Rising financing costs, driven by high interest rates and inflation, have created significant worries for property investors.
A recent survey of 600 UK property investors revealed that 67% of landlords are concerned about property financing costs, with 30% being strongly concerned.
At the same time, the broader economic environment is making investors more cautious as the survey from Finbri also discovered almost three quarters of investors (71%) are concerned about interest rates.
Inflation is another critical factor adding to investor concern. It bites into purchasing power and drives up costs for essential property-related expenses, a significant ongoing worry for 77% of investors. For example, general property maintenance and refurbishment costs have risen by 14% since 2021 due to increased material and labour costs.
In 2019, the average buy-to-let mortgage rate offered to landlords was 3.5%. However, some lenders offered rates as low as 1.40%. As of August 1st, 2024, the average fixed buy-to-let rate stood at 5.45%.
The number of new buy-to-let loans issued in the first quarter of 2024 fell by 16.7% compared to the previous year, indicating an existing cautious lending environment.
Finbri’s Google Trends research showed that on 1st August 2024, the day of the most recent Bank of England rate announcement, Google searches for mortgage rates spiked by 245%.
However, interest rates are not the whole story when it comes to borrowing costs. The product fee for a buy-to-let mortgage can push the equivalent rate of a two-year fixed buy-to-let mortgage to 10% APRC.
Stephen Clark, founder of Finbri, commented: “Property investors have seen financing costs skyrocket over the past five years and the challenges for the PRS remain significant. Clearly any interest rate cut is undoubtedly welcome news, however the August 0.25% reduction alone is unlikely to markedly subdue property investor financial concerns.”
