increasingly tenants want greater home working space and leisure time, resulting into a spike in demand for larger properties.

Mish Liyanage, managing director of The Mistoria Group, said: “We are seeing a rise in professional landlords looking to acquire affordable terraced properties with gardens and apartments in the North West. Lower prices, high yields, expanding population and Northern Power house initiative/HS2 have contributed to this interest.

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“A significant proportion of the professional landlords that we work with are located in the Midlands and the South, but want to invest in the North West, because of the attractive property prices, high yields and occupancy rates. Many investors are moving away from London and the South East and are searching for regions that give them exceptional returns.”

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At the end of 2019, 82% of landlords claimed that they had no plans to acquire another property in 2020, while just 3% were intending to add more than a single property to their portfolio.

Soon after the stamp duty holiday was implemented, 10% of landlords said they are now planning to purchase more properties and build on their portfolio, while just 5% said they had any intention to sell any existing properties.

BY RYAN BEMBRIDGE

Source: Property Wire

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