36% Gross Rental Yield – Is that even possible?

36% Gross Rental Yield – Is that even possible?

17:08 PM, 4th June 2015, About 9 years ago 23

Text Size

When I saw a property listed in Liverpool today showing a 36% gross yield I thought it must be a mistake, so I called the agent. 36 Percent Gross Rental Yield

It’s not a mistake!

I was told the property is let to a blue chip company on a rolling 12 month company let agreement with a verbal commitment to renew for two further years.

The property is fully furnished and part of the deal is that all bills are included and the property is cleaned weekly. Apparently this nets down from gross rent of £1,600 pcm to a net rent of £1,000 pcm. Nevertheless, even if you crunch the numbers down at that level the yield is still a whopping 22.66% based on a purchase price of £52,950.

A few years ago, when I was still buying, I’d have been very tempted to go and have a look for myself, even though Liverpool is about as far from me as I could get in England.

Whoever buys this property, or even if you just go and have a look, please come back here and share your thoughts.

Just in case you didn’t know, our portal can be found on our home page. Just click the Property118.com logo at the top left of your screen to get there.


Share This Article


Comments

Tony McVey

17:39 PM, 7th June 2015, About 9 years ago

I agree with most of what Simon has said, although I am not quite as optimistic as he is
about the property market on Merseyside. On the positive side, Bootle, unlike Liverpool,
is not subject to selective licensing, which will not,of course, affect the position of larger HMO's.. But neither is it a good area for student properties.
Even traditional parts of Liverpool are no longer as student desirable as in the past, thanks to the Local Authority's policy a favouring large city centre student developments. A terraced house in Bootle commanding such a rent? It seems very
unusual to say the least. For that money you could rent in many better areas.

Simon Topple

11:16 AM, 9th June 2015, About 9 years ago

Tony - 'm not convinced selective licensing will make much of a difference. It'll deter some investors, and will make some landlords want to sell up, but it'll be providing more properties to investors that have factored licensing into their costs, and they'll be basing their pricing for the property price when they buy. Or not, if they don't consider the cost of licensing! I think the general national attitude to landlords to be a great hindrance, and the attitude from the local authority is a massive problem. They recently started (and finished I believe) a consultation into the effect of purpose built city centre student accommodation, and invited stakeholders to consult. They did not consult with any agents, landlords or other stakeholders outside the city centre to contribute, which kind of says it all. They have also banned to-let signs in Smithdown, something which will cause huge problems for agents located there. This has been in the name of "stabilising" the rental market. The effect will most likely be huge voids and a re-balancing of the area into family, as landlords will fail to rent out their houses as HMOs and put them back into the family market.

I think you are right about changing popularity but I'm seeing it from another angle - proximity to town. Areas that 10 years ago were hard to let are now much easier. L6 in Kensington is now booming, with what seems like every house being bought up going to students. Same for L7 - this is more popular than 10 years go (I was advised - before starting my agency - not to buy on Albert Edward Road as we would never get students. This was from a very well established - and still trading - student management agency. I bought there in 2006 and on neighbouring roads and it has let well ever since, with rents now at least 50% higher than when I purchased it (in some cases nearly 100% higher).

It will be interesting how the next 5 years pan out. More and more HMO investors are flooding in, into a market that has already seen one traditionally very popular area suffer, so perhaps Tony you are right to be pessimistic.

There may also be further cause for concern in an area that may cause massive hardship - LHA shared room rate. The tories have pledged 12bn of cuts to the welfare bill. They have already hacked and slashed at disability, they probably won't touch pensions, and they have already cut the LHA bill by introducing the 35 cap to single room rate. If they bring in the mooted 25 year old cap to receiving any LHA at all, then landlords who invest in LHA HMOs will find that they have cut down a massive portion of their potential target group - those from 18 to 25. They have to find 12bn savings from somewhere, and LHA is the most likely target.

@Tom Williams - I wouldn't class my self an expert on the Liverpool market, I do know specific areas very well though as I have been investing and managing here for over 10 years. I wouldn't be able to comment specifically on your house in L8 without knowing the specific location, although we have seen a rise in demand for L8 from students in particular parts. It is close to LIPA and the campus in the city, and I think that providing the property is well located and done to a good standard it should be OK (we've got a 9 bed and 10 bed in L8, as well as a few smaller HMOs - demand for the big ones is good.

Tom williams

8:53 AM, 13th June 2015, About 9 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Simon Topple" at "09/06/2015 - 11:16":

Thanks Simon. Your comments on L6 and L7 were really interesting and your experience of demand in L8 is encouraging. My HMO is done to a good standard and is in the Hartington Road area.
A concern I have is that maybe too many HMO investors are flooding in resulting in a increase in supply.

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now