Property investors traditionally drawn to London and the South are increasingly exploring the Northern Powerhouse and its variety of housing stock. With less expensive property and reliance on the rental sector, yields and equity continue to grow.

It appears as if the northern regions of the UK are proving a safer bet – mainly because there’s a chronic undersupply of housing and thus a heavy reliance on the rental sector. This is why now is the time to invest in the North.

Price Changes

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The Hometrack index report monitors house prices across 20 UK cities, as well as regional and national trends. The most recent report shows that the annual rate of price growth has slowed from 8.7% down to 5.3% (April 2016 – April 2017).

However, eleven cities are still rising at a rate faster than a year ago. This surge is led by areas north of the capital, notably Manchester at 8.4%, Birmingham at 7.7%, and Leicester at 7.7%.

Likewise, property in Edinburgh (5.8%), Leeds (4.6%) and Liverpool (4.4%) also showed positive increases from where they were 12 months ago. Because of this ongoing growth, Aspen Woolf have sourced a range of investment opportunities in these areas so our clients are assured of long-term capital appreciation.

Expensive South

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One of the main reasons for this fluctuation is the poor performance of southern regions, and in particular the overinflated London market. Although property prices in the capital still saw an annual growth of 3.5%, this is considerably lower than the 13% recorded in April 2016. This is the lowest level London has been at for five years.

The Hometrack report cites affordability constraints, tax changes and weaker market sentiment for lack of movement in the southern regions. It goes on to say:

“Looking ahead we expect current trends to continue with house price growth losing momentum in cities across southern England where housing unaffordability is at a record high and has priced large numbers of households out of the market.

Weaker investor demand supports this trend, taking demand out of the market and adding to supply as investors look to rationalise and de-leverage portfolios in the wake of tax changes.”

Why invest in the North?

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The steady increase in house prices is just one reason to invest in the north. There’s also the robust demand for rental properties, an important contributing factor to its performance. Yields in these northern regions have thus outperformed the UK average, notably in Salford (7.08%), Manchester (5.79%) and Leeds (5.96%), in the year up to March 2017.

This is because properties are generally less expensive in these areas. Combined with large student numbers and a strong demand for rental accommodation, there are no signs of this trend slowing down in the foreseeable future.

The Hometrack report also points out that households will look to take advantage of the current low mortgage rates and improving economic outlook, although some caution should still remain due to the Election fallout and continuing Brexit negotiations.

You can find out more about the properties with assured long-term capital appreciation that Aspen Woolf has secured for investors here.
If you’d like to know more about the current and future property market, you might be interested in why there is an Optimistic Outlook for the Property Market in the Next Five Years.

The latest housing data shows that renting is now cheaper than buying in over half of the UK’s 50 largest cities.

Property experts Zoopla found that in 54% of cases, the monthly cost of renting a two-bedroom home is less costly than obtaining a mortgage.

This is promising news for buy-to-let landlords, especially as this trend has risen in a relatively short space of time. In October last year, the number of these locations was just 40%.

House Price Rises

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In the survey of Britain’s 50 biggest cities, Zoopla found the average monthly rent on a two-bedroom home is £690. Compared with mortgage repayments of £737 for the same size property, you’re making a saving of £564 each year.

Some property speculators have concluded that house prices have reached a high point, particularly in the capital and Home Counties. This is mainly due to a chronic undersupply of homes and numerous enquiries for the same property. Historically low-interest rates and help-to-buy schemes have also helped raise prices.

Regional Statistics

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Analysing the Zoopla data further, a correlation emerges between the most expensive areas and the biggest rent/mortgage difference. This is no more evident than in London, where monthly rents of £1,861 lie well below mortgage repayments of £3,000. However, due to the high property prices in London, the rental yield is actually much lower than in other areas of the country, which means that investing in property outside of London can prove better value for money.

Liverpool and Bristol are other areas of interest for buy-to-let investors, with differences between rent and mortgage repayments of 23% and 16% respectively. Because of this, Aspen Woolf have sourced properties from these locations due to the potential for high tenancy demand.

The table below displays the top ten:

Large Demand for Rented Homes

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The scramble for rented properties has been high in the UK for many years now, especially as obtaining a mortgage has become increasingly difficult for first-time buyers. According to accountancy firm PwC, there will be 7.2 million households in rented accommodation by 2025.

Further research from the ARLA property group showed that in January this year, their letting agents witnessed a 34% increase in registered tenants per branch. This is good news for landlords as monthly rents will maintain a positive growth whilst remaining cheaper than mortgages, as noted above.

The rise in rents can be attributed to a lack of supply, with additional government pressure on landlords playing its part too. And as there’s no real sign of this pattern slowing down, it appears as if the buy-to-let sector is the place to invest at the present time.

If you’d like to know more about the current demand for rental properties in the UK, feel free to get in touch with us today. Our range of properties are carefully selected where the need for accommodation is at a premium, at a time when renting is cheaper than buying.

If you’d like to invest in London property but can’t, you may be interested in how Commuter Towns are the Hottest Places for Property Investment.

Foreign investment in the buy-to-let sector has increased significantly in the past year, mainly due to a more favourable exchange rate post-Brexit. This has also been the case with British expats who’re looking to acquire rental properties back in the UK.

Traditionally, international backers have centred their investments on London. However, what we’ve seen recently is increased interest in regional areas outside the capital, namely the North West, Midlands and South West.

This signifies that, despite premature warnings over the Referendum and tax relief changes on the buy-to-let sector, confidence in the rental market has endured. Domestic investors should therefore recognise these buying trends and look to snap up properties in the UK whilst they can.

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Expat Investment

Although it’s not been uncommon for British expats to purchase property back home, there’s been a significant rise in these numbers since Brexit. A recent survey of financial intermediaries revealed that 68% had seen a rise in enquiries about buy-to-let mortgages from expats alone.

The predominant reason for this has been the devaluation of the pound since the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Sterling has weakened against the US dollar, falling from 1.49 on 23 June 2016, to around 1.30 at the time of writing. Currencies pegged to the dollar – such as Hong Kong, Qatar and Saudi Arabia – will be getting more for their money.

These findings are even more impressive considering the new stringent lending conditions introduced by the Prudential Regulation Authority this year. Although guidelines and borrowing limits were tightened, investors still haven’t been put off the UK market.

This is likely due to the strong performance of the rental sector. Rents are increasing year-on-year, with interest rates at historic lows. Combined with the favourable currency exchange, low-entry properties have become even more affordable and therefore produce higher yields.

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Foreign Investment in UK Buy-to-Let

Higher expat activity is echoing the strong foreign investment in the UK as a whole. A study by property agent Savills shows that international buyers accounted for one-third of all investment in the UK’s regional property market last year. There’s no sign of this trend slowing down either.

Naturally, the devalued pound has played its part. Investec have calculated that a purchase of a property worth £1 million before the Referendum will cost around £200,000 less on the current market!

Likewise, various buy-to-let hotspots across the country provide consistently high rental yields on a long-term basis. This is especially the case with purpose-built student accommodation which is beginning to dominate the sector.

If you’re a foreign investor or British expat, it’s within your best interest to use an established estate agent who knows the UK market inside out. At Aspen Woolf, we provide specialised and impartial advice to clients from both home and abroad.

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If you’d like some advice about investing in UK property, get in touch for a chat.
If you’re interested in student accommodation in particular, you might be interested in how the student accommodation sector is also benefitting from foreign investment.

After the surprise snap election called by Theresa May, voters will yet again head to the polling booths on 8 June. However, as much of the discussion has centred on each party’s manifesto and their post-Brexit outlook, some domestic matters have been overlooked.

One such issue comes with the property market and especially how the new or existing government will deal with a chronic undersupply of UK housing. In the build-up to election day, we’ll take a look at how property in the UK could be affected.

Previous Elections

By studying previous election patterns, a correlation emerges in relation to property market transactions. According to Alison Platt, chief executive at estate agent Countrywide, the past nine elections has seen a dip in sales in the weeks before polling day.

However, one difference this year is the timespan between Theresa May’s announcement on 18 April and the election date itself. We don’t have the same long run up as usual, meaning the normal ebb and flow of property activity is less likely to be affected.

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Soft Impact

A survey conducted by eMoov helped confirm this. They canvassed 1,000 potential buyers/sellers in regard to their intentions now the election has been declared, asking the question:

“If you are buying/selling a house, will you still go ahead regardless?”

The results were pretty conclusive with nearly 60% saying they wouldn’t be discouraged. Only 18% stated they would wait until the result is announced, with the remainder being undecided.

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Stability

The main factor behind the snap election is to help strengthen Theresa May’s position as Prime Minister. Should the Conservatives win (the most likely outcome according to the polls), investors will react positively to her ‘strong and stable’ mandate.

This is also the case with Brexit, with the Tories committed to finalising Article 50 as efficiently as possible. Again, property speculators prefer this attitude as long and short-term market conditions are likely to become clearer.

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Post-Election

Looking back over previous elections also shows activity begins to pick up in the three months after the result is announced. According to Countrywide, transaction levels can increase by as much as 13%. Likewise, the former residential chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Jeremy Leaf has noted:

“If the result is decisive either way, that will give the Government a greater mandate for its existing policies and is likely to result in a surge in activity in the housing market at least for the honeymoon period afterwards.”

In their manifesto, the Conservatives promise hundreds of millions of pounds invested over the next five years, although precise figures weren’t given. Labour addressed the lack of housing in theirs, promising to build one million new homes during their time in government.

Whatever the result, the snap General Election is unlikely to affect the UK’s housing market severely one way or the other. The stability seen after Brexit is therefore likely to remain, especially in the short run up to the vote on 8 June.

If you’re not sure about investing your hard earned money in property now, take a look at Why Property is Still the Most Lucrative Investment in 2017.