The majority of landlords in the UK now feel optimistic about the existing buy-to-let environment and the opportunity it presents in the future, according to the latest Landlord Sentiment Survey from Your Move.
It’s a well-known fact that the sector is currently facing a number of challenges, following several changes over the past few years, including a taxation policy that appears to penalise many buy-to-let landlords.
Despite the influx of regulatory changes over the last few years, landlords remain largely confident in their outlook, with 52% currently positive about being a landlord in the existing economic and political climate.
In contrast, only 16% of those surveyed feel negative about being a landlord, while a further 30% felt indifferent.
Your Move’s survey, which gathered opinions from almost 1,100 landlords in June, also found that the two most important considerations to landlords are ongoing maintenance and upkeep costs (83%), and the potential to make a long-term profit (80%).
Surprisingly, the least important factors were the tenant fees ban (43%) and the potential impact of Brexit (32%).
The study also suggests that the majority of landlords are thinking about the long-term when it comes to property investment. Almost two thirds (64%) revealed that they are unlikely to sell a property in the next 12 months. This supports recent sentiment from mortgage intermediaries, who expect landlord business to stabilise over the next year.
Martyn Alderton, the National Lettings Director of Your Move and Reeds Rains, comments: “Given the number of regulatory and tax changes in the buy-to-let market over the last few years, it wouldn’t be surprising if landlords felt some trepidation about the future. However, it’s great to see that the landlords we surveyed do, for the most part, remain positive about the future.
“Our research shows the majority of landlords are in it for the long-term and that’s important for the wellbeing of the private rental sector, providing much needed homes for those who cannot yet afford, or do not wish, to purchase due to lifestyle choices.”