Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesFlat sellers could still face holdups despite safety form change https://t.co/SrGxu7xeFF
— Property Hawk (@landlordnews) November 27, 2020
Saturday, November 28, 2020
Flat sellers could still face holdups
Friday, November 27, 2020
Will central banks target house prices?
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesAre central banks about to start targeting house prices? https://t.co/dXrLJWMokg pic.twitter.com/D0rtVrh7qm
— MoneyWeek (@MoneyWeek) November 27, 2020
Thursday, November 26, 2020
BTL searches increase in lockdown
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesBTL searches increase in third week of lockdownhttps://t.co/VoxblMSx0U
— Mortgage Strategy (@MortgageStrat) November 26, 2020
German property company collapses
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesGerman property company collapses with my pension https://t.co/WNZ3q2FzHh
— BBC Business (@BBCBusiness) November 26, 2020
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
100,000 extra home sales in early 2021
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesUK housing market expects 100,000 extra home sales in early 2021 https://t.co/BFfWZPzdwj
— Guardian Money (@guardianmoney) November 25, 2020
A jump in property transactions
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesIn October 2020 there were 105,630 UK property transactions, which is 9.8% higher than September & 8.1% higher than October 2019 according to HMRC...#ukhousing https://t.co/kh6uy8qHK4 pic.twitter.com/XRjm4McB6X
— Noble Francis (@NobleFrancis) November 24, 2020
Thursday, November 19, 2020
Most attractive towns for BTL
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesWhere are the most attractive towns and cities for buy-to-let?
— Telegraph Property (@TeleProperty) November 19, 2020
Here's 15-11 from @TeleProperty and @AldermoreBank's analysis of the top 15 spots where investors should be splashing their cash 👇
Find the full table here: https://t.co/iWGs7KflyE pic.twitter.com/6cqtD237K9
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
UK private rental prices rose 1.4% :ONS
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesUK private rental prices rose 1.4% in the year to October, down from 1.5% in September.
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) November 18, 2020
Rental prices grew
▪️ 1.6% in Wales
▪️1.4% in England
▪️0.8% in Scotland
➡️ https://t.co/KIGVkMTGE9 pic.twitter.com/Jc5CNOzjuA
SW see biggest house price rise
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesHouse prices rise as coronavirus pandemic leads to more people moving to rural areas https://t.co/3iDH0Mzq9s
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) November 18, 2020
UK house prices up 4.7% - ONS HPI
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesUK house prices grew 4.7% in the year to September, up from 3.0% in August, to stand at £245,000.
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) November 18, 2020
Average prices grew
▪️ 4.9% in England
▪️ 4.3% in Scotland
▪️ 3.8% in Wales
▪️ 2.4% in Northern Ireland
➡️https://t.co/lnYKaVQoiu pic.twitter.com/NducnF0zsF
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
Visit www.propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk
Age is just a number - finance for landlords young and old
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
Buy-to-let for 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.
Technology trumps in buy-to-let
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.
Visit www.propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk
Pros and cons of setting up a limited company for landlords
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
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Pros and cons of using a limited company
Pros | Cons |
· 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.
Monday, November 16, 2020
Rogue landlord fined £70,000
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesRogue landlord fined £70,000 after rotten waste and broken floors found at homes https://t.co/5tkugRnAIJ
— Property Hawk (@landlordnews) November 16, 2020
New homes plan revised
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesNew homes plan revised after Tory backlash https://t.co/BPCT2UJdxc
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) November 15, 2020
Housing waiting lists could hit +2m
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesHousing waiting lists could hit more than 2m due to COVID-19, LGA report predicts https://t.co/BZMvStCJYO #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/u13ItaMiqp
— Inside Housing (@insidehousing) November 16, 2020
Surge in UK homes bought at auction
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesSold! Surge in UK homes being bought at auction https://t.co/7Nc1PmWfaP
— The Guardian (@guardian) November 15, 2020
Valuers in denial: falling rents
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesWarning signs of rising numbers of empty shops, retailer insolvencies and online competition were there for years before some landlords reported sharp valuation declines. Now, the red light is flashing for the office sector https://t.co/QPYoSXH4UC
— Times Business (@TimesBusiness) November 16, 2020
Rightmove Nov. asking price data
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesThis is the regional picture of average asking prices:
— Rightmove (@rightmove) November 16, 2020
To read this month's #HousePriceIndex in full, click here ➡️ https://t.co/mj11uETwrJ pic.twitter.com/m7Tjnr2kdx
Covid exodus: city rents down 15%
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesRents in British cities fall by up to 15% amid Covid 'exodus' https://t.co/NGgdS79WbA
— Guardian Money (@guardianmoney) November 16, 2020
Thursday, November 12, 2020
This could slow down the property boom
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesThe UK housing market is booming – here’s one thing that could slow it down https://t.co/T4ZI4lxrfT pic.twitter.com/DBHd7Q0RUy
— MoneyWeek (@MoneyWeek) November 12, 2020
Ban on micro-homes under 37 sq m.
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesNew laws will prohibit the development of micro-homes under 37 sq m. #residential #microhomes https://t.co/BjczwMaUmg
— EG (@EstatesGazette) November 11, 2020
Call to overhaul Capital Gains Tax:
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesCapital gains tax: Overhaul urged by government body https://t.co/NiQYfdEBvf
— BBC Business (@BBCBusiness) November 11, 2020
Reform Bill, referencing and Covid testing
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesToday in politics: Renters' Reform Bill, referencing and Covid testing for students https://t.co/86aNDi15oN
— NRLA - National Residential Landlords Association (@NRLAssociation) November 11, 2020
TMW cuts Ltd Co mortgage rates
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesTMW cuts limited company mortgage rateshttps://t.co/J7zLRjO7Wm
— Mortgage Strategy (@MortgageStrat) November 11, 2020
House sales to decline next year
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesEstate agents expect house sales to decline next year as early signs show the market's mini-boom is tailing off.@RICSnews members reported increasing sales in Oct, but the pace of growth had dropped for the second month in a row 👇
— Telegraph Property (@TeleProperty) November 12, 2020
Read more here: https://t.co/gpmbTYhqmd pic.twitter.com/Gas2FjBwZi
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Will stamp duty holiday be extended?
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesCould the stamp duty holiday be extended?https://t.co/L38YMxXMFw
— Which? Money (@WhichMoney) November 8, 2020
Bailiffs must halt evictions in lockdown
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesBailiffs must not enforce evictions of renters in homes across the country as long as the current national lockdown restrictions remain in place, the government has said #UKhousing https://t.co/LzoB166quL
— Inside Housing (@insidehousing) November 6, 2020
A Stamp Duty cliff edge
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesHousing markets in some parts of the UK will face a stamp duty cliff edge in April due to local logjams.
— Telegraph Property (@TeleProperty) November 6, 2020
In the South East, 48,969 people will complete after the March 31 cut-off 👇@MariannaHunt5 crunches the numbers for each region here: https://t.co/WH9ak08gjK
cc @TwentyCi pic.twitter.com/esyDbvUurT
Prime London rents fall
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesPrime London rents fall due to rising stock levels https://t.co/vIXAjlRYr2 via @@propertyr #PropertyNews
— Property PR (@propertypr) November 9, 2020
Monday, November 09, 2020
Outlook for the buy-to-let sector
Buy-to-let mortgage brokers are starting to feel more confident about the buy-to-let market as recent boosts to business give rise to some optimism. Paragon recently published its latest FACT index for quarter three, September 2020, which showed that nearly half of brokers (48 per cent) are seeing ‘strong demand’ for buy-to-let mortgages, up 22 per cent from June.
Nearly half of participants (49 per cent) expect to see more buy-to-let business in the next 12 months, up 8 per cent from June. Also, 89 per cent think that their business will be as strong or stronger than before the Covid-19 crisis, up 8 per cent from June.
It is good to see growing confidence among buy-to-let mortgage brokers, but elsewhere in the buy-to-let sector there is concern for the support being offered to tenants during this time. Although the furlough scheme has now been extended to December, questions arise over what further assistance tenants will receive after it ends if they are struggling to pay their rent and will landlords end up bearing the financial burden.
The National Residential Landlord Association (NRLA) has been campaigning for the Government to provide interest free, government guaranteed hardship fund loans for tenants in England to help them pay off Covid-19 related arrears. This type of scheme is already in place in Scotland and Wales. The NRLA also calls for landlords to be able to cover arrears by grants if tenants don’t take up a loan.
The impact of Covid-19 on the buy-to-let sector has been difficult for all parties involved, but there are indications that as the market recovers, confidence is growing and there is optimism for the future. However, there are still challenges to overcome before a real sense of normality returns.
Property Hawk Mortgages is here to help you make sense of all your buy-to-let mortgage options and to offer our experience and expertise to support you in finding the right product to meet your needs.
Visit www.propertyhawkbtlmortgages.co.uk
Thursday, November 05, 2020
Dealing with 'No DSS' : podcast
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesDealing with 'No DSS' » The Landlord and Lawyer Podcast -:. https://t.co/DgOKxuFLme #landlordlaw with @BeadleBen and @Chris_Wood0 of @Shelter
— Tessa Shepperson (@TessaShepperson) November 4, 2020
House moves in lockdown
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesHow will this lockdown compare to last for the housing market? https://t.co/RMJWK185A4
— Homes & Property (@HomesProperty) November 4, 2020
Lockdown restrictions of home moves
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesThe government has confirmed that buyers and tenants will be allowed to move home despite the new restrictions, which are set to come into force this Thursday.https://t.co/9Jt0VvLP91
— Which? Money (@WhichMoney) November 4, 2020
Lockdown 2.0: the housing policies
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesLockdown 2.0: the housing policies and how they have changed from the first time https://t.co/excAVderPg #ukhousing pic.twitter.com/TTgobYEElH
— Inside Housing (@insidehousing) November 5, 2020
Average London rents dip 3.7%
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesAverage rents in London dipped by 3.7% on last year, view the latest data, including rents by Borough 🏙️ https://t.co/u0SVK9usqS pic.twitter.com/UYMDFuoMqb
— HomeLet (@HomeLet) November 4, 2020
Who is BofE £150bn really aimed at?
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesWho is the Bank of England’s new £150bn of money printing really aimed at? https://t.co/ME8YTAhdTi pic.twitter.com/0nMlQK7AIv
— MoneyWeek (@MoneyWeek) November 5, 2020
Bank Rate kept at 0.1%
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesThe Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to maintain #BankRate at 0.1%. https://t.co/p9P9WV3T0U pic.twitter.com/ZZXgU0AdUU
— Bank of England (@bankofengland) November 5, 2020
Lowest take-up for London offices
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesLowest quarterly take-up for London offices since we began these reports in 2002 👇https://t.co/14wCCM797Q
— Graham Shone (@GShoneEG) November 5, 2020
Renters aged 55-64 - doubles
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesThe number of English households in the 55-64 age category who were renting privately between 2010 and 2019 has more than doubledhttps://t.co/C46X428Hnc
— FTAdviser (@FTAdviser) November 5, 2020
Pepper Money cuts BTL rate
Take advantage of our discounted landlord insurance ratesPepper Money cuts BTL ratehttps://t.co/Kf7O4OEVrU
— Mortgage Strategy (@MortgageStrat) November 5, 2020