Tax Relief on BTL Mortgage Interest – Will It Last?

Tax Relief on BTL Mortgage Interest – Will It Last?

15:49 PM, 25th February 2014, About 10 years ago 14

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Hi Folks,

I curently have one property and am advising my sister who has become an accidental landlord. My mum keeps sticking her oar in to the debate regarding speculation that tax relief on mortgage intertest will be reduced or withdrawn. I can find loads articles related to last years budget but the subject seems to have gone quiet for now.

I’m interested in a range of views from this forum and perhaps to share some speculation on what might happen under governments of different colours going forward. Tax Relief on BTL Mortgage Interest - Will It Last?

For what it’s worth It seems to me that:

  • removing that tax relief would decimate the BTL market and only benefit a small number of cash rich low/no gearing landlords.
  • the rest of us would get out of the market creating huge turmoil in the housing market
  • this would not generate a great deal in tax revenue. If I were Osborne I’d rather have 40% of something than 100% of nothing. This is not lkely to be in anyone’s interest.
  • I don’t buy the angle that BTL landlords are pushing prices up so that 1st time buyers are priced out in most parts of the country. In most cases we are meeting a short term demand.
  • the main reasons for rising house prices are falling household size (thereby increasing the demand for housing even in a stable population), population growth (primarily in London and South East, thus explaining at least part of the growing house price disparity) and an inelastic demand/supply relationship with new build.

I’d really welcome some views from you guys!

Andrew


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Comments

Richard Kent

17:06 PM, 25th February 2014, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "A G" at "25/02/2014 - 16:58":

Good advice 🙂

Stephen Lesley

17:20 PM, 25th February 2014, About 10 years ago

I'm not sure how landlord buying BTL's stop first time buyers. Most LL tend to only offer way below the market price where as if its a first home you (or at least my wife and I) were prepared to increase our offer as we wanted the house....just a thought.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

18:00 PM, 25th February 2014, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Stephen Holmes" at "25/02/2014 - 17:20":

I agree Stephen, especially experienced property professionals who tend to take the crap out of the market, refurbish it and provide decent homes for decent folk.

FTB's are not in that market.

Many other landlords, possibly as many as 80%, are people who were trapped in negative equity and let their former homes as a way to move on in life without wrecking their credit history.
.

Jeremy Smith

18:14 PM, 25th February 2014, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Stephen Holmes" at "25/02/2014 - 17:20":

This definitely is NOT the case here in the Cambridge area.
Just today I have had to increase my offer on a house I wanted (as a BTL), which would give a good yield, but another investor with cash has put in an even higher offer, that's for a terraced house over the £250k threshold.
And in Cambridge itself, these can go for £300k to £400k easily, way out of the reach of most FTBuyers.
With a 2-bed achieving £1.5-2k pcm without too much effort, it is no wonder the prices have gone so high around here.

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