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Moulton Estates - Estate Agents in St Albans, Hatfield, London Colney, Colney Heath, Park Street, and surrounding areas.

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Moulton Estates - Estate Agents in St Albans, Hatfield, London Colney, Colney Heath, Park Street, and surrounding areas.

Premium Estate Agents in St Albans

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  • Services
    • Selling
      • Sellers Guide
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+44 (0) 1727 846361
Looking for certain features

Rise in UK landlords shows there is still an appetite for buy-to-let

By

Gregory Moulton

Posted in Buy to Let, Investing, Property News On April 30, 2018

Over the past year, the government has introduced 3% Stamp Duty levy, new stress tests for portfolio landlords and started to phase out mortgage interest tax relief.

Experts predicted that landlords and property investors would be leaving the market in their droves, put off by all the extra rules and regulations that have made buy-to-let a less attractive investment option.

But they haven’t left. In fact, the opposite has happened – according to recent HMRC data, the number of buy-to-let investors in the UK rose to a record high of 2.5million in the latest tax year. That’s an increase of 5% on 2016/17 and a rise of 27% over the past five.

And the number of properties each landlord owns has increased too – on average, each landlord owns 1.8 buy-to-let properties, which according to the research, has risen for the fifth year in a row.

So, it seems that, despite the changes brought in to the sector recently, landlords continue to see residential property, especially in London, as a strong investment.

This is because they are looking at the bigger picture. A tax change is not going to cause landlords to rethink their entire investment strategy because they are more pragmatic than that. Perhaps buy-to-let is not as profitable as it once was, but it is still better than the alternatives – low interest rates and a volatile stock market, so landlords are sticking around.

However, while the changes to the sector may not have put landlords off, the PRA changes particularly have put some brokers off.

I think this is because there is no longer a place for a ‘generic mortgage adviser’.  The buy-to-let sector – like the residential and commercial sectors – is becoming increasingly specialist.

The criteria for buying a buy-to-let property is very different now, and to be able to advise on the market, brokers need to understand all the latest legislation, know about portfolios, HMOs, limited companies etc.

As a result, while mainstream lenders and brokers are reporting a drop in the number of buy-to-let mortgages, Connect for Intermediaries has seen an increase. This is because the firm is able to offer much more flexibility and scope to find products that suit the specific needs of a borrower. 

Connect for Intermediaries, like other specialist buy-to-let brokers, has access to specialist buy-to-let lenders who can offer tailored and flexible finance solutions.

And I think this is a positive move for the mortgage market. As lenders start to specialise more, the competition on both rates and criteria will increase which will mean better deals for borrowers and ultimately a more buoyant buy-to-let market.

Liz Syms is CEO of Connect for Intermediaries.

Article courtesy of Landlord Today | Sign up for Landlord Today newsletter | Get this news on YOUR site!

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 12:00:04 GMT

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I had been with Moulton Estates for the past 6 years. They are absolutely brilliant. I was a landlady and they helped me with everything. Getting Tenants, helping with anything that needed to be done. Everything that needed to be done was done straight away. I then Sold my Flat and sold it through Moulton Estates, again they were first class they were there every step of the way. If you want to rent out a property then please go to Moulton Estates they will always be there for you. Selling a property please don't hesitate to use them. Highly recommend them. Read more Read lessDawn ThomasOctober 24, 2019
Gregory was fantastic. Had the tenacity and killer instinct to make sure the sale went through, when just about everyone else was letting us down. Now happy in our new place! Read more Read lessDavid BaillieJanuary 21, 2021
I can't recommend Moulton Estates highly enough. Fantastic service, efficient and they know their stuff! They sold our flat quickly and helped us through the whole process. Read more Read lessLindsey LangstonNovember 24, 2016
These guys are amazing! We had such a difficult chain, and they went above and beyond to get us exchanged. Couldn't rate them enough. Very open communication, really managed the chain and always on the end of the phone, when needed. Would definitely use them again. Read more Read lesssabrina SabrinaJuly 12, 2020
Moulton Estates were extremely helpful during the sale of our apartment. Natalie was very proactive and enthusiastic and she supported us on each stage of the process. During the negotiation with the buyers or in case of any misunderstanding with the conveyancer, Natalie and Gregory provided us with all possible support. Overall, very professional, client-orientated and honest estate agency, which was an absolute pleasure to work with. I can’t recommend Moulton Estates highly enough! Read more Read lessYana LitvinovaNovember 26, 2018
Buying a property is usually a lengthy and stressful process, the team at Moulton try to do everything they can to minimise this. Very good at staying in touch with you and keeping you updated regarding progress. Read more Read lessAdam BellamyJune 14, 2021
After some terrible experiences with 2 other agents (one who basically told me a 1 bedroom flat wasn't worth their while and another who failed to communicate effectively between me & my buyer and didn't listen to instructions) working with Moulton Estates was beyond all my expectations. Gregory and his team were supportive, organised and totally professional. They did everything when they said they would, were in regular contact with my solicitor and followed up with all parties at every stage. Such great service and just what I needed after a fraught year on the property market. I wish I had gone to them first! Read more Read lessRachel GlynnMarch 31, 2022
Fantastic team, professional services always on the other side of the phone to help. Natalie, Gregory, Ben always went out of their way to provide excellent advice and customer satisfaction. Would definitely recommend this agency for all your house needs. Will use services again for sure Thanks again guys Read more Read lessMACHICAIRO MADEIRAOctober 14, 2019
Absolutely a breath of fresh air compared to other agents, thanks for all your hard work in selling my property so quickly Read more Read lessJamie JonesAugust 3, 2016
I can’t recommend Moulton Estates highly enough - their phenomenal service, friendly, clear and efficient communication and unparalleled local market knowledge meant they were the obvious choice when we sold our home last year. In fact, from start to finish the process was exemplary - and the honesty, care and attention to detail blew us away. These guys are LEAGUES ahead of any other estate agent I have worked with, spoken to or used before. Gregory and the team are truly experts in the St Albans and wider Hertfordshire housing market and it shows. If you are buying or selling then give them a call! Well done guys and thank you again - keep up the great work! Read more Read lessNick JohnsonOctober 14, 2019

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