Is now a good time to invest in buy to let?

The latest figures from Halifax show house prices are up by 9.5% in the last 12 months, while the Paragon Banking group claims rental yields hit a three-year high in the first quarter of 2021, reaching 6%.

Aaron Strutt, product and communications director at Trinity Financial says: “We have been speaking to more buyers keen to purchase investment properties. There are many reasons why property investors think it’s a good time to expand their portfolio or get their first buy to let.” 

“The rates are not that much more expensive than the cheapest residential mortgages and with such a shortage of homes in the UK, there is always going to be demand from tenants.”

However while the housing market is performing well, new investors in buy to let need to look beyond these numbers.

David Hollingworth, associate director communications at London & Country Mortgages says: “The buy-to-let market has been through some significant changes in recent years, many of which could have put potential landlords off investing in property.”

These include a 3% stamp duty surcharge and the replacement of tax relief on mortgage interest payments with a 20% tax credit, increasing bills for higher and additional rate taxpayers.

(MORE: How to buy insurance for a buy to let)

Pros and cons of property investment 

Managing and maintaining a property can be hard work, even if you employ a lettings agent. Then there’s another mortgage to deal with and a fiscal minefield to navigate.

Using a stocks and shares ISA to invest in commercial property funds – either those that buy properties directly or funds that invest in property companies – can be an alternative. 

However, while these are straightforward and easier to access with minimum monthly investments of £50 or so a month, they often don’t have the same appeal for potential landlords wanting a hands on ‘bricks and mortar’ investment in residential property.

Many landlords prefer the direct control they have over their investments and anticipate greater returns as a result.

(MORE: Common landlord mistakes to avoid)

Buy-to-let mortgages

Although many new landlords would love to avoid borrowing costs by purchasing a property with cash, most require a buy-to-let mortgage.

Rates are competitive but borrowers will need a decent deposit, with the best rates and widest choice of lenders available to landlords that can put down 25%.

Lenders are also being increasingly accommodating. Hollingworth says: “The mortgage market has become more flexible in its approach to criteria as well, with a more varied range of rental requirements applied depending on the individual circumstances.  For example lower stress rates can apply on longer-term fixed rates.  Lenders may also have lower rental requirements for those that are basic rate tax payers.” 

Can I save money by setting up a limited company? 

It may be possible to reduce your tax bill by using a limited company to purchase property and specialist mortgages are available for landlords that choose to invest in this way.

Hollingworth says this route often appeals because costs can still be set against income with corporation tax, which is paid at a lower rate than income tax. “However it’s important to understand this clearly and to seek specialist tax advice to make sure it’s appropriate.  There could be personal tax implications when the income is taken out of the company, mortgage rates are higher than standard BTL and there will be costs to set up and maintain the company.”

Are there other ways to reduce costs? 

You can save money by finding tenants, collecting rent and managing your property yourself. Letting agents are likely to charge equivalent of a month’s rent for finding tenants (a let-only service) while full management can eat up between 12 and 20% of your rental income each month.

However, this can be a time-consuming option and, if you’ve not had experience of managing a rental property before, it could prove a false economy.

Should I take the plunge? 

The ever-changing landscape of buy to let means it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. 

As Strutt says: “If you are thinking about getting a buy-to-let, you need to speak to an accountant to make sure it makes sense. The tax rules have changed significantly and many landlords have sold their properties because they did not think it made sense to keep going.”