Private rented sector finely balanced says Paragon Mortgages

The latest Paragon Mortgages Private Rented Sector (PRS) Trends report for Q1 headlines ‘A Long Road Ahead’.

The highlights in the Paragon Mortgages Q1 2017 PRS Trend report are: Average portfolio size stable at 13 properties, despite tax changes and rising stamp duty. Landlords expect little change in portfolio size over the next 12 months. Average LTV ratio is 35%, continuing downward drift in gearing since 2013. Increased understanding of tax changes and implications – 78% of Landlords, up from 71%.

John Heron, Managing Director, Paragon Mortgages, said: “Almost two years on from the 2015 Summer Budget and the Government’s move to create “a more level playing field” between landlords and homeowners, April 2017 is finally here and the tax relief changes on buy-to-let mortgage interest have started to be implemented – although the full effect willnot be felt until 2021.

“Looking back on the 21 months since the then Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement, it’s encouraging to see the Private Rented Sector (PRS) has not been negatively impacted to the degree that had been widely predicted, despite some turbulence.

“However, we remain cautious, as landlords will not be fully impacted for some years yet and, whilst we have been able to track a modest recovery in confidence since 2015, the sector is still some way off its peak; the PRS is finely balanced and will remain so for some time”. To read more see below.

To read the all the comments from John Heron in the complete Paragon Mortgages PRS Trend report 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

Gap between house prices and earnings narrows

Gap between house prices and earnings narrows – but higher borrowing costs limit affordability gains UK’s house price to income ratio falls from 7.6 to 7.3, an 11-year low, as earnings continue to outpace house price growth For first-time buyers, homes now cost less than six times earnings, falling from 6.1 to 5.9 However, monthly…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

New Scheme Could Double Solo Buyer New-Build Options

Your First Home could more than double new-build options for solo first-time buyers The number of available new-build homes in England affordable to an average single first-time buyer could more than double (+114%) under the new Your First Home scheme The maximum purchase price affordable to an average solo buyer could increase by nearly £49,000,…
Read More →
Breaking News

Annual house price growth halves in September

UK annual house price growth halved to 0.8% in September, from 1.6% in August Northern Ireland remained best performing region, with prices up 5.9% year on year in Q3 2026 East Anglia weakest performing region, with annual decline of 0.7% Terraced properties were the strongest performing property type, with a 1.8% rise, whilst flats remained…
Read More →
Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

Homesellers say valuation appointment is key

Nearly nine in 10 home sellers say the valuation appointment is key when choosing an estate agent   The latest research from GetAgent.co.uk has revealed that the valuation appointment remains one of the most influential stages of the home selling journey, with almost nine in 10 sellers saying it played an important role when deciding which…
Read More →
Rightmove logo
Breaking News

London’s rental market bucks the national trend

New analysis from the UK’s largest property platform Rightmove reveals that rental demand in the capital is up 7% in September while Great Britain overall is 2% below last year Rental demand in London had been running around 7% below 2025 levels on average throughout 2026 until the end of August before moving into growth…
Read More →
Breaking News

Higher mortgage rates put buyers in the driving seat

Market conditions vary locally: three in four Scottish homes find a buyer within three months, compared with just three in ten in London   Mortgage rates now average 5.2 per cent, the highest level in three years, adding £150 a month (£1,800 a year) to typical repayments and further cooling buyer demand Homes for sale…
Read More →