Tax Changes To Render Many Landlords Unviable

Recent tax changes could tip many profitable buy-to-lets into loss-making businesses, according to a new report by Standard & Poor’s. The report says those who have invested since 2014 will be hardest hit, with six out of 10 of these landlords potentially looking at unviable businesses by 2021 – when these tax changes are fully implemented. This compares to just 4 per cent of the 160,000 buy-to-let loans it analysed, the vast majority of which were taken out between 2002 and 2016. These changes will cut profits by around a fifth by 2021, with the biggest impact expected to hit BTL investors in the South East and London. Read more on the Mortgage Strategy website.

https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/tax-changes-threaten-profitability-six-10-recent-landlords-sp/

Credit Agency Issues Warning Over Two Year Benefit Freeze

A major credit agency has warned that a proposed benefits freeze could lead to ‘downward pressure’ on rents and make it ‘increasingly difficult’ for housing associations to manage arrears. Standard and Poors (S&P) released its assessment of the major risks facing the sector yesterday, expressing limited concern about other areas of welfare reform. The credit agency- which provides ratings for 15 social landlords- warned that one of the biggest risks to the sector was providers diversifying into commercial activity they do not fully understand. Download the report from the S&P website.