Landlords, BTL investors, and renters face new reality

Landlords who locked into a mortgage at the height of the COVID pandemic will reportedly be hit with the highest buy-to-let interest rates since 2015.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, landlords face paying more than £1,600 extra a year, while investors who remortgage will be hit with a double whammy of having to pay thousands of pounds extra in interest as well as funding eco-upgrades to their properties in line with regulations.

That’s because in May, interest rates rose from 3.22 per cent to 3.4 per cent for a two-year fixed buy-to-let loan product – the highest in seven years, according to analyst Moneyfacts – while the average five-year rate has increased for the third month in a row, up from 3.42 per cent to 3.56 per cent.

The report noted that lenders had replaced rates with higher pricing daily following the Bank of England’s decision to increase rates to a 13-year high from 0.75 per cent to one per cent in an effort to curb inflation.

However, according to separate research by GetGround, a buy-to-let company and management platform, investing even partially through limited companies can help landlords mitigate the impact of rising inflation better than if they were to invest in property in their own names.

Three-quarters of those surveyed (76 per cent) said that limited companies allowed them to adjust more easily to rising inflation, while a similar proportion (73 per cent) revealed that limited company investing made them feel more protected against inflation.

The findings come as property investment through limited companies reportedly continues to grow, with GetGround revealing that up to 81 per cent of UK landlords with the companies it surveyed hold at least a quarter of their property portfolio in limited companies.

Moubin Faizullah Khan, CEO of GetGround, said, “Whether it’s because of its financial, administrative, or timesaving benefits, it’s unsurprising that a limited-company structure is recognised as a useful defence mechanism against the impact of inflation.

“In this unprecedentedly high inflation environment, limited companies prompt greater responsible investment, too. By moving to a limited-company structure, landlords reduce the costs of running their property investments, making them better placed to keep rents at an affordable –while still profitable – level.”

GetGround’s research also suggested that landlords with single investment properties or smaller portfolios were less likely to choose limited company structures than those with larger portfolios.

Faizullah Khan added, “At a time when some smaller landlords might question the long-term viability of property investing, the industry can and must do more to dispel myths and misunderstandings that surround limited-company investing.

“Gaining a better perspective on the investment structure could be the deciding factor for many of these people when they consider whether or not being a landlord continues to be the right thing for them.”

RENTERS HIT FINANCIALLY

Meanwhile, according to new research by Play Like Mum, the average cost of monthly rent for a three-bedroom house has now risen to £1,287, representing a 47.4 per cent increase in 10 years.

Analysing historical data based on factors such as renting, bills, and broadband from the past 10 years, the study attempted to calculate how the cost of housing had changed over the last decade.

It found that housing as well as rental prices had increased rapidly during that period. Since 2011, the average monthly cost of renting a family-sized house or apartment has risen by £414, representing a 47.4 per cent jump.

The data comes after another report revealed that the number of UK rental properties has soared by more than 1.1 million over the last 10 years.

There are now roughly 10.5 million rental properties – accounting for 35.7 per cent of all UK dwellings – compared to about 9.4 million a decade ago, according to research by specialist rental platform Ocasa.