Landlords Remain Confident About BTL

Almost two-fifths of landlords are feeling positive about the future of the rental market, and are thinking about buying more properties to rent in the future. A study found that portfolio landlords are generally keenest to expand with 48% of landlords surveyed with three properties and 41% of landlords with four properties wanting to invest more in buy-to-let. Landlords in the North-East and North-West were more likely to affirm they were looking for more buy-to-let properties, with just over half - 51% - in the North-East and 44% in the North West. This compared with just 30% of South East landlords.  Read more on Landlord Today.

https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2018/4/landlords-remain-confident-about-btl-study-finds

Brexit To Have Minimal Impact On Buy-To-Let Market

As the government prepares to invoke Article 50 to leave the EU, very few experts forecast that Brexit will have an adverse effect on the buy-to-let market – despite some fears of a mass exodus of EU citizens from the UK. David Whittaker, CEO, Mortgages for Business, is among those that does not see a direct link between migration and Brexit, and believes that landlords should not be concerned. He said: “I don't see it as a causational factor for landlords to feel more bearish than they do already.” Also participating in the discussion Professor David Miles CBE commented: “I rather doubt Brexit will pose a threat - I don't believe there'll be a compelled exodus of EU citizens.” Read more on the Landlord Today website.

Landlords Looking To Sell Quadrupled In Last Six Months

The proportion of landlords in central London who intend to sell property has quadrupled since last year’s Budget, according to new research from the National Landlords Association (NLA). Just four per cent of landlords in central London had plans to sell property when surveyed before last year’s Budget. However, the figure has almost quadrupled, rising to 19 per cent, when surveyed in January this year. The 15 per cent increase in intention to sell property is the highest witnessed across the UK over the last six months. Landlords with property in the North East have seen the smallest increase compared to other regions of the UK, rising from 17 per cent in June to 24 per cent in January - (7 per cent rise). Read more on the NLA website.

“Buy-To-Let-To-Retire” Is The New Downsizing

One in five over 55s are considering buying their ideal retirement home now and letting it out until they retire, according to research from a pensions provider.  Prudential found that more than half of pension savers plan to raid their pension savings to fund their ideal retirement home. Prudential says the trend of ‘buy-to-let-to-retire’ appears to be challenging the traditional route of simply selling up and downsizing as a one-off property deal on retirement. Of those over-55s who have already made a buy-to-let investment, nearly one in three (32%) said they had done so to secure a property to live in one day. Read more on the Landlord Today website.

Huge Slump in Private Landlords Taking Benefits Tenants

A slump in the number of private landlords in London willing to take homeless people on benefits must be addressed, town halls have warned.  Umbrella organisation London Councils says that the number of private landlords who will take such tenants has fallen 20% in the last year.  As a result, councils are having to accommodate homeless people in temporary bed and breakfasts. Latest figures show that London’s councils are having to accommodate nearly 900 families with children in this way, for more than the six-week period set out in Government guidance.  Read more on the Landlord Today website.