Ireland tops the EU league for Buy-to-Let Investments.

September 20, 2017

According to new research by WorldFirst, Ireland is once again the top European location for buy-to-let investments. This comes as UK yields fall to 4% putting the country in the bottom 5 for buy-to-let investment returns in Europe.

UK landlords have seen average yields plummet 19% over the past year following a raft of tax changes, causing the UK to crash 10 places in Europe’s buy-to-let ranks.

WorldFirst state: The UK’s stuttering rental market is beginning to hit buy-to-let investors with yields falling from from 4.91% to 4% over the past year. The latest findings also come a year after stamp duty changes came into play in the UK, significantly increasing fees for those investing in buy-to-let or purchasing a second home therefore making buy-to-let even less of an attractive investment option.

Commenting on the research, Edward Hardy, Economist at WorldFirst said:

“The correlation between a country’s housing sector and the health of the wider economy is clear. It may now be the case that the deteriorating dynamics of the UK’s rental market is sounding the alarm for a wider slowdown in residential housing and thereby broader economic wellbeing. While the UK remains in a purgatory-like state between EU membership and Brexit, long-term investment decisions have become increasingly difficult to make and falling returns for property investors could mark the beginning of the end for one of the UK’s most successful investment avenues of the past 25 years.”

Read the new research report by WorldFirst in full click here.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Mansion tax would hit London hardest

Mansion tax would hit London hardest, as capital accounts for 66% of all homes sold above £2m so far this year The latest data insight from Enness Global has revealed that, should the Chancellor introduce a 1% annual mansion tax on properties valued over £2 million, the measure would overwhelmingly target London homeowners, with two-thirds…
Read More →
Breaking News

Share of first-time buyers opting for low-deposit deals rose 8.6% in October

Barclays mortgage data shows deposits under £20,000 made up 22.1 per cent of first-time buyer completions in October 60 per cent of renters say they would require financial incentives or homebuying support schemes to get onto the property ladder Confidence in the housing market dipped three percentage points to 24 per cent month-on-month, although sentiment…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Nearly one in five potential movers waiting for Budget before resuming plans

A new Rightmove study of over 10,000 potential movers looks at how Budget speculation is affecting decisions Nearly one in five (17%) potential movers said they have paused their plans due to uncertainty about changes to property taxes in the upcoming Budget The majority (61%) of potential movers surveyed said they were aware of rumours…
Read More →
Breaking News

Latest ONS Private Rent and House Prices Index

Average UK monthly private rents increased by 5.0%, to £1,360, in the 12 months to October 2025 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 5.5% in the 12 months to September 2025. Average rents increased to £1,416 (5.0%) in England, £817 (6.7%) in Wales and £1,008 (3.4%) in Scotland, in the 12 months…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Winter property checklist: How to protect your home this season

As temperatures drop and winter approaches, Propertymark, the leading professional body for estate and letting agents, is urging homeowners and tenants to prepare their homes for the colder months with a few simple maintenance checks that can prevent costly damage and ensure safety and comfort throughout the season. According to Propertymark, winter is one of…
Read More →
Breaking News

London homebuyers have paid nearly £25bn in Stamp Duty over the last decade

The latest research from Jefferies London shows that, as many await news of potential Stamp Duty reform in the upcoming Autumn Budget, homebuyers across the capital have collectively paid almost £25bn (£24.9bn) in Stamp Duty over the last ten years, with buyers in prime central London contributing the largest share by a considerable margin. Jefferies…
Read More →