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Wednesday, December 30, 2020

UK property market could cool

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Big growth in UK house prices

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Annual house price at 7.3%

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Saturday, December 26, 2020

Will this house price boom last?

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The housing market in 2021

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Thursday, December 24, 2020

How have house prices changed?

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Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Winter property maintenance checklist

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800,000 renters in rent arrears

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Strong prime country homes market

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Sunday, December 20, 2020

Bounce in Birmingham city centre

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Saturday, December 19, 2020

Private rents rose by 1.4% :ONS

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Vernon relaunches BTL range

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New help-to-buy loans

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Friday, December 18, 2020

My tenant owes £19,000 and I face ruin

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The Green Homes Grant

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Pandemic dents renters’ hopes of buying

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UK average house price £245,000 :ONS

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BofE keeps rates on hold at 0.1%

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Listings site excludes renters on benefits

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When will the house price boom end?

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Wednesday, December 16, 2020

House prices hit fastest growth rate

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No Stamp Duty holiday extension

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Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Landlords 15% of all sales agreed

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Monday, December 14, 2020

Landlords join completions rush

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4% house price growth forecast

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Buy-to-let sales boom

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Friday, December 11, 2020

Property losing a bit of steam

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Updated 'How to Rent' guide

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Airbnb: up, up and away

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Monday, December 07, 2020

Department stores need a remake

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Young caught between rent debt and health

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Strong November property market

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Friday, December 04, 2020

Foundation adds BTL deals

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Paragon release full-year results

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UK rents rise: Homelet data

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The Renters’ Reform Bill

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Tuesday, December 01, 2020

Thinking of buying a house?

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Tips for tackling condensation

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Housing assoc. rent arrears rise

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House prices soar : Nationwide

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Saturday, November 28, 2020

Flat sellers could still face holdups

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Friday, November 27, 2020

Will central banks target house prices?

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Thursday, November 26, 2020

BTL searches increase in lockdown

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German property company collapses

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Wednesday, November 25, 2020

100,000 extra home sales in early 2021

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A jump in property transactions

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Thursday, November 19, 2020

Most attractive towns for BTL

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Wednesday, November 18, 2020

UK private rental prices rose 1.4% :ONS

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SW see biggest house price rise

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UK house prices up 4.7% - ONS HPI

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Popular mortgage rates via Property Hawk Mortgages

Every landlord is different and we appreciate that your specific requirements will vary depending on your circumstances. Property Hawk Mortgages specialises in providing buy-to-let mortgage solutions for all scenarios, from straightforward family rental properties to the most complex cases involving multiple lending challenges.

 

Standard buy-to-let:

2 year fixed rates starting from 1.19%

5 year fixed rates starting from 1.62%

 

Ltd Company buy-to-let

2 year fixed rates starting from 2.39%

2 year discounts starting from 2.74%

5 year fixed rates starting from 2.99%

 

HMO buy-to-let

2 year fixed rates starting from 1.22%

5 year fixed rates starting from 1.62%


Please note: products available change on a daily basis and will depend on your individual circumstances and lending criteria. 


Property Hawk Mortgages is a specialist in the buy-to-let mortgage market. We have a wealth of knowledge and are dedicated to helping UK landlords find the best financial products and services available to them.


Whatever your circumstances, we can help you find the most suitable buy-to-let mortgage rates including:

  • Fixed rates and variable rates
  • Purchases and remortgages
  • Capital raising
  • Gifted deposits
  • Property portfolios
  • Houses in Multiple Occupation
  • Student lets
  • Limited companies
  • Auction finance
  • Expats
  • Older landlords
  • Refurbishment projects
  • New build properties
  • Over-commercial properties
  • Ex-local authority properties
  • Let to Buy
Use our free online mortgage search tool at Property Hawk Mortgages
Call us now on 029 2069 5446

Visit www.propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk 


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Age is just a number - finance for landlords young and old

Mortgages for older landlords
Research shows that over half (59%) of England’s landlords are aged 55 years or older and one third are retired. Buy-to-let lenders have started to incorporate the market’s age demographic into their lending policies by identifying the pitfalls for later life applicants and then implementing the necessary changes to remedy this.

Potential pitfalls
Lenders impose a maximum number of years an applicant can have a loan for and so for older applicants the loan term may be restricted. This in turn could affect the affordability of the loans as shorter terms might equate to higher monthly payments. It is worth checking how lenders assess affordability, particularly whether state pensions are considered when calculating minimum income criteria.

The solutions
Lenders are changing their criteria to make buy-to-let finance more accessible to older landlords. For example, some lenders no longer stipulate a maximum at application or completion. There are also longer-term fixed rates up to 10 years which can offer affordability relief and security of monthly payments. Variable and lifetime products may also provide a solution. Pensions including private, widow’s and war pensions are becoming more widely accepted by mortgage lenders and existing landlords may also be able to use rental income in their income credentials.

Mortgages for young landlords
Obtaining a buy-to-let mortgage is normally pretty straightforward for young adult property investors. Most lenders have a minimum age requirement which is often around 21, although there are lenders who will consider applications from 18 year olds. 
Providing the applicant meets other standard lending criteria such as the minimum income requirement (typically around £25,000) then it will be treated like any other application. Many lenders require applicants to be an owner occupier, but if you are considering buying a rental property as your first purchase then there are still options available.
Buy-to-let property is definitely a viable investment option particularly at the moment when savings rates are so low and with the Stamp Duty holiday currently in place on properties valued up to £500,000, there are also savings to be made on the upfront costs of purchasing a rental property.
Property Hawk Mortgages is a specialist in the buy-to-let mortgage market. We have a wealth of knowledge and are dedicated to helping UK landlords find the best financial products and services available to them.
Use our free online mortgage search tool at Property Hawk Mortgages
Please let us know how we can support you, we are here to help.
Call us now on 029 2069 5446

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Buy-to-let for first time landlords

There has been a swathe of tax and regulatory changes impacting on the buy-to-let sector in recent years which may have affected the perception of residential rental property and its viability as an investment option. Consequently, the sector has seen a reduction in the number of amateur landlords and it is now primarily the domain of professional property investors. However, there are still people entering the market and looking to make their first buy-to-let purchases – a group referred to as ‘first time landlords’.

Most lenders on our panel will accept applications from first time landlords providing they are currently an owner occupier, so there are plenty of product options in the marketplace. There is often a requirement that applicants have owned their residential home for a minimum length of time which may vary from 6 to 12 months, although some lenders do not state a minimum period providing the applicant’s name is on the title deeds.

It is not quite as straightforward for first time buyers - those with no existing UK property at all. We currently have around fifteen lenders on panel who will consider applicants without a history of property ownership such as Barclays, Landbay, Precise and Vida Homeloans. Some lenders will apply an affordability calculation alongside their normal rental stress tests and criteria, which depending on income multiples may limit the amount applicants can borrow.

There are also options for first time buyers to be the second applicant on a buy-to-let mortgage and it is a familiar scenario when parents help their children onto the property ladder in this way. Lenders who consider this include Interbay, Leeds Building Society and Paragon.

In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of limited company applications, especially since the phasing out of mortgage interest tax relief for buy-to-let properties. We have also seen first time landlords setting up an SPV for their initial property purchases, which is definitely an option worth considering as it may provide financial benefits depending on individual circumstances. It is always recommended to seek professional tax advice before deciding about this option.

It is simple and inexpensive to set up an SPV, but it is important to register the company with an appropriate SIC code relating to the letting and management of property. Most lenders will accept brand new SPVs with no accounts history, but they will require personal guarantees from the directors/shareholders. There are also lenders that accept companies that trade in non-property related businesses, although the product options for this scenario are fewer.

A significant advantage of using a corporate entity when applying for a buy-to-let mortgage is that they are not affected by the recent tax relief changes or the 2017 PRA regulations relating to rent stress tests. Lenders normally apply a less stringent rental calculation for limited companies, typically at around 125 per cent at 5.5 per cent which may increase maximum borrowing levels for new landlords.

Those investing in buy-to-let property should give proper consideration to property type, tenant demand, location and rental income. These variables can have a significant effect on the overall profitability of an investment and prospective landlords will surely benefit from thorough research. For example, we get frequent enquiries about HMOs and multi-unit properties which often give a better than average rental yield due to multiple rents being charged.

Unfortunately for first time landlords most of the specialist lenders who finance HMOs and multi-unit properties require a minimum amount of previous experience as a landlord. For example, Vida Homeloans requires 12 months’ experience and Paragon Mortgages requires 3 years. However, there are a few lenders who will consider this scenario for first time landlords.

To conclude, there are plenty of investment opportunities for first time landlords and a wide range of buy-to-let mortgage products to choose from. By considering the different factors that may affect the level of finance available and overall returns on a property, new landlords can make more informed choices during their first buy-to-let investment experience.

Property Hawk Mortgages is a specialist in the buy-to-let mortgage market. We have a wealth of knowledge and are dedicated to helping UK landlords find the best financial products and services available to them.
Use our free online mortgage search tool at Property Hawk Mortgages
Please let us know how we can support you, we are here to help.
Call us now on 029 2069 5446

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Technology trumps in buy-to-let

A month is a long time in the buy-to-let mortgage market, although Covid-19 has added a certain feeling of Groundhog Day to our lives due to the various government restrictions currently being applied around the UK.
However, the buy-to-let mortgage sector continues to evolve in reaction to market demands and the marketplace is as dynamic as ever with daily changes to product pricing and lending criteria. 

Encouragingly the Stamp Duty holiday has had a noticeable positive effect on the buy-to-let purchase market as landlords seek to expand their portfolios while the cost saving measure is still in place. At Property Hawk Mortgages, the level of purchase enquiries and applications has increased significantly since April 2020.

The boost to purchase activity is good for landlords and lenders, but some providers are dealing with the surge better than others. It seems apparent that those who have good IT systems and streamlined processes are able to handle the increased demand, but less well-equipped providers are struggling to maintain service standards. This clearly has a detrimental effect on the customer experience, causing frustration to everyone involved.

In the current coronavirus environment, landlord customers now expect a better online service from all parties to the mortgage application process, including being able to choose a product without the need for face-to-face meetings. Being able to upload supporting documents online is also a key advantage in terms of efficiency of service, so lenders without online facilities may lose out to the competition.

At Property Hawk Mortgages, we have a dedicated buy-to-let mortgage sourcing system which includes an online application form. We have recently added an online declaration and the facility to upload documents directly which will increase our processing efficiency. BM Solutions also announced recently that it would be launching a new online application system in 2021 with improved document uploading and case tracking features.

If buy-to-let mortgage providers are to maintain good service levels, continual improvements to IT systems and processes are key to meeting the expectations of customers. The current environment is unusual and pent-up demand for properties is putting higher than normal pressure on lenders, however it is a good way to identify potential shortcomings and find solutions for giving a better service.

Property Hawk Mortgages is a specialist in the buy-to-let mortgage market. We have a wealth of knowledge and are dedicated to helping UK landlords find the best financial products and services available to them.
Use our free online mortgage search tool at Property Hawk Mortgages
Please let us know how we can support you, we are here to help.
Call us now on 029 2069 5446
Visit www.propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk
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Pros and cons of setting up a limited company for landlords

Property Hawk Mortgages

There has been a growing interest in limited company buy-to-let since the government completely phased out mortgage interest tax relief for buy-to-let properties in April 2020. As corporate entities are not subject to the same tax relief restrictions, some landlords are considering whether using a limited company to run their business may be more tax efficient.

Setting up an SPV 

Most buy-to-let lenders will require the company is set up as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) which is a type of limited company registered to trade in one principle activity. In the case of a buy-to-let property business, this would be a company that derives revenue from the letting of residential property. 

There are a number of SIC codes that are commonly associated with SPVs which can be used to register the new company and are normally accepted by buy-to-let lenders:

SIC codes

68100

 

Buying and selling of own real estate

68201

 

Renting and operating of Housing Association real estate

68202

 

Letting and operating of conference and exhibition centres

68209

 

Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate

68310

 

Real estate agencies

68320

 

Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis


Pros and cons of using a limited company

ProsCons

·       Mortgage interest is considered an expense and can be fully offset against rental income received

·       Profits within the company are liable to corporation tax rather than personal tax

·       Dividend allowance and directors' loans can make withdrawing profit more tax efficient

·       Profits can be re-invested to expand portfolio without additional tax

·       ​​​​​​​Options for inheritance tax planning between parents and children

·       There is no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowance when the company sells a buy-to-let property

·       Reduced number of mortgage lenders and products to choose as some high street lenders do not offer limited company mortgages or have fewer options

·       Cost of finance may be higher as some lenders charge a premium for limited company buy-to-let mortgages

·       Other costs associated with running a limited company such as preparing and filing accounts, auditing and legal fees.

Stamp Duty costs 

For existing landlords who are considering transferring their properties to an SPV it is recommended that you seek professional tax advice before proceeding. Moving properties from a personal name to a corporate entity involves a sale and purchase transaction which means that Stamp Duty Land Tax and Capital Gains Tax is payable. 

Stamp Duty costs may be a deterrent to large portfolio landlords, but there are circumstances where incorporation relief may be granted by the Inland Revenue if it can be demonstrated that the portfolio is run as a business partnership – again tax advice is recommended in this scenario.

Property Hawk Mortgages is a specialist in the buy-to-let mortgage market. We have a wealth of knowledge and are dedicated to helping UK landlords find the best financial products and services available to them.
Use our free online mortgage search tool at Property Hawk Mortgages
Please let us know how we can support you, we are here to help.
Call us now on 029 2069 5446
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Monday, November 16, 2020

Rogue landlord fined £70,000

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New homes plan revised

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Housing waiting lists could hit +2m

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Surge in UK homes bought at auction

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Valuers in denial: falling rents

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Rightmove Nov. asking price data

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Covid exodus: city rents down 15%

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