News & Insights - Buy to let

This year’s Gas Safety Week, which runs from September 17-23, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Short-term holiday lets are becoming increasingly popular as a way for landlords to generate an income, but it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons carefully first.

With recent figures indicating subdued wage growth and inflation, some experts believe that next month’s anticipated base rate increase is no longer a certainty.

Renters would be able to stay in their homes for at least three years under new government proposals aimed at giving both them and landlords more security.

There was some good news for landlords this weekend, with the Times reporting on a significant increase in the number of deals available within the Buy to Let market over the last two years, particularly for first time landlords.

More than 40,000 homeowners remortgaged in April, according to latest figures from trade body UK Finance, up 36% compared to the same month last year.

Recent figures from the Centre for Economics and Business Research have revealed that the Bank of Mum and Dad lent over £6.5 billion in 2017 to help their children get on to the property ladder.

Around 380,000 landlords (19%) plan to sell their rental properties in the coming year, according to research by the National Landlords Association.

Two lenders, Sainsbury’s Bank and The Mortgage Lender, have entered the buy to let market this for the first time, widening the range of mortgage options available to landlords.

Expectations of a base rate rise in May were dampened following comments from the Bank of England governor Mark Carney, but it’s still vital for homeowners to consider the impact of higher rates.

There was some good news for experienced landlords this week, with nge Works (the Buy to Let arm of Nationwide Building Society) is removing its upper age limit for those who have owned and let a Buy to Let property for at least 6 months.

The start of the new 2018-19 tax year on April 6 saw further reductions in the amount of tax relief landlords can claim on mortgage interest payments.

Landlords will need to ensure their rental properties meet minimum energy efficiency standards before they can be let out, under new rules being introduced this spring.

The Guardian revealed this weekend that thousands of homeowners are finding themselves trapped in new-build properties they cannot sell, due to a clause in their lease which allows for a doubling in ground rent every 10 years.

Mortgage lenders began the New Year with a bang, offering a string of rate cuts, the Times reported this weekend.

Many people put sorting out their finances at the top of their list of New Year financial resolutions, and reviewing your mortgage can be a great place to start.

The Budget introduced a range of measures designed to boost the housing market and improve the supply of new homes in the UK. Here’s our rundown of the changes announced.

Here’s how lenders are reacting to the Bank of England’s decision to cut Base Rate. We’ll keep updating this page as news comes come in.

Much of the focus since the base rate rise last week has been on what impact the increase has on homeowners. However, the rate rise also has implications for landlords, many of whom have already had to adapt to several other changes this year.

Landlords with four or more mortgaged buy-to-let properties can now expect greater scrutiny of their entire portfolio when trying to buy a new property.

Haggling on the property price can be tricky. Some sellers will be happy to negotiate, whereas others may be determined not to drop below the asking price, so it’s not always easy to know how far you can push it.

Predictions for an imminent rise in interest rates continued this weekend, with the Times and Sunday Times warning homeowners sitting on their lender’s Standard Variable Rate not to hold off any longer.

Buying a property to let out is very different to buying a property to live in, so if you’re planning to become a landlord, it’s really important to plan properly.

As the end of the year approaches, mortgage lenders are keen to secure as much new business as possible, and this weekend’s financial press looked at the current crop of enticing deals.

With new lending rules for portfolio landlords coming into force at the end of this month, the Times and Sunday Times looked at the likely impact on borrowers.