By Bradley Hall’s mortgage team
Property experts often note that the first few weeks of a new year set the tone for trends which will carry on throughout the year. There has been a boom in buy-to-let mortgages, which have continued to steadily rise throughout February, reaching a record high of 2,235 mortgage products now available for first time landlords - compared to 1,311 mortgage deals available during 2021, according to BuyAssociation. Opportunities are opening up for first-time buy-to-let landlords, and with rents steadily increasing, as well as a range of new job opportunities and ‘levelling up’ across the region, now is the time to invest in buy-to-let property.
The housing market stayed buoyant throughout 2021 thanks to stamp-duty breaks. The same goes for the buy-to-let sector as a result of strong tenant demand throughout the last year. According to UK Finance, buy-to-let purchase activity increased to £18bn in 2021, with figures up by 83% on activity when compared to 2020; and in keeping with this, Shawbrook Bank found that the value of the private rental sector grew by 5.8% in 2021, to £1.4trn.
Shawbrook Bank also highlighted that the demand for tenants has been growing, with 42% of landlords reporting increased demand for their properties in the last 12 months. With figures from established resources such as these indicating a healthy investment market, entering the buy-to-let property market as a first-time landlord is the perfect way to invest and see a good ROI.
The demand for rental space in city centres is increasing at an unprecedented rate. Since the pandemic began people have had more desire to plant roots away from city centres and to live with gardens and green spaces nearby. However, as the world begins to return to a ‘new normal’ and the country encourages the return to working in offices, we can expect an increasing number of tenants returning to cities, and in some cases moving to cities for the first time. This influx of occupational mobility and the moving of people to city centres will drive demand for house-in-multiple-occupation and multi-unit block residency, further increasing the demand for buy-to-let properties and the interest of current and potential first-time landlords.
As this demand continues and landlords are as keen as ever to either buy their first property or grow their current property portfolio, mortgages have been impacted too. Mortgage lenders are competing on price, and increasingly, criteria to attract borrowers, and they are still tempting them with super cheap rates. As the market remains strong and is further fuelled by low buy-to-let mortgage rates offered by lenders, securing a buy-to-let is now a brilliant way to invest, especially as the demand for mortgage applications continue to rise.
It is safe to say that the buy-to-let sector has encountered its fair share of disruption and change to regulations and requirements in recent years, so it is incredibly promising to see that mortgage lenders are eager and enthusiastic when it comes to attracting first-time landlords. Owing to the results and statistics reported from experts it looks as though investing in bricks and mortar has become something that we will see a lot more of if the beginning of 2022 sets the trends.
**Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. BH Mortgage Services Limited is an Appointed Representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network. PRIMIS Mortgage Network is a trading name of First Complete Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for mortgages, protection insurance and general insurance products. The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages.
The guidance and/or advice contained within this material is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK.
Registered Address: BH Mortgage Services, 120 High Street, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 1HB**
