Landlords in the Midlands are most likely to add to their portfolios this year, with terraced houses topping their wish lists.
Research by the specialist lender Paragon found that one in four landlords in the East Midlands plan to buy a new investment property in the next 12 months, compared with just 8% in the South West of England.
Here, Which? explains where landlords are looking to invest and offers advice on finding the ideal buy-to-let property.
Where are landlords looking to invest?
Paragon’s buy-to-let survey found that just 14% of landlords in England and Wales are currently looking to expand their portfolios, with those in the Midlands most likely to buy an extra property.
Investors in the South West (8%) and Inner London (9%) were the least likely to splash out, as shown in the chart below.
What types of property are landlords looking for?
More than half of those looking to invest further said they were targeting terraced properties.
One in four, meanwhile, said they would look to buy a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
| Type of property | Percentage of landlords |
| Terraced | 52% |
| Semi-detached | 32% |
| Flat | 26% |
Are portfolio landlords more likely to invest?
Paragon’s research shows that professional landlords with larger portfolios are more likely to invest further.
Just 8% of landlords with one property are looking to invest, compared with 20% of those with 20 properties or more.
Richard Rowntree of Paragon says: ‘Portfolio landlords have adopted a number of strategies to adapt to the tax and regulatory changes of recent years.
‘We’re seeing trends such as these landlords buying stock from smaller-scale participants as they exit the market, or targeting higher-yielding properties such as HMOs.’
| Size of portfolio | Percentage of landlords looking to invest |
| 1 | 8% |
| 2-3 | 12% |
| 4-5 | 15% |
| 6-10 | 14% |
| 11-19 | 14% |
| 20 or more | 20% |
Are landlords selling up?
It might surprise you to hear that there are landlords looking to expand their portfolios rather than sell up, especially with the latest changes to mortgage interest tax relief on the way.
Indeed, a recent report by estate agency Hamptons International found that the number of landlords in Great Britain has dropped to 2.66 million, a 266,000 fall since 2017.
The exodus could be set to continue. Data from ARLA Propertymark indicates a further 230,000 UK landlords could switch to short-term lets through websites such as Airbnb.
But while it’s a difficult time to be a buy-to-let investor, there is always a need for quality properties in the rented sector, and fewer landlords mean fewer option for tenants.
This could be why some landlords are sensing an opportunity to invest. Data from UK Finance shows that 5,700 landlords took out mortgages for new properties in December, up 4% on the previous year.
Rates dropping on buy-to-let mortgages
Paragon’s data shows nearly two-thirds of landlords plan to fund their next purchase with a buy-to-let mortgage, and the good news is that there are plenty of attractive deals available right now.
The graph below shows how the average cost of a fixed-rate buy-to-let mortgage has plummeted in the last 12 months.
To get the very best rates, you’ll generally need a deposit of 40%. Good rates are available with a 25% deposit, but deals for investors with deposits of 15-20% are significantly more expensive.
When comparing deals you should also factor in upfront fees and any early repayment charges, and consider taking advice from a whole-of-market mortgage broker.
The tables below show the best introductory rates on the market.
Best rates on two-year fixes
| Loan-to-value | Provider | Initial rate | Revert rate | Fees |
| 60% | The Mortgage Works | 1.19% | 4.74% | 2% of the advance |
| 75% | Coventry Building Society | 1.59% | 4.99% | £1,999 |
| 80% | The Mortgage Works | 2.49% | 5.54% | 2% of the advance |
Best rates on five-year fixes
| Loan-to-value | Provider | Initial rate | Revert rate | Fees |
| 60% | The Mortgage Works | 1.64% | 4.74% | 2% of the advance |
| 75% | The Mortgage Works | 1.94% | 5.24% | £1,995 |
| 80% | Loughborough Building Society | 3.09% | 5.34% | £1,499 |
How to find an investment property
House prices aren’t exactly surging at the moment, so it’s even more important than ever to take the time to do your research before parting with any cash.
As a starting point, ask the following questions:
Things landlords need to know in 2020
It’s been a complicated few years for landlords, and 2020 is likely to be no exception.
In April, the final round of cuts to mortgage interest tax relief will come into force, as will changes to private residence relief and energy efficiency regulations.
It’s a lot to take in, but we’re here to help.
For an at-a-glance look at the big issues affecting investors this year, check out our story on 15 things buy-to-let landlords need to know in 2020.
