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Harlow Buy-to-Let Market on the Rise as Returns Rise by 41.5% in 5 Years

Harlow landlords are becoming progressively more self-assured about expanding their rental portfolios; as Harlow rents rise, mortgage interest rates fall and demand for decent Harlow rental properties outstrips supply, you get the knock on effect of Buy-to-Let Market returns rising.

A number of reports nationally would suggest around a third of UK ‘portfolio’ landlords (i.e. landlords with more than one rental property) are actively looking to expand their rental portfolios in the next 12 to 18 months, that would locally mean…

500 Harlow ‘portfolio’ landlords are looking to add to their rental portfolio by the end of 2022

The pandemic has had a substantial change to what we want from a home. Many people think that relates just to homeowners, yet nothing could be further from the truth as it also applies to tenants.

Homeowner or tenant, many of us have spent a lot of time away from places of work. Many office workers face the outlook of the combination of working from home as well as at the office, meaning a change in what people look for in their home. People (including tenants) are looking for larger properties, with extra rooms for office space and decent sized gardens or to be closer to outside green space.

So, let’s look at the ‘scores on the doors’ as to why Harlow landlords are on the up…

Harlow house prices are 11.8% higher than 5 years ago

Because some Harlow first-time buyers are being priced out of the market due to these house price rises, they are being forced back into the rental market. Add the extra demand of the 1 in 10 Harlow house sellers who, in the last 12 months, have had to go into rented accommodation instead of buying, and this has created increased demand, meaning…

Rents today in Harlow are 6.5% higher than a year ago and 29.7% higher than 5 years ago

The average rent of a Harlow property today is £1,176 pcm.

In previous articles on the Harlow property market, I was talking about the lack of properties to buy – yet that issue is also there in the British rental property market. Now let’s look at the supply of rental properties.

Would it surprise you that the number of private rented homes in the UK has fallen in the last 12 months by just over 2.5%?

Why? One reason has been many ‘accidental’ landlords have used this housing market to sell their property for a good price. That means the supply of available rental properties has decreased. The perfect storm of increased demand and lower supply, and with many Harlow tenants competing for those larger Harlow homes, they may find Harlow rental prices pick up even more over the next year.

What about buy-to-let mortgages for Harlow landlords?

The banks all but withdrew from buy-to-let lending in the first lockdown. Yet, since last summer things have settled down and during 2021 there has been a mortgage price war.

Harlow landlords can borrow 60% of the value of their BTL property on a two-year fixed rate of 1.18% from Platform and even those with a 20% deposit (that’s borrowing 80%) can borrow that money at 2.49% 2-year fixed rate from The Mortgage Works. Those looking to fix for a little longer can get 1.44% from The Mortgage Works and 1.79% at 75% loan to value from Santander.

(It must be noted there are some fees to these mortgages, and you must take advice from a qualified mortgage advisor before deciding which mortgage is best for you).

So, is now the best time to invest in Harlow buy-to-let property?

As the Buy-to-Let Market returns rise, if you are attracted to invest in Harlow buy-to-let, it’s vital to do your homework first – particularly if you are new to the game.

When estimating the expected rental returns on investment, capital growth and yields, many Harlow landlords look to what has happened with house prices and rental prices, yet past performance does not always deliver a future guaranteed return.

Smart Harlow landlords will speak with agents like myself and others in Harlow, prudently researching the Harlow property market to discover what types of properties are in high demand (and short supply) from tenants.

Whether you are a landlord of ours or not, please feel free to drop me a line via email or social media for no nonsense advice on the important matters to look out for before investing in Harlow buy-to-let.