Portfolio landlords ‘cheering up’ as demand outstrips supply

Fewer landlords are feeling negative about the prospects of their buy-to-let business and investments while most landlords remain neutral, the latest Landbay landlord survey reveals.

More than a quarter (27%) landlords surveyed by the buy-to-let lender felt negative about their business, compared to 37% at the end of last year. While four out of 10 (40%) were neutral and around a third (33%) felt positive.

UNCERTAIN WORLD

Those who were positive highlighted increased or steady demand as the reason for their optimism with one landlord saying: “While the world is uncertain, the demand for residential property and accommodation is and will remain high.”

The strongest positive sentiment was among those landlords with portfolios over 20 properties.

More felt negative than positive.”

Of those with between four to 10 properties, more felt negative than positive. But the feelings of landlords with portfolios between 11 and 20 properties were evenly split between negative and positive sentiment.

Amongst HMO landlords, less than half (43%) felt positive about their businesses with around a third (30%) feeling negative.

Those landlords who felt negative cited uncertainty over a change in Government and potential rental reform. Some were particularly worried about the proposed abolition of ‘no fault’ evictions, or Section 21s, to which both Conservatives and Labour have committed.

COMMITTED

Rob Stanton (main picture), Sales and Distribution Director at Landbay, says: “Whichever party forms the next government, we hope that they will be committed to supporting the rental sector.

“Nurturing confidence among landlords is absolutely key to the health and prosperity of the UK housing market, helping to provide much needed accommodation.”

He adds: “With affordability still a real challenge for residential buyers and demand continuing to outstrip supply, there is an abundance of tenants ready to rent across the country.”