Mortgage Insurance Calculators About How it Works
   Back | How it Works
Securing an excellent mortgage offer with Revolution Finance Brokers couldn't be easier
1Get in Touch
Complete a quick form to give us an overview of your mortgage or financing requirements, and we'll provide recommendations about the best opportunities for you.
2Submit Your Application
Once you've chosen your preferred mortgage deal, we'll steer you through the paperwork with comprehensive application management from start to finish.
3Mortgage Completion
Revolution Finance Brokers will finalise the details and enable you to move forward without delay!
   Back | About
   Back | Insurance
   Back | Calculators
   Back | Your Mortgage Position
Your Mortgage Position
Bad Credit
Bridging
Buy to Let
Development Finance
Self Employed
Mortgage for professionals
Lifetime Mortgages
Expat mortgages
Interest Only
Mortgage Affordability
Mortgage Application
Income Types
Residential Mortgages
Commercial Mortgages
Property Types
Remortgages
First Time Buyers
Mortgage Declined
Offset Mortgage
Other
   Back|Bad Credit
   Back|Bridging
   Back|Buy to Let
   Back|Self Employed
   Back|Expat Mortgage
   Back|Interest Only
   Back|Income Types
   Back|Property Types
   Back|Remortgages
   Back|Other Mortgages

Lockdown And The Buy To Let Housing Market


Lockdown And The Buy To Let Housing Market
Why Revolution Brokers?

Whole of market brokersWhole of market brokers

Mortgage that suits youMortgage that suits you

On time customer supportOn time customer support

Almas Uddin
Almas Uddin

Founder and Mortgage Advisor

Almas Uddin15 May 2020
    

UK lockdown began in March, and although we hear a lot of uncertainty about how this will impact the buy-to-let housing market, the future is looking up!

Here is why, and how to strategise to take full advantage of the changes taking place.

 

Buy-To-Let Interest Rates 

The Bank of England reduced the Base Rate (BBR) for the second time on 19th March to just 0.1%. This cut in interest is excellent news for investors.

We saw significant changes in mortgages offered when lockdown began on 23rd March. At the time, nobody knew how the virus pandemic would impact us.

Very few lenders were accepting buy-to-let mortgage applications, and there were only a few options at 75% LTV and very few providers with remote valuation systems in place. This hesitancy led to widespread concern about how severe the impact would be on the market as a whole.

 

Mortgage Market Evolution

As with many industries, mortgage providers have evolved to create more flexible services in the post-pandemic climate. Currently, Revolution Finance Brokers are working with a pool of 21 different lenders, all now offering 75% LTV ratios and having developed desktop valuation processes to streamline their systems.

These changes show how in a short time the mortgage market has leveraged technology to be able to better deal with remote transactions. This fast change is partly due to the volumes of borrowers requesting mortgage holidays, with around one in seven homeowners currently in this payment free period. Lenders are now looking at what they can offer to attract new customers.

 

Back To Business As Usual

While in a period of transition, we are seeing expanding communication with brokers and lenders working together to find the most beneficial ways to change the way we work.

Buy-to-let mortgages are now available at competitive rates, and so the dip in transactions has proven to be short-lived.

With announcements recently about new RICS guidelines for physical valuations, these will resume shortly. In the meantime, desktop valuations are available to avoid delays.

 

Physical Property Valuations - Guidelines

To comply with safety measures, valuers will:

- Ensure that properties are empty
- Wear suitable PPE
- Make arrangements for contact-free key handovers
 

While valuers are figuring out how to comply with these requirements, we anticipate that these new measures will be actioned swiftly.

 

How Has Covid-19 Impacted Buy-To-Let Property?

The good news is that the buy-to-let property market appears to have avoided any significant impacts. The National Landlord Association (NLA) report that only 2% of tenants have missed rent payments. Mortgage Payment Holidays have helped many buy-to-let investors weather the storm.

Earlier in the period, we saw increases in rent values of 4% year on year over the last five years. It seems very likely that these prices will continue to rise steadily.

House prices reported by Halifax show that the average UK house price currently stands at £238,511, which is a 2.7% growth on last year.

Zoopla reported a decrease in rental property demand of 57% back in March, but have now confirmed that the bounce back in the first two weeks of April has reached 30%, restoring much of the pre-lockdown demand.

 

The Future of the UK Property Market

Property sales are now resuming at pace, and Coadjute reported an impressive 182% rise in bookings for property viewings in the last four weeks. They also report increased estate agent registrations up by 45% as potential buyers look to take quick advantage of the incredible offers currently on the mortgage market.

It seems clear that the market remains strong, and is fast returning to previous trading levels.

House prices may have dropped slightly in the short-term, which makes it an excellent time to buy or invest, particularly with low-interest rates available.

Now is an opportune time to buy, and if you are considering investing in buy-to-let, we recommend acting quickly while lucrative lending offers are still available!

Contact us now to discuss your personal options, Revolution Finance Brokers specialise in commercial and residential finance in Essex, Kent, London and Hertfordshire.

If you would like professional advice about the most competitive deals on the market and access to outstanding offers, give Revolution Finance Brokers a call today on 0330 304 3040

Related Posts
What Mortgage Can I Get On 50k Salary In The UK?

Wondering what mortgage on 50k salary UK-wise you can get? Here's an interesting fact: the mortgage advisor typically offer between 3 to 4.5 times your annual income. This article will guide you through understanding how much mortgage you could be eligible for on that salary. Keep reading to find out more! How to Determine What Mort..

Read more 
How Much Will My Mortgage Go Up

Have you noticed your mortgage payments shifting? Interest rates are on the move, affecting how much we pay on our mortgages. This article will guide you through understanding these changes and estimating how they might impact your payments. Keep reading to find out more! Understanding Interest Rates and Mortgages Interest rates ..

Read more 
Using a Second Charge Mortgage on Buy-to-Let Investments

Using a Second Charge Mortgage on Buy-to-Let Investments It is certainly possible to apply for a second charge mortgage on buy-to-let investment properties, although it is important to calculate the costs carefully and ensure any second charge mortgage providers you choose are likely to be able to approve your application. Some appl..

Read more 

FCA disclaimer

The content included in our articles, blogs, web pages and news publications is based on information accurate at the time of writing. Note that policies and criteria can change regularly throughout the UK mortgage lending market, and it remains essential to contact the consultation team to receive up to date guidance. The information included on the Revolution Brokers site is not bespoke to any circumstances or individual application scenarios and therefore is not intended to be used as financial advice. The content we share is designed to be informative and helpful but cannot be relied upon to provide individual advice relevant to your mortgage requirements. All Revolution team members are fully qualified, trained and experienced to provide mortgage advice of an independent nature.

We collaborate with lenders and providers who are regulated, authorised and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Should you require specific mortgage borrowing types, some products such as buy to let mortgages may not be FCA regulated. The Revolution team can provide further information about regulated and unregulated lending as required. Please remember that a mortgage is a debt which is secured against your home or property. Your home can be at risk of repossession if you do not keep up with the repayments or encounter any other difficulties in managing your mortgage borrowing responsibly. This also applies to any remortgage or home loan secured against your property, including equity release products.