The Boom of Buy-to-Let.

November 14, 2014

Much has been commented on with regards the changing face of the UK housing market and the vast increase in buy-to-let properties. How, therefore, shall the British property ownership landscape look in years to come and are we too, turning into a nation of landlords and tenants?

The dramatic transformation within UK home ownership has affected how we, as a nation, live; with now almost two million landlords in the UK, owning around £1 trillion of property. (Statistics: Telegraph)

This number is expected to rise further over the coming five years, with landlords currently owing around 1 in every 5 UK homes.

A common situation in other European countries, such as Germany, where less than half of the population owns their own home, choosing instead, to rent – a situation brought about, in part, by the Second World War but the option of choice now for many German families.

Even a major financial crisis in Britain has failed to halt the growth of the buy-to-let market, where just over half of homes, built in recent years, have appeared in the rental sector.

The ability for aspiring landlords to obtain buy-to-let mortgages has been crucial in the growth of this sector and with the introduction of specialist landlord loans in 1996, many aspirations have become a reality.

Again today, landlord lending is rising at a faster rate then ever with currently more than 700 buy-to-let mortgage deals available, making it a simpler task for landlords and a growing option for prospective tenants in the UK.

Alex Evans

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