Spike in landlords buying properties via companies in order to pay less tax

Landlords are increasingly buying property via limited companies, rather than in their own personal name, in order to slash their tax bills. Three quarters (74 per cent) of all buy-to-let purchases in England and Wales this year have been bought via a limited company, according to analysis by the estate agent, Hamptons.  It is a … Read more

Older buy-to-let landlords ‘retire’ in droves but younger ones don’t fill the gap

Older landlords are ‘retiring’ in their droves… and younger buy-to-let investors won’t replace them due to higher tax and mortgage rates Total of 140,000 landlords retired last year, accounting for 73% of all sales Some 96,000 landlords will turn 65 in coming year, according to Hamptons Demographics will drive landlord sales to a new peak … Read more

Mortgaged landlords feel strain of higher rates: Is buy-to-let still worth it?

Since the advent of buy-to-let mortgages in the mid-1990s, landlords have flocked into the sector, with debt turbo-charging its growth. Between 2000 and 2022, the number of privately rented homes in England more than doubled to 4.6million – and two thirds of existing landlords are now reliant on a mortgage, according to the latest English Private … Read more

Buy-to-let investor hotspots are Milton Keynes, Bristol and Manchester

Landlords’ property hotspots revealed: Milton Keynes, Bristol and Manchester see surge in buy-to-let purchases as renters return to towns and cities Buy-to-let purchases in town and city centres were up 100% in 2021 Milton Keynes saw a whopping 667% increase in buy-to-let mortgage purchases Bristol and Manchester saw 4 times the number of mortgage completions  Analysis taken … Read more

Tenants win more in deposit disputes than landlords: Make sure you get yours back with these tips

Tenants locked in deposit feuds have been awarded 50 per cent more money back than their landlords when disputes go to adjudication. Roughly one in every 30 tenancy deposits are disputed according to the Deposit Protection Service – one of the three Government-backed schemes for England and Wales. Since the start of 2018, 66,768 tenancy … Read more

Will green mortgages encourage landlords to improve energy efficiency?

Landlords could get preferential treatment when applying for mortgages if their properties are energy efficient, as lenders begin to launch new green products to the market.   This week, Paragon Bank launched a new range of buy-to-let mortgages which offer lower-deposit options to landlords whose properties have an Energy Performance Certificate rating between A and C. … Read more