BTL landlords are shrinking portfolios despite rising rents

BTL landlords are shrinking portfolios despite rising rents

0:07 AM, 5th April 2024, About a month ago 33

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Buy to let investors in England and Wales are reducing the size of their portfolios, despite healthy rental income growth, research reveals.

According to Open Property Group, which analysed data on portfolio sizes and profitability, the average investor now holds 8.5 properties, a 1.6% year-on-year decline.

However, the regional variations are stark with Yorkshire and the Humber seeing the biggest portfolio shrinkage, with the average landlord now owning nine properties, a 27% decrease.

The West Midlands and South West also witnessed significant reductions of 19% and 13% respectively.

Portfolio sizes grew in outer London, the North West, South East and Wales.

‘Much has been made about the landlord exodus’

The firm’s chief executive, Jason Harris-Cohen, said: “Much has been made about the landlord exodus in recent times and it’s fair to say that the severity of this trend has been largely exaggerated.

“However, the figures do suggest that while buy to let investors may not be exiting completely, they are reducing the size of their rental property portfolios.

“In fact, buy to let investors are accounting for an increasingly larger segment of sellers looking to utilise the quick sale route, as they look to off-load part of their portfolio with minimum fuss or stress, having benefited from years of rental income and capital appreciation.”

He adds: “With a reduction in capital gains tax fast approaching, we expect more investors will look to streamline their portfolios given that the cost of existing is set to reduce and who can blame them?”

The trend of landlords shrinking their portfolios

The quick sale firm also found that the trend of landlords shrinking their portfolios coincides with an average rental income increase of 8.8%.

Yorkshire and the Humber again leads the way with a jump of 30.9%.

However, a closer look reveals a potential cause for the downsizing – declining profit margins.

Open Property says that rental yields have dropped by 1% in the North West and central London, suggesting rising costs are squeezing returns.


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Comments

James Sim

23:58 PM, 7th April 2024, About a month ago

I’m selling up, and in doing so I’m reducing both the number of my BTLs and the outstanding mortgages on the others. I would be surprised if a lot of other small landlords are not doing the same. When mortgages were cheap it made sense to have them, now they are expensive it makes more sense to reduce them, and the way for most landlords to do this is by selling some.

Anfy445

9:49 AM, 13th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 05/04/2024 - 19:01
I have my own agency ltd company just to manage my 5 properties HMRC allow 15% charge with company allowance and reduced tax liabilities expenditure is minimum so nearly 15%increace in profit kept a good accountant will advise

GlanACC

11:14 AM, 13th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by James Sim at 07/04/2024 - 23:58
Same here, had 18 - sold 12, 6 left but won't sell till tenants leave as they have been with me for years (one 20+ years). Wouldn't advise anyone to go into BTL to make money these days as only cash buyers stand a chance

NewYorkie

12:36 PM, 13th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 13/04/2024 - 11:14
I see plenty saying we shouldn't complain now it's hard, because we've had it easy. But surely that's the nature of investing. You don't know what will happen with your money. If it goes up, great. If it goes down, not great. You then decide if you want to stick around to see if it goes up again, or decide to sell and invest elsewhere. I did OK in London and not OK up North, and apart from one feckless tenant, I can't complain.

For many years, like many other landlords, I was able to keep rents low and stable due to low interest rates. But that was my decision, and at my cost. I could have [should have] increased rents and made more profit for a rainy day. Now, I've had enough of being a 'social housing subsidiser' and hope to finally be out of BTL by the end of the year, even if my mortgage does drop.

Cromerty

13:31 PM, 13th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 13/04/2024 - 11:14
Three properties bought with cash one in Berlin where there are stringent rent caps and occupancy rules. We've sold that one. So I'm not worried but very glad I diversified into other passive income sources now. Those interest rates were never going to stay low, why did anyone think they would?

NewYorkie

14:25 PM, 13th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by Cromerty at 13/04/2024 - 13:31
Retirement means passive investment is now my focus. Although I am extending and refurbishing my 1851 townhouse this year.

I do believe renting is the way forward for society. The young are turning their back on ownership, but still have high expectations which much of today's rental stock won't meet. I thinl BTR will be the option for young professionals who don't want to buy but want upscale living, and can afford the rents. Worth a little dabble in a BTR REIT.

Meanwhile, I look at my remaining BTL which is a drain, and then at my General Investments account up 16%, SIPP up 12%, and ISA up 19%, and wonder why I would ever consider BTL again.

GlanACC

15:25 PM, 13th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 13/04/2024 - 12:36
I have to agree with you, investments can and is a risk. For many years one of my other businesses was subsidising my BTL mortgages - this was my 'plan B' which every one investing should have. This wasn't a problem as it was always in my plan that protected me from interest rate rises. . If interested Google 'BBC Britain's deflating buy-to-let bubble' - I was on the BBC Money Program twice.

Beaver

13:46 PM, 14th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 13/04/2024 - 14:25
it is completely crazy that there is a shortage of rental property and that you are allowed to invest in commercial property in a SIPP, but not residential property. Even if you were only allowed to invest in energy efficient rental property in a SIPP that would be a public benefit. You can invest in companies supply bombs to the Middle East in a SIPP....you can invest in tobacco or alcohol...but you can't invest in putting a roof over somebody's head.

NewYorkie

16:10 PM, 14th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 14/04/2024 - 13:46
You can hold a BTR REIT in a SIPP.

GlanACC

17:30 PM, 14th April 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 14/04/2024 - 16:10
Yes, and look what happened to one of those - they had to sell the housing stock to cover the loan

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