Some 'very good investment opportunities' exist for savvy landlords
Posted by Jane Codling
There are a number of excellent UK property investment opportunities out there for landlords to take advantage of, it has been claimed.
According to Simon Collins, product technical manager at mortgage adviser John Charcol, the company's figures show that buy-to-let purchases were "significantly" higher this November than at the same time last year.
With many reports suggesting that rents are hitting all-time highs, landlords appear to be taking advantage of this and expanding their portfolios.
"Savvy landlords realise that there are some very good investment opportunities to be had out there," said Mr Collins.
Furthermore, the services of property management agents could be even more in demand in 2012 as landlords look to buy discounted properties in a generally subdued housing market.
"Landlords appear to be gearing up ready for an assault in the New Year to snap up some winter bargains while overall market sentiment remains low," the mortgage expert commented.
Landlords have also benefited from a rise in the number of different buy-to-let mortgage products on the market in recent months, as many lenders return to the sector or are enter it for the first time with private rented property playing and increasingly important role in the UK housing market.
Meanwhile, new figures released last week by Lloyds TSB suggested that it is becoming increasingly difficult for owner-occupiers to purchase property, which could lead to even more people turning to the rented sector.
According the the bank's Homemovers Review, Home affordability for second steppers - those people still living in their first home but looking to take their next step up the property ladder - is at its least favourable level for over a quarter of a century.
Its housing affordability measure - calculated as the average price of a typical second home less the buyer’s current equity position as a ratio of average earnings - stood at 5.2 times gross annual average earnings in October 2011 - the highest ratio since records began in 1987.
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