Buy-to-let fundamentals remain strong

Landlords’ confidence in the buy-to-let sector has collapsed, as reflected by the latest industry research.

However, despite gloomy forecasts, the fundamentals in the buy-to-let sector remain strong, according to latest BVA BDRC1 Landlords Panel survey.

The data reveals that the fundamentals of the market remain resilient despite the tax and regulatory changes seen in the past few years.

The proportion of landlords making a profit dropped by just 1% in Q2 from Q1 2019, and only 4% of landlords say they are making a loss, the survey of more than 700 active landlords in Q2 2019 found.

 Being a landlord remains a strong investment with a third of landlords able to make a full-time living off of their lettings, and just over half - 53% - able to supplement their day job.

Tenant demand has also seen an increase, although regional variations are present, with over a third of landlords in Wales, East of England, Yorkshire and The Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands and the South West seeing an increase in demand.

London and the South East are the only regions where landlords are more likely to report decreases in demand rather than increases, with Central London particularly affected as only 11% with properties there cited an increase in demand.

Overall, those perceiving a rise in tenant demand went up from 20% to 23% quarter-on-quarter, with families remaining the most common tenant types.

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