I’ve just remortgaged one of my buy-to-let properties with The Mortgage Works who told me that far from needing my rent to cover my mortgage by an extra 25 per cent, it now needs to cover it by an extra 45 per cent. The change really threw me and meant that I ended up putting in extra equity to the property to pull the loan-to-value and rate down. I have four other buy-to-lets, all of which are due to be remortgaged fairly imminently but I am still in the period where I'll need to pay early repayment charges to remortgage now.
Who are Britain's landlords? From energy healers to ex-soldiers, we reveal the property investors housing generation rent
An Englishman's home is his castle, except sometimes, it's not his castle, it's his landlord's castle. One in five families living in the UK now rents their home - and the number is rising. But who are Britain's landlords and how do they invest? We talk to some of those helping to house generation rent.
BUY-TO-LET AND LANDLORDS: TIPS, TOOLS AND GUIDES
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MORE BUY-TO-LET AND LANDLORD NEWS AND TIPS
Top university towns for buy-to-let revealed: Sunderland offers the best returns - but London doesn't make the list
In the same week as the holy grail of savings accounts, Santander's 123 account halved its rate to 1.5 per cent, research suggests landlords can earn returns up to 6.9 per cent. A combination of low property prices and strong demand for rental accommodation in student cities in the north of England means landlords are raking in almost 7 per cent a year. But experts have warned that it's not a get rich quick scheme. Letting property requires knowledge and understanding of local markets, tenant demands and the laws that govern rental provision.
Could you pay for your retirement by buying homes for students? They offer 11% returns and cost as little as £40k - but making a profit won't be easy
Figures tracking student buy-to-let properties across the UK show that in fact returns of 6 per cent or more are common. Sunderland is top of the pile, with landlords making 10.6 per cent on average, according to expert firm Property Partners. So for every £1,000 you put into a property to buy it, you'll get back an extra £106 each year in rent.
Too good to be true? New online estate agent promises landlords free listings on Rightmove and Zoopla and a year's rent up front
For the first time ever landlords can list their properties to rent on both Zoopla and Rightmove without paying up front fees. LetMe, an online lettings agent, has just launched a service giving landlords the option of paying no fees at the outset, receiving 12 months rent in advance and having a guarantee that the condition of their property on the tenant's departure will be equal to the condition at the start of the tenancy. It includes listing as many properties as they like for no charge on both major property portals with LetMe claiming the overall deal is 'free'.
Can house prices keep rising and how can people afford to buy in London? Watch the Property Show
Declining ownership is seen as another sign of property market in crisis, but is this true? Ed Mead, of estate agents Douglas and Gordon, joins the Property Show, to look at the state of the market and whether prices will keep rising. And as an experienced agent he also answers the question many of us will have asked: 'How on earth do people afford London homes?'
The SECRET estate agents: A shadowy new world of hush hush home sales that could save you a small fortune
Most homeowners rely on an estate agent to buy or sell a property, but now many seeking privacy are turning to a new kind of ultra-discreet professional. Increasing numbers of properties are being bought 'off market' without the traditional for-sale board or advertising. Buying and selling this way, using a 'buying agent' used to be the preserve of the rich and famous.
LANDLORD ESSENTIALS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Buy-to-let mortgages: How they work, what you need to know and how to get the best deals
Buy-to-let has become big business as Britain's small army of property investors ploughed their savings into homes to deliver both income and growth. Buy-to-let mortgages are generally interest-only, require larger deposits and need rent to comfortably more than cover payments. We explain more in our guide.
The buy-to-let traps: How to avoid the classic mistakes that mean investing might not pay off
Those considering investing in buy-to-let - or hoping to improve the returns on their existing properties - need to make sure they aren't making common mistakes. We outline the classic errors to avoid to make sure you get the best from buy-to-let - and how to look after your tenants so they look after you.
DON'T MISS
- SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SHARE TIPS Every week we round up the weekend share tips. This week: Jimmy Choo, OptiBiotix, Sky and Provident Financial
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- EVENLODE INCOME How two Wise men turned £1m into £1BN in just seven years
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- SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS! Former City worker who launched a tie business after he was made redundant expects sales to reach £1m next year
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- MIDAS SHARE TIPS As the markets totter, luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo is on a sound footing
- Buy-to-let mortgage tax relief battle backed by Cherie Blair hits the skids Court refuses full judicial review.
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PROPERTY: DON'T MISS
- Built to last: Victorian homes stand the test of time And are a good investment, say experts
- REVEALED The most and least affordable places in the UK to buy a home
- Switching off the life support As Help to Buy draws to a close, we reveal where and how you can still get a 95% mortgage
- Buy-to-let mortgage tax relief battle backed by Cherie Blair hits the skids Court refuses full judicial review
- It's technically a house price boom Property values in 'silicon hubs' of Cambridge, Reading and Oxford soar in last five years
- Revealed How parents are hit with a £100,000 mortgage penalty for sending their children to nursery
- Has Brexit vote hit the housing market or not? Mortgage experts say autumn data will show if homeowners are spooked and refusing to move
- Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham see some of biggest house price rises Property in the South takes a breather
- My friend and I bought a property and split the mortgage 50:50, now he wants more of the profits because he put in bigger deposit
- Why 'Help to Buy' is not just for the first-timers It could be a life changer for families looking to trade up
- House prices up by almost £3k in the month to June Property hits levels of unaffordability not seen since before the financial crisis
- Do you live in one of the happiest places in the UK? Leigh-on-Sea on the Essex coast is named top spot for contentment
- New inheritance tax rules could save your family £140k The lowdown on the main home break - and how to plan
- Bank of mum and dad dealt tax blow New rules mean parents could be hit by higher stamp duty rates
- RACHEL RICKARD STRAUS The government has gambled hundreds of millions on house price rises - it's time to stop the meddling
- Hold out for lowest home loans ever! Best mortgage deals tipped to become even cheaper after Brexit rate cut
- Why does a vote to leave the EU mean house prices might fall? Fears Brexit could freeze the property market
- Banks suspend deals for landlords Buy-to-let lenders pulling loans in case homes slip into negative equity
- Bonfire of EU red tape could help you get a mortgage Rules introduced earlier this year had nasty side-effects for homebuyers
- What next for mortgage rates? Lenders cut fixes again as interest rate rise drifts once more
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BUY-TO-LET: DON'T MISS
- Ten tips for buy-to-let: the essential advice for property investors Read our guide
- My friend and I bought a property and split the mortgage 50:50, now he wants more of the profits He put in bigger deposit
- New online estate agent promises landlords free listings and a year's rent up front Too good to be true?
- Selling your property tax-free may be about to get tougher after call for crackdown on CGT dodgers £18bn homeowners' tax break
- Buy-to-let lenders pulling loans in case homes slip into negative equity Banks tough on deals for landlords:
- Landlords converting family homes to student digs or shared properties for young professionals to boost rent
- Planning on becoming a property millionaire? Think twice as experts warn headwinds will only get worse
- Buy-to-let landlords to get money-back 'windfalls' averaging £4,300 as building society is forced to return cash from unlawful rate hike Court of Appeal victory over West Brom
- 'Calm after the storm': Buy-to-let purchases fall drastically and could take months to recover after stamp duty surge
- Landlords abandon older tenants and push up rents BUT retired homeowners see their mortgage options finally improve
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