Monthly Archives: November 2017

Landlords: Understand Your Section 24 Tax Position Now (Not Later)

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Landlords - Understand Your Section 24 (Finance Act 2015) Tax Position Now (Not Later)

As the tapered erosion of mortgage interest tax relief continues to take effect, it is ever important for individual landlords to take stock of their specific financial positions so that the right preparations can be made. With criticisms by The Institute for Fiscal Studies, The Institute of Chartered Accountants, representative landlord bodies and a broad spectrum MPs all falling on deaf ears, the chance of any kind of Section 24 reversal is currently looking slim.  At best, landlords can hope for some form of retrospective exemption – for example, where properties purchased prior to July 2015 (when the legislation was announced) could potentially claim full mortgage interest relief. How Will Section 24 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 Affect My Tax Bill? The magnitude of the impact will entirely depend on what particular tax band a landlord is operating in. In... [Read More]

How to Apply for a Limited Company Buy-to-Let Mortgage

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Image of a mortgage contract - representing how more buy-to-let investors are using Limited company mortgages to expand their property portfolios.

Given the repercussions of Section 24 of the Finance (No.2) Act 2015 on personally-owned properties[1], a growing number of investors are using Limited company buy-to-let mortgage to expand their portfolios.  Although current capital costs are generally higher relative to individual purchases, competition amongst a wider pool of lenders may encourage better rates in the coming years (provided there are no macroeconomic circumstances that would force wholesale LIBOR and SWAP rates upwards). Checklist for Limited Company Buy-to-Let Property Purchases Applying for a Limited company (Special Purpose Vehicle) mortgage is arguably more complex than even the stringent Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) regulations for individually owned property purchases / non “like-for-like” remortgages[2]. Extracted from our professional property investors eBook, the checklist below aims to summarise some of the key points to run through during the initial stages of the Limited company purchase process.... [Read More]

Property Investor’s Factfile – November 2017 Commentary

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Distance shot photo of houses in Plymouth, England, UK.

November 2017 Property Investor´s Factfile The Property Investor’s Factfile presents a range of relevant data from national / London house prices, the latest buy-to-let Limited Company (SPV) loan rates, LIBOR / SWAP rates and rentals to mortgage debt figures and information on the first-time buyer sector.  Some noteworthy observations over the last month are outlined below: Property Price Trends According to Halifax data, house prices picked up 4.5% in the three months to October compared to the same period a year earlier. This figure was up from the 4% annualised growth figure in September and the fastest pace since February.  Although voicing concerns about increasing pressures on household finances, the Halifax did not expect the Monetary Policy Committee early November bank rate rise to be a barrier. Russell Galley from the Halifax in the FT stated: “The fact that the supply of... [Read More]

Rightmove Autumn Rental Market Update

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With approximately 300,000 rental properties currently on Rightmove, it is always interesting to speak with Sam Mitchell, head of lettings on the portal’s latest quarterly report. Rental Values Outside of London Drop by 0.2% National asking rents outside of London dropped by 0.2% in quarter 3, a relatively rare occurrence.  This largely comes down to supply and a continuation of the patterns highlighted in Rightmove’s quarter 2 report.  Essentially, the rush of property investors ahead of the stamp duty surcharge in April 2016 – particularly in Greater London and the South East – led to a residual increase of available rental stock accompanied by a slight slowdown in demand. Anecdotal evidence suggests that landlords are still buying, albeit at a slower pace[1].  In recent years, the South East has seen a noticeable increase in rental property supply as investors seek... [Read More]