Buy to let landlords in the UK are optimistic about the year ahead

Despite the uncertainty of Brexit and increasing tax burdens for landlords, buy to let investors in the UK remain largely optimistic about the prospects for the market in the year ahead.

Some 65% of buy to let investors are confident about the performance of their property portfolio in 2018 while just 14% say they are concerned, according to the annual buy to let barometer from Shawbrook Bank.

Good tenant demand and high yields appear to be driving feelings of optimism amongst landlords with 21% experiencing an increase in tenant demand in the 12 months to 2018.

However, although landlords are optimistic, they are also realistic, understanding they will be facing challenges both in the near and longer term at a time when confidence in the economy is down, falling from 47% in 2017 to 34% in 2016, while levels of concern have risen from 33% in 2016 to 42% in 2017.

Despite weaker growth prospects for the UK economy, investor appetite remains healthy, the research shows with 39% of landlords planning to invest in another buy to let property in 2018, with the North West and South East singled out as the preferred regions.

Karen Bennett, managing director of Shawbrook Bank commercial mortgages, said:

‘There’s a healthy dose of uncertainty around at the moment, but the buy to let market is showing its resilience. Property continues to offer an excellent underlying investment vehicle for professional landlords with the right investment strategy.

‘While the investment case for buy to let remains strong, there are particular challenges ahead for portfolio landlords and the additional impact of the PRA changes. Landlords now face much more stringent affordability tests and it’s therefore more important than ever that landlords are clued up on their obligations as the market continues to get even more complex.’

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