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Buyer appetite for new-builds remains strong across the UK, with data for the first quarter of 2024 showing that 19.1% of new-build homes listed for sale across major cities had already found a buyer. However, this is not only the case for homebuyers, as landlords are increasingly seeing the benefits of new properties.

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New-builds for landlords: Can I get a buy-to-let mortgage? Landlords are increasingly targeting new-builds - particularly city centre apartments - as a future-proof investment, but what about mortgages?

There are numerous strategies property investors can employ to see the greatest success. This can range from targeting up-and-coming areas to achieve the highest capital growth, to focusing on the property itself and local amenities to ensure it is snapped up by tenants and achieves the best yield.

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The way people rent is changing; landlords play a vital role For landlords, there are many benefits to having a low tenant turnover, and new research shows tenants are staying in their rental homes for longer.

But the dual phenomena of rocketing property rents and widespread flexi-working are redrawing the commuter map and adding entirely new notches to London’s trusty, old – and expensive – commuter belt. People whose previous daily London commute has been whittled down to once or twice a week at most have found a more spacious, cheaper and better life based in rural Sussex, Dorset or even as far afield as Devon.

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London’s new commuter destinations | BuyAssociation Group - EN GB But the dual phenomena of rocketing property rents and widespread flexi-working are redrawing the commuter map and adding entirely new notches to London’s

Since Prime Minister announced last week that the next UK general election would be held on 4th July, Parliament has entered the “wash-up” period where any last-minute pieces of legislation can be quickly passed before it is dissolved on 30th May.

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No-fault eviction ban put on hold as Parliament dissolved Buy-to-let landlords have been made increasingly aware that the "no-fault eviction" could be set to see major changes, but plans have been paused.

Even with the announcement of the general election last week – which will take place on 4th July – along with the fact that interest rates have not fallen as many had hoped they would, UK property prices remain unperturbed, according to predictions from Knight Frank.

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London house prices could be affected by general election By the end of this year, with the inevitable political uncertainty of the upcoming general election, prime central London house prices could fall.

Two major industry bodies – the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) and Savills – are calling for greater investment into the private rented sector, as well as strategies to instil more confidence for landlords, in order to boost the country’s rental supply.

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More property investors needed in UK private rented sector UK rental properties are being snapped up 10 days faster than pre-pandemic, with tenant demand creating a gap to be filled by property investors.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a global organisation of the United Nations, has upgraded the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2024 from 0.5% to 0.7%, in a welcome shift towards a stronger end to the year.

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New interest rate recommendation points to 3.5% in 2025 It is this improved economic landscape that has led to a boost in the interest rate outlook, after many had been left disappointed that the last interest rate

As the Renters Reform Bill has slowly made its way through Parliament since its first reading in May last year, the news has focused on certain major changes that it intends to make to the private rented sector. These include the way evictions are carried out, changes to tenancy agreement terms, and more rights for tenants renting with pets.

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How rules for renting with pets could change for landlords The number of tenants that keen on renting with pets has increased since the pandemic, and the rules on this topic for landlords are set to change.

It has been widely reported over the past couple of years that tenant demand in the private rented sector is surpassing the supply of homes available across many parts of the country. While this puts additional pressure on tenants, it can also be a marker for landlords when looking at their next investment location.

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Tenant demand is up for seven out of 10 UK landlords Property investors tend to hone in on locations with high tenant demand, and the latest data shows strong tenant appetite is widespread in the UK.

By the end of 2024, UK house prices are expected to have risen, on an annual basis, by an average of 2.5%, according to the latest five-year forecast released by Savills. This is a significant improvement on the agency’s previous prediction for a -3% fall by the end of the year, which it had forecast back in November last year.

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UK house prices now expected to rise rather than fall - 2024 Thanks to an improved economic outlook, UK house prices have seen a major turnaround in Savills' latest forecast compared with last year.

Just as many homeowners have seen their mortgage rates go up over the last couple of years as their existing rates came to an end, property investors have been navigating a trickier borrowing climate. The good news is that rates have fallen since the start of the year, while product numbers have been on the rise.

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Landlords seeking buy-to-let mortgages see more competition Buy-to-let mortgages have followed the same trends as standard residential lending, but the market remains competitive for landlords.

For investors seeking a new-build property opportunity, it can be useful to hone in on the areas where major development is underway. Not only can this mean a greater range of property options springing up, but it tends to come hand-in-hand with infrastructure improvements in the area, with more amenities and businesses coming to the location.

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The top places to invest in new-build property in the UK Many of the UK's major regional towns and cities are undergoing significant regeneration, ideal for buyers looking to invest in new-build property.

The number of sales agreed in the UK housing market increased by 12% year-on-year according to Zoopla’s latest house price index. Meanwhile, house prices remained largely unchanged when looking at the country as a whole, sitting -0.2% down on last year’s figures.

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House prices tread different paths in north-south divide Appetite in the UK property market continues to climb, but the picture for house prices remains starkly different between regions of the UK.

When Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced he was shelving previous plans to increase the energy efficiency of the country’s housing stock, including by increasing minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) in the UK rental market, some landlords may have breathed a sigh of relief.

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Why EPC ratings are still important in the rental market Energy efficiency might have been expected to fall down the list of priorities for property investors, but landlords are keen to boost their EPC ratings.

Stamp duty has always been a somewhat controversial property tax in the UK, with critics arguing that it deters some buyers, including downsizers, from moving house.

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Will stamp duty threshold be raised before general election? Calls for a stamp duty overhaul appear to be getting louder, and there are rumours Jeremy Hunt could announce some changes later this year.

One recent study from Censuswide revealed that around one in five aspiring homeowners don’t expect to get onto the housing ladder until they are in their forties – and a high proportion of these will be renting in the meantime. Saving for a deposit was cited by 31% as the main reason for this, while 44% said it was mortgage affordability.

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Industry body for landlords continues to ask for tax cut Tenant demand remains sky-high in the rental sector, with landlords seeing unprecedented appetite, and the NRLA believes a tax cut could help.

Big shoutout to Ash Ajaz - The People's Broker for making the process seamless and stress-free 🌟

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House price trends and the wider economic landscape are both something to keep an eye on when dealing with the housing market, whether you’re a prospective first-time buyer, an existing homeowner or a property investor. Steady or climbing prices indicate a strong market, while the economic situation influences market activity.

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UK property market: two pieces of promising news Yesterday, a new house price index from the Office for National Statistics was released, which revealed a boost in the UK property market with an average

Most investors make money through property in two ways: via monthly rental returns where the investment property is rented out, and through capital appreciation when the property is ultimately sold at a higher price than was paid. This is why both the rental market and house price trends should be taken into account before investing.

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UK property investment: where are the strongest regions? There are plenty of things you need to factor in before you embark on any UK property investment; the first step is often choosing the best location.

For property investors and homebuyers alike, as well as tenants who hope to get onto the housing ladder soon, keeping an eye on house prices can be a useful indicator of the health of the market and help you decide when it’s a good time to buy. However, it is even more important to look at the broader picture, particularly for landlords considering buy-to-let.

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A good time to buy? UK house price recovery sparks debate UK house price trends present a mixed - yet overall stable - picture to buyers, so it can be difficult to know whether now is a good time to buy.

While there is still a level of uncertainty regarding the current economic outlook for the UK, exacerbated by an impending general election later this year and a mixed picture on inflation and interest rate targets, there are plenty of signs that the construction space is in line for a more healthy year ahead.

Focus Finance Solutions
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UK new-build market improving as build costs stabilise Building costs have fallen significantly since their 2022 peak, while a rise in demand for UK new-builds indicates a positive outlook for the sector.

Eid Mubarak to all celebrating around the world🌙

As we mark the end of Ramadan, let's cherish the spirit of togetherness, gratitude, and generosity 💙

May this Eid be a reminder of the shared values that unite us, fostering peace and understanding across communities 🫱🏽‍🫲🏼

Wishing everyone a day filled with joy, reflection, and the warmth of loved ones ✨

Short-term lets, also known as holiday lets, experienced something of a surge in popularity over recent years, accelerated by the onset of the Covid pandemic. As overseas travel became either more difficult or less appealing – or both – along with cost rises, staycations became a much more common choice.

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Holiday lets: Are they still going to be a good investment? In this year's spring budget, the Chancellor announced that the way holiday lets are taxed will change, so will that take the shine off the sector?

For scores of property investors, letting out a property or properties over a number of years is a significant part of what makes a profitable investment. Even for those who opt to use a letting agent and management company to take care of the bulk of the work on the rental side, there is plenty the investor can do to maximise their success.

Focus Finance Solutions
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Myth-busting buy-to-let: most tenants have 'good' landlords Buy-to-let landlords sometimes get a bad rap in the media, but new research casts a positive light on owner-tenant relationships.

Bridging Finance as an option for a short-term secured loan has been used by investors in the UK more often in recent years. Many borrowers use this type of fast funding for property transactions. Although it has become very popular in recent years, many are still unfamiliar with Bridging Finance and how they can benefit from options available.

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FAST CASH FOR PROPERTY PURCHASE - Focus Finance Solutions In this blog article, learn all about bridging finance and why it has increased in popularity in recent years.

A tenancy agreement is a contract between the tenant and the landlord of any privately rented or socially rented property in the UK. They set out any legal terms as part of the rental, and are normally in written form although can be verbal agreements in rare cases.

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Tenancy agreements: will change be good or bad for landlords Understanding tenancy agreements is vital for anyone investing in property as a buy-to-let landlord, and there could be some big changes ahead.

Thrilled to announce a game-changing moment for one of our esteemed clients in the Real Estate Surveying sector 🔥

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Last week’s Spring Budget contained a few changes that will affect the UK property market, including a capital gains tax cut and changes in how short-term lets (furnished holiday rentals) will be treated for tax purposes.

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Stamp duty: will property investors be affected by change? There were multiple calls from the property industry for the Chancellor to make changes to stamp duty to boost investment.

In Zoopla’s latest house price index, which showed that annual UK house price inflation was now at -0.5% based on its portal figures, a “three-speed housing market” was revealed. Essentially, various parts of the country are displaying different levels of performance and resilience, meaning the ‘average’ figure is not as important as looking specifically at certain areas.

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Manchester and Liverpool: top cities for house price growth The UK housing market has "three speeds" as performance varies across the country, but Manchester and Liverpool continue to stand out.