UK Rental Market Update: Insights into the Current Landscape

Welcome to our Property Market blog, where we provide you with comprehensive insights into the current trends shaping the UK housing market. In this edition, we'll dive into key headlines of the current Rental Market - including supply and demand dynamics, challenges faced by investors, rental growth versus earnings, and regional snapshots. Let's explore the latest findings!

 

- Annual rental inflation for new lets in the UK remains high at an average of 11%, slightly down from 12.3% in mid-2022.

- Rental growth continues to outpace earnings growth, raising concerns about affordability for renters.

- The demand for rental properties remains significantly higher than the five-year average, while the supply of privately rented homes in Great Britain has seen a minimal 1% increase over five years.

 

Supply and Demand Imbalance:

- The stock of homes available for rent is 33% below the five-year average, highlighting the significant supply and demand imbalance.

- According to the recent ARLA Propertymark Report, the demand for rental properties recorded by member agents in April 2023 was 24% higher than the previous year, further exacerbating the supply shortage.

- Factors such as rapid growth in overseas students and high net immigration contribute to sustained demand for rental properties. This follows the Government shake-up of Visa rules in 2021 to help attract more skilled workers to the UK.

 

Challenges for Investors:

- The number of privately rented homes has only increased by 1% since 2016, as new investment is offset by properties leaving the rental sector.

- Tax changes, growing regulations, higher borrowing costs, and tighter lending criteria have prompted landlords to reassess their portfolios and investment strategies.

- Mortgage rates have increased, impacting the equity or deposit levels required for new buy-to-let purchases, along with stricter lending criteria and stress tests.

 

Rental Growth and Existing Tenancies:

- Existing tenancies have seen rental increases at an average of 4.4%, significantly lower than the market average for new tenancies.

- Landlords are encouraged to review their rents periodically, especially considering challenges such as tax changes and higher mortgage rates, as rent increases can positively impact investments.

 

Breakdown of the Private Rental Market:

- The core private rented sector, comprising long-term lets, accounts for 66% of the market, offering lower hassle and workload.

- Sub-sectors such as holiday and short lets or HMOs may provide higher yields but come with additional costs, workload, and regulations.

 

Regional Snapshot:

- In the West Midlands region, average rents have seen a year-on-year increase of just under 10%, with Birmingham ranking among the top five cities for rental growth.

- Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Nottingham also demonstrate strong growth in rental prices.

 

Conclusion:

The UK rental market continues to experience robust demand, outpacing earnings growth and raising concerns about affordability. The supply shortage persists, presenting challenges for both tenants and landlords. Investors face changing dynamics, including higher mortgage rates and stricter lending criteria. Regular rent reviews are encouraged to ensure investments remain financially viable.

Thank you for reading our Rental Market Update blog. If you are a landlord or property investor and would like some advice or to share your views, please contact me anytime...

 

Ali Durrant MARLA

Director of Concentric Sales & Lettings 

ali@concentricproperty.co.uk

UK Sales Market Update

Welcome to our Property Market blog, where we provide you with insightful information on the latest trends in the housing market. In this edition, we'll focus on the sales market, highlighting key statistics and offering valuable insights for both buyers and sellers.

 

1. Transaction Stats:

In January 2023, there was a 10% reduction in property sales recorded year on year, while new home purchases saw a 9% rise in completions. Mortgage approvals experienced a significant 46% reduction, with gross lending down approximately 7%. The decrease in mortgage approvals from the second half of the previous year largely explains the significant difference in lending statistics.

 

2. Buyer Demand:

According to the latest ARLA Housing Insight Report, there was a 30% fall in the number of prospective buyers registered across member branches in April 2023 compared to April 2022. Additionally, member branches reported a 70% increase in properties available for sale year-on-year. These figures indicate a drop in buyer demand, likely influenced by higher mortgage rates and economic challenges affecting affordability.

 

3. Market Activity and Pricing:

Rightmove reported that agreed sales numbers are currently just 3% behind the pre-pandemic market of 2019. The average price of properties coming to the market experienced a 1.8% month-on-month increase in May, reflecting robust activity levels and confidence. Sales agreed in May showed positive growth, and the level of negotiation from the asking price to the sale agreed price remained steady at around 3%.

 

4. Mortgage Rates and Affordability:

Despite an increase in the Bank of England base rate, mortgage rates have remained steady. The average 5-year fixed rate with a 15% deposit is now 4.56%, significantly lower than the 5.89% recorded last October. This decrease in mortgage rates contributes to maintaining home mover confidence in the market outlook.

 

5. House Price Growth and Market Activity:

The Zoopla house price index reveals a year-on-year price growth of 1.9%, the lowest in recent times compared to the 9.6% recorded a year ago. Prices have fallen by an average of 1.3% in the last 6 months due to higher mortgage rates and rising living costs. However, buyer confidence has improved, resulting in an increase in sales agreed, primarily driven by falling mortgage rates during the Spring.

 

Regional Property Price Movements:

The West Midlands region has seen year-on-year price growth of 3.5%, surpassing the national average of 1.9%. Birmingham ranks second among major cities, with a growth rate of 3.8%, just behind Nottingham at 3.9%. These figures indicate a significant difference compared to last April when the year-on-year price increase approached 10%.

 

The Outlook for the Sales Market:

Market activity in the UK sales market remains comparable to pre-pandemic levels. However, predictions suggest that mortgage rates may increase in the second half of the year, impacting affordability and pricing. It is anticipated that the year-end may see approximately 20% fewer transactions than the previous year. Sensible and realistic pricing is crucial for sellers, while buyers should not be discouraged as long as the numbers align. As the year progresses, increased stock levels may provide negotiation opportunities.

 

Conclusion:

The UK sales market demonstrates resilience, with activity levels approaching pre-pandemic norms. Understanding market dynamics, considering pricing strategies, and staying updated on mortgage rate changes are vital for both buyers and sellers. Seek professional advice and remain adaptable to navigate the ever-evolving property market successfully.

Thank you for reading

Looking For A Higher Rental Yield? These Are The Top Areas To Buy Rental Properties

There’s no denying that the lettings market has had it tough over the past 12 months. We’ve seen massive changes in legislation, not least the Tenant Fee Ban, which has mad things harder, both in terms of workload and income. As landlords, it’s difficult to know which path to take – how can we continue to grow and even thrive in this new landscape? And where should we be looking if we want to expand our portfolio to get the best return for our money? Here, we will talk you through some of the recent figures showing the good, the bad, and the downright ugly when it comes to the highest yields in the buy to let market.

The Great Postcode Lottery

As with everything these days, location is king, and that’s particularly true if you’re searching for buy to let properties. It might come as no real surprise to learn that areas boasting the highest yields tend to be in university catchment areas, so if you happen to be looking within NG1, for example, you’re quids in with a massive 11.99% yield – the highest in the UK.

But that’s only part of the equation – if you’re thinking longer term, you’ll also be considering things like capital gains, and rental price growth. With this in mind, information gathered by the UK Land Registry and Zoopla recently looked at the best and worst areas to purchase buy to let properties in the UK – and the results are quite surprising.

The overall ratings

Taking into account the overall yield, plus capital gains and growth, the research revealed that the most lucrative place for buy to lets is Colchester – perhaps influenced by the University of Essex winning the ‘University of the Year’ award in 2018. In fact, the majority of placed that ranked in the top 10 were University cities, which is not surprising as they tend to be the most sought after by the annual influx of students looking for accommodation near to where they study.

The rest of the best were as follows:

  1. Colchester
  2. Stockport
  3. Manchester
  4. Birmingham
  5. Canterbury
  6. Coventry
  7. Wolverhampton
  8. Peterborough
  9. Enfield
  10. Luton

The rising stars – The Midlands

There are three notable Midlands based cities in the top 10 – Birmingham at 4, Coventry at 6, and Wolverhampton at 7. Interestingly, Wolverhampton seems to be the one to watch – an area which has risen from 20th position on the last recorded survey. Recent regeneration in the Midlands as a whole has ensured that properties in these areas will remain to be sought after, and are expected to see future growth with the forthcoming HS2 rail line, making it more accessible and attracting new business to the area.

In contrast, areas around London have begun to see a decline, as again the landscape has changed, and we see more people being ‘outpriced’ by the property market.

The lowest yields

The bottom five in terms of yield are TW20 Twickenham with 2.00%, WD7 Watford with 1.99%, N6 London at 1.93%, HP9 Hemel Hempstead with 1.91%, and bottom of the league CW12 Crewe, with a mere 1.88%. Landlords who have properties to rent in these areas may find that they have to work a whole lot harder to increase those yields.

Other ways to increase the yield of a rental property

When you’re looking at ways to increase the yield of a property, there are a few basic things you can do which could help you get those numbers up – and they’re often overlooked.

Check your spending – It might seem pretty obvious, but if you’re spending out for things like insurances and mortgages, that’s all money taken from your profits, so it’s important to review what you’re spending on a property, and shopping around for better deals if you want to maximise your income.

Research tenant needs – In order to make your property as attractive as possible to tenants, you need to think carefully about what they might be looking for. Nowadays, people demand adequate storage, a good number of electric points, and plenty of space to fit kitchen appliances – if you can provide what they need, and offer additional sweeteners, then they will choose your property over one which doesn’t have those things – and they will pay a premium for it.

Kerb appeal – and the ‘wow’ factor – People shop with their eyes, so think about what your potential tenants see when they approach your property. Make sure that the garden is tidy, fences and gates are in good repair, and doors and windows are clean. First impressions of your property are vital in getting a ‘yes’ to what you are offering. And that means creating an attractive exterior, as well as a well decorated and maintained interior.

7 things landlords might not know about LHA tenancies

It’s a common phrase you see rounding off nearly every rental listing - “No DSS”. DSS – being the now-defunct Department of Social Security – refers to LHA tenants, the catch-all term for low-income tenants who claim Local Housing Allowance (LHA), named after the now-defunct Department of Social Security. 

LHA tenancies have become a bit of an enigma due to the lack of uptake on them. As such, they are an untapped market for many investor landlords, and offer a great opportunity to create a solid portfolio. 

Much is said of LHA tenancies in the lettings world – they’re unreliable lets, they’re a one-way ticket to rent arrears, and so forth - but it’s important to separate the truth from the myth. Here’s some facts you might not know about LHA tenancies:

1)    LHA is a capped flat rate allowance, calculated based on the size of a tenant’s property and the area in which they live. This means tenants need to source a property before their allowance can be calculated. Potential LHA landlord investors should research market values of low-income areas and make sure any properties they would like to let would qualify to be LHA-funded.

2)    Only 30% of available properties in a given area in the UK are affordable to LHA tenants with an even smaller percentage actually renting them due to “No DSS” policies. Due to supply and demand, if you have an affordable property, you could tap into a pool abundant with potential tenants.

3)    Landlords by default can have LHA paid directly to them if the tenant incurs 8 weeks’ arrears, but can apply for direct payment BEFORE this happens. Contrary to popular belief, local councils assess applications on a case-by-case basis and are open to paying landlords directly for a variety of reasons. If you have concerns about a tenant’s ability to pay, council help is always available.

4)    Many local councils, housing charities and letting agencies host direct letting schemes to introduce landlords to low income tenants. This means LHA tenancies are often easier and quicker to set up, which could benefit landlords dealing with vacancies and short-term lets.

5)    Some local councils in Northern England are part of the Empty to Plenty scheme, which helps house LHA-qualifying tenants by guaranteeing the safety and compliance of landlords. The scheme aims to reduce empty properties by assisting landlords with their lets, including options such as leases through housing associations or refurbishment loans for derelict properties of up to £15000. 

6)    As part of the Green Deal, LHA-qualifying tenants can also claim government benefits for replacing old appliances with new, energy efficient models. This means landlords could potentially have boilers, ovens and other expensive appliances upgraded at zero cost.

7)    If it is found that your tenant has been fraudulently claiming LHA and you have been directly receiving the payments, you will not be responsible for the repayments as long as you can prove you were not aware of any wrongdoing, so keeping of records is vital when handling LHA tenancies. 

Due to landlord reluctance, LHA tenants have developed a less-than-favourable reputation, but not all LHA tenants are the same – they can be employed or unemployed, disabled or fit for work, have families or be single. Specialising in LHA tenancies could prove to be a worthwhile investment – not only would you helping many people in need, but you could build a strong portfolio that generates regular cash flow. 

If you are interested in letting to LHA tenants, always have a full discussion with each applicant about their financial situation, what requirements they have for their property and request a full reference. If you’d like further help, you can get in touch your local Concentric branch, who can offer you further guidance and support on meeting LHA property standards and sourcing tenants.

Should I concentrate on capital appreciation in buy-to-let?

The growth of the buy-to-let market isn’t slowing down, as the housing shortage in the UK continues. Because of this, you now see a lot of information out there to help landlords get the best rental yields for their properties, but interestingly there is less information on capital appreciation. More associated with buyers and vendors, capital appreciation is also a factor that landlords need to consider when they invest in property, now more than ever.

What is capital appreciation?
In comparison to cash flow, which is money that goes straight into your back pocket, capital appreciation is the profit made on an asset that has not yet been liquidated. Many investors use property for appreciation due to being one of the more reliable assets.

Investing in private rental properties is more often than not a longer-term commitment compared to refurbishment projects and other types of property investment. Therefore, it’s in a landlord’s best interest to look into the capital appreciation potential of a property for when they or their successor eventually sells them. It’s not worth investing in a rental property only to lose capital once you leave the sector.

Why should you think about capital appreciation? 
If you’re looking to boost your personal income – maybe you’d like to add more to the retirement fund or raise more money to help out family -  then it would be wise to consider capital appreciation opportunities.

Once you reach pension age, you could stand to have a good nest egg to fall back on, especially since properties in the UK are increasing on average by 24% in value over 10 years.

Things to consider for capital appreciation

1)    Buy an asset you can actually liquidate. It’s okay investing in properties to create some steady cash flow, but if the property is difficult to sell or in a poor location, then you could end up losing more capital than you earned overall. This is called capital depreciation. Look for properties in up and coming areas or areas going through regeneration. According to statistics, you could stand to gain up to 25% in value on a property over just 5 years if a new supermarket is built in the area.

2)    Budget correctly and be aware of your net income. Only invest in properties you can genuinely afford – this includes décor and furnishing, maintenance and repairs, mortgage fees, taxation and utilities that match its size and build.  The mortgage tax relief cuts introduced by the government last year only heighten the need for you to plan your budget carefully. Pushing yourself to invest in properties that generate a large gross income will end badly if you can’t manage the financial upkeep. You could end up cancelling out any rental yield you make for a number of years, but even worse, you could end up in debt with a need to liquidate quickly. You want capital appreciation to boost your income, not make up for your losses.

3)    Be a good landlord. Don’t allow your property to become run-down and filled with bad tenants; it could influence the reputation its area has and thus decrease its market value. Looking after your tenants and ensuring a well-kempt property is heavily linked to how much the property will be worth over time. 

If you’d like to focus on capital appreciation when making a buy-to-let investment, a consultation with a local property expert is highly recommended. Many of our local Concentric branches offer buy-to-let advisory workshops, where you can get advice and guidance tailored specifically to you. Click HERE to find out more.

Planning on investing in HMOS? The 7 Essential Factors You Need to Consider...

Like any investments, HMOs come with risks and rewards. If you want insider knowledge gained from my many years’ experience in the property industry, I’ve got some insights that I’d love to share with you. Read on to discover how you can get ahead of the game when investing in HMOs.

   1. Planning and Building Regulations:

   2. Refurbishment:

   3. Fire Safety:

   4. HMO Compliance Considerations:

   5. Neighbours:

   6. Presentation:

   7. Licensing:

For a FREE 16-page document on HMO investment, detailing how Concentric can help you streamline your experience and maximise your investment funds, click here.

Renters in the West Midlands suffer the most with rent increases

·        Three in five letting agents in the West Midlands saw rent increases for tenants this month

·        Supply in London still remains an issue

·        ARLA issues September Private Rental Sector (PRS) Report

Tenants in the West Midlands are suffering the most from rent increases, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) monthly Private Rental Sector (PRS) Report.

Three in five (59%) ARLA letting agents in the West Midlands witnessed a rent increase for tenants in September – the highest out of all regions in the UK. This is compared to just under a quarter (22%) of letting agents in London noticing rent increases since last month, and a UK average of 32%.

Supply of rental housing

Renters in East Midlands are likely to be most successful when finding a rental property, with an average of 272 managed properties per member branch, compared to the UK average of 182. Interestingly, London has the lowest number of managed rental properties, with only 124 properties managed on average per branch, despite the huge population – proving that the issue of supply is plaguing the capital.

Demand

Demand for rental properties is the most prominent in the North West, with agents registering on average 40 new prospective tenants per branch in September – the most out of all regions. Demand continues to be prevalent in the South with ARLA agents in London, South East and the South West all registering an average of 39 new prospective tenants per branch. Agents in the East Midlands and Scotland are seeing the least new tenants coming through their doors.

Tenants in the East of England seem the happiest, as they stay in rented homes for the longest duration, with most staying for 20 months at a time. However, those living in the North West only tend to live in each property for an average of 15 months at a time, perhaps explaining why it has the highest prospective tenants per branch.

The report also revealed that rental properties in London have an average of six viewings before they’re let – the highest amount of viewings out of all regions in the UK. This could be down to the battle for space in the capital and the fact that as soon as a property goes on the market in London, many people flock to see it straight away to fight the competition of other renters. This is compared to properties in the East of England being let after an average of three viewings.

David Cox, managing director, Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), comments on the findings:“It’s interesting to see how tenants across the country are affected in different ways when it comes to the rental market; each region has its own issues, whether it’s lack of suitable housing, no available housing at all, or over inflated rent prices. It’s a surprise to see that those renting in the West Midlands are suffering from rent increases the most, when many of us would automatically think tenants in London would be the most prone to rent increases due to the competition in the capital.

“The rental property market remains a significant concern, as prospective house buyers either can’t afford to get onto the housing ladder, or simply can’t find a house they are willing to buy – putting increasing pressure on the rental market. Until the issue of supply and demand is addressed, we will continue to see tenants across the country struggling to get a good deal on rental properties.”