|
 |
 |
|
|
Landlords making a ‘good living’ from rental properties By Simon Thompson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Despite tenant demand falling to its lowest level in three years, one in three landlords are looking to expand their portfolio - and around 80% of them are making a decent full-time living.
The figures come from the latest BM Solutions/BDRC Continental Landlord Panel which reveals that more than half of landlords (52%) reported an increase in demand from tenants at the end of 2011 but that fell to 35% at the end of last year.
The number of landlords who say there's been 'no change' in demand is growing but the rental market is being seen as profitable and stable which is leading to more landlords to invest further in their portfolio.
Landlords create profitable businesses
The figures from the survey show that 80% of landlords make a profitable full-time business from their letting activities and even 75% of amateur landlords who are using a rental property to boost their income are doing more than breaking even.
Phil Rickards, of BM Solutions, said that elements of the UK's rental market will fluctuate but it is perceived as being stable overall and is increasingly attracting professional and amateur landlords.
He added: “Landlords can spread the risk of tenants in arrears and void periods by increasing their portfolio which is important for a long-term investment rather than when focused on short-term gains.”
The survey also reveals that:
• Tenant arrears have fallen and are now at a three year low of £1,499
• The number of void periods is also in decline, with just 4% of landlords saying they had one void in the past three months, a fall of 2%.
• The average void period is also falling, with landlords saying it is now five days shorter be an average of 59 days over the last quarter
Areas with the best BTL yields
The survey also shows that the best region for performance was in the north-west, with yields of around 6.4% with the lowest yields being seen in the south-west and London, of 5.6%.
Landlords are also opting to increase rents for new tenants, with three out of five landlords saying they did so to match local market prices.
Perhaps, the only blight in the survey is the drop in confidence by landlords in the buy to let sector which has fallen from a six-year high which was reported at the end of 2013. Now 63% landlords say they are confident about their business prospects in the future which is down from 68%.
However, landlords are increasingly optimistic about the wider economy as it grows and the opportunities it will bring.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Landlords warned - prepare for more regulation |
|
Landlords in England are being warned that they should prepare for more regulation after the government published a consultation.
The warning comes from Tim Miles who is a partner at law firm Clarke Willmott.
He says that the Government is cons |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Research reveals that 2017’s rents fell in real terms |
|
The rents being paid to landlords in all parts of the UK fell in real terms during 2017, research suggests.
The findings from HomeLet reveal that rents in November rose by 0.7%.
That's the 11th straight month that rent increases have fallen beh |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Rents for the UK’s rental properties rise by 2.1% |
|
The average rent for a buy to let property grew by 2.1% in the year to September, an index has revealed.
The figures from HomeLet show that the average rent now being paid is £927 every month.
For landlords in London, rents rose by 1.9% o |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Landlords start exiting the buy to let sector |
|
One leading firm of letting agents is warning that buy to let investors are beginning to exit the sector.
The warning comes from Belvoir who say that while the numbers of landlords leaving is not huge, there is a trend appearing.
The firm's chi |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Landlord confidence takes a knock |
|
Despite the prospect of high yields and profitability, a survey has revealed the landlord confidence around the UK has fallen.
The findings from BM Solutions looked at all the key indicators for the second quarter of 2017.
They say that the lev |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Landlords 'don't know what tenants want' |
|
Landlords in the private rental sector are out of touch with their tenant’s wants and needs, according to new research.
The findings from an online letting agent revealed that tenants are clear most often about what they want and t |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
View more
|
|
Are you an existing landlord?
Click here to log into your account
|
Are you new to AFS, click here to find out more information
|
|
|  |
|