Posts with tag: rental market

Women now account for 40% of landlords

Published On: April 20, 2017 at 9:57 am

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Women now account for two in five landlords, with most using property in order to top up their monthly income.

Analysis of tens of thousands of landlords from Simple Landlords Insurance shows that 40% of landlords are now women. In comparison, just 17% of SME owners are female, which indicates that property could be moving towards equality at a quicker pace than other industries.

Goals

The investigation also showed that male and female investors have different goals for their investment. 63% of female landlords said using rent for monthly income was their goal, compared to 53% of men.

In addition, the research found that women are more likely than men to have become accidental landlords. 48% of female landlords said that they were ‘deliberate’ buy-to-let investors, in comparison to 61% of men.

Women were found to be more likely to have become landlords after moving in with their partner and renting out their own property.

Women now account for 40% of landlords

Women now account for 40% of landlords

Acceptance

What’s more, female landlords are more likely to provide rental accommodation to a more diverse spectrum of tenants than men.

35% of female landlords said that they would rent their property to housing benefit tenants, in comparison to 25% of men. Women were also found to be more inclined to renting to students, pensioners and single tenants.

Alexandra Huntley, Head of Operations at Simple Landlords Insurance, observed: ‘As recently as 1970 women could be refused a mortgage without a male guarantor. But buying, selling, renovating, and renting property is no longer just for the boys. Those stereotypes are firmly consigned to history. Women have been steadily gaining ground over the last 50 years and are increasingly gaining financial independence through property investment.’[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/rise-of-the-modern-landlady.html

 

 

Is the mortgage market showing signs of stability?

Published On: April 20, 2017 at 9:12 am

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Categories: Finance News

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The most recent analysis from Mortgage Brain has revealed that the cost of mainstream mortgages continues to show signs of stability.

According to the report, there has been little movement in the market during the last three months.

Mortgages

Data shows that the cost of the lowest rate five year fixed mortgage (2.55%) fell by just 1% since January. In addition, the cost of a 60% LTV two-year fixed rate is only 1% than at the beginning of the year.

A 90% LTV two and three year fixed and a 60% LTV fix are only 0.2% cheaper than they were three months previously.

In comparison, a 60% LTV two, three and five-year tracker have all remained static.

Despite the short-term analysis showing little movement, the most recent product data analysis from Mortgage Brain shows year-on-year reductions in the overall cost of mainstream mortgages.

Is the mortgage market showing signs of stability?

Is the mortgage market showing signs of stability?

The lowest 90% fixed rate now costs 5% less than it did at this time last year, while 60% LTVs costs 4% less than in April 2016.

Mark Lofthouse, CEO of Mortgage Brain, noted: ‘Our latest product data analysis shows that there’s little to get excited about in terms of rate and cost movement over the past three months. Following the long period of record lows, however, our short terms analysis can be seen as another sign that were moving towards a period of cost and rate stability, or even potential rises.’[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/finance/has-stability-arrived-in-the-mortgage-market.html

 

 

One in four would not tell their landlord about damage!

Published On: April 18, 2017 at 2:06 pm

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A new survey from TheHouseShop.com has revealed that one in four tenants wouldn’t inform their landlord if they made significant damage to their rental property.

Data from the report shows that while 15% of people would hire a professional to repair the damage incurred, over one in ten would attempt to fix issues themselves!

Damages

58% of respondents said that they would report any damages to their landlord, but 27% said that they would not.

Of the 27%:

*11% would attempt to fix damages themselves

* 15% would call on a professional

*Only 1% would hide the problem and hope for the best!

Of those honest 58% of respondents:

*24% would offer to pay the repair bill in full

*7 would contribute to the repair bill

*27 would wait and see if they were required to pay anything

One in four would not tell their landlord about damage!

One in four would not tell their landlord about damage!

Accidents

Nick Marr, Co-founder of property marketplace TheHouseShop.com, noted: ‘While the vast majority of tenants will not actively try to do damage to a property, accidents do happen, and even well-meaning and reliable tenants can end up inflicting significant damage during their tenancy.’[1]

‘The best advice I could give to landlords would be to encourage an open and honest relationship with their tenants, so that tenants don’t feel scared or nervous about reporting any damages as soon as they happen. Having a direct relationship with your tenants, as opposed to using a third party agent or management service, can be a great way to build trust and avoid any nasty surprises further down the line. However, it is important to remember that landlords should always conduct thorough checks and references on any potential tenants before they move into the property. That way you can hopefully avoid the nightmare tenant horror stories that so many landlords can recall in an instant,’ he added.[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/1-in-4-admit-they-wouldnt-own-up-to-landlord-about-damage.html

 

Ltd company landlords now own 20% of UK rental properties

Published On: April 18, 2017 at 10:19 am

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The most recent report from Countrywide has revealed that the number of properties being let by company landlords saw the largest year-on-year rise during Q1 of 2017.

These landlords are now enjoying a 20% share of the market, which is the highest proportion since records began in 2010.

Rises

Countrywide suggests that alterations to tax relief on rental properties, as announced in the 2015 Spring Budget, could be behind the increases.

Landlords letting properties in the capital are most likely to own their own property through a limited company, with 27% of properties let here being owned through this measure.

In fact, company landlord lets drive both the top and bottom of the rental market, with the most and least expensive properties more likely to be owned by a company landlord. During the last year, one quarter of homes let by a company landlord cost less than £500 pcm.

Ltd company landlords now own 20% of UK rental properties

Ltd company landlords now own 20% of UK rental properties

Rents

Rents slipped in March 2017, with the cost of a new let 0.3% lower than it was in the same month last year. The average rent for a new let in Great Britain is now £928-£3 less than one year ago.

This fall in growth was driven by London, the South West and Wales, where rents fell by 0.4% 0.2% and 6% respectively.

Johnny Morris, Research Director at Countrywide, noted: ‘The number of rented homes owned through a company is on the up. The incoming tapering of mortgage tax relief is likely driving the increase. Companies are generally taxed more favourably, particularly with recent changes by government to tax relief, so in many cases landlords can make cash savings by operating through a company rather than as an individual.’[1]

‘Rents fell again in March, mostly driven by falls in London.  Stock growth continues to outpace demand in the capital, giving tenants more negotiating power, pushing down rents.  In much of the rest of the UK rents continued to grow, although at a slower rate.’[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/company-landlords-now-own-1-in-5-rental-properties.html

 

Buy-to-let investors targeting smaller, cheaper properties

Published On: April 12, 2017 at 9:19 am

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A new report from Mortgages for Business has analysed buy-to-let purchase activity during the first three months of the year.Data from the investigation suggests that investors are purchasing smaller and less expensive properties.

The lender says that average loan amount and security values fell for all property types, with figures for ‘vanilla’ properties well down on those seen over the last year.

Purchasing

In addition, the opening quarter of the year saw a shift in the buy-to-let market, from remortgaging to purchasing.

This was particularly strong amongst more complex property types, such as HMOs, multi-unit freehold blocks and semi-commercial property.

David Whittaker, CEO of Mortgages for Business, noted: ‘These figures represent a departure from the established norms, which have been mostly defined by the remortgage market. This time, however, we see new and unusual purchase activity from landlords, presumably because changes to income tax relief have prompted them to re-examine their strategies.’[1]

Buy-to-let investors targeting smaller, cheaper properties

Buy-to-let investors targeting smaller, cheaper properties

Over the opening three months of the year, purchases made up 41% of mortgage transactions involving vanilla buy-to-lets-around 3% above the trend. Whittaker observes that this, ‘is likely evidence of an ongoing process of landlords selling their portfolios to newly created limited companies.’[1]

The lender says that despite incorporation not be particularly cost effective for all investors, transactions such as this can reduce the tax burden on buy-to-let landlords. They often serve to offset the initial expense and could negate higher costs for tenants moving forwards.

[1] https://www.lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/4/buy-to-let-investors-target-smaller-cheaper-properties

 

Is buy-to-let becoming less attractive?

Published On: April 4, 2017 at 8:43 am

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Categories: Landlord News

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It is no doubt that the past year has been extremely challenging for buy-to-let landlords. The raft of changes, such as increased stamp duty, changes to mortgage interest tax relief and the pending ban on letting agent fees have all impacted on investors.

There is growing concern that a number of landlords will struggle to make a profit from renting out their property, leaving many with no alternative but to leave the sector.

Restrictions

This is a high concern, as the level of housing stock available for tenants is already not enough to cope with spiralling demand.

Indeed, there has already been a fall in the overall total of buy-to-let property transactions since the additional 3% stamp duty surcharge came into force last April.

ARLA Propertymark fear that the phasing out of mortgage interest tax relief from April 6th will push landlords from the market.

However, the trade body feels it is still not too late for the Government to reconsider!

Is buy-to-let becoming less attractive?

Is buy-to-let becoming less attractive?

Changes

David Cox, chief executive at ARLA Propertymark, observed: ‘It’s been a year since the government inflated Stamp Duty costs for landlords to 3%, and it’s already made the Treasury £1.3bn. That’s more than changes to mortgage interest relief, which are now in force, are expected to make in its first three years. This will only further squeeze the sector and make buy-to-let a less attractive investment for landlords.’[1]

‘Our monthly Private Rented Sector report shows that since the stamp duty reforms came into effect last April, letting agents have seen the supply of rental stock decrease. In February, 44% saw supply fall as a direct result, while only 9% saw it increase,’ he added.[1]

Costs

Concluding. Mr Cox said: ‘The impending letting agent fee ban will also make buy-to-let investment less attractive, as costs are passed on through inflated agents’ fees which landlords pay. A quarter [27% of landlords] are expected to stop increasing their portfolios as a result and a fifth plan to sell some of their properties. We’re facing a severe housing shortage at the moment, and if the supply of rental stock falls any lower relative to demand for housing, we’ll find ourselves in the midst of a real crisis.’[1]

[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/4/buy-to-let-is-becoming-a-less-attractive-investment-for-landlords-says-arla