According to Butterfield Mortgages, the number of landlords who plan to add new homes to their portfolio dwarfs those who are planning to sell. The study shows that 26% of landlords had set their sights on expanding in the property market, while one in 14 was ready to reduce the number of properties. These figures indicate that a good portion of landlords currently in the market continue to regard property as one of the safest investments.
The research involved an independent survey of 2,000 people across the UK.
In the survey, 67% of landlords said they would not be selling or buying any more properties, choosing to forego cheaper properties over the next year. While some landlords are waiting to see what happens with mortgage rates and house prices, sky-rocketing rents and huge tenant demand may be enough to tempt some savvy investors into the market, particularly in places outside of London – such as Liverpool – that are much cheaper than the national average.
With only 7% of landlords shrinking their portfolios, the UK buy-to-let market still appeals to many buy-to-let investors, whether investing for monthly income or saving for their retirement.
After all, inflation has fallen steadily throughout 2023, and the Bank of England’s base rate halt means mortgage lenders can trust the market enough to lower their rates and remain competitive among their peers.
