70% of landlords more confident about UK B2L according to expert online lettings agency
A Private Rental Sector Health Check for January 2012 from market leading lettings agency Upad, has revealed that almost 70% of landlords are more confident about the UK buy-to-let market in January than they were at the end of 2011.
Asking 592 landlords whether they were more or less confident about the buy-to-let market in January compared to the previous month a total of 411 (70%) respondents highlighted rising tenant demand, high rents and reduced housing stock as the main reasons for boosting their assurance in the buy-to-let market.
James Davis, CEO of online lettings agent Upad comments,
“By conducting this survey we gain great insight into the optimism of landlords in 2012. Indeed, more and more people are choosing to rent as they struggle to get on the property ladder and with and estimated double-digit increase in the number of people who will choose to become “professional tenants” this year, landlord confidence in 2012 is on the up.”
Of course, each landlord questioned had their own reasons for being confident in 2012. One landlord highlighted that they were confident about the buy-to-let market in Winchester because of the good student housing demand and professional lets in the area while another landlord explained that their confidence derived from the lack of rental properties on the market in South East London stating: “My last let was snapped up immediately without any negotiation on the asking rent.”
In addition, landlords have noticed that interest among renters is increasing with one such inspired landlord commenting: “I am more confident due to the amount of response I have had to my recent rental property. Having sold a property last year, the difference in the amount of viewing for my rental property in comparison to my property for sale has been very encouraging.”
Meanwhile, confidence among one of London’s best private student and graduate landlords is strong according to the feedback given to Upad, declaring: “We had around 170 groups of students register with us for housing for summer 2012, that’s basically 850 – 1200 separate students based on 5/ 6 per group in just 8 weeks who registered and then all viewed our houses with the last 7 days. This is just for summer 2012! And, they are looking now and willing and able to pay top rents for the right sites. That’s why we are more confident and that’s why we are investing.”
With confidence in the UK buy-to-let market growing, landlords looking for an innovative new way to do business should look no further than the UK’s market leading online lettings agency, Upad. Last year they let over 3,500 properties nationally following one simple belief, that ‘landlords are better than agents at showing tenants around properties.
Upad enables both professional, self-managing and the rapidly growing group of accidental landlords to find tenants in a professional agency environment, whilst retaining the ability to meet tenants and show them around their property personally. The cost savings are remarkable, driving down agents’ fees across the sector. Tenant-find services start from just £99+vat per property and an even cheaper price for rooms.
For more information on the Private Rental Sector Health Check from Upad or to find out more about the services available please contact lettings experts Upad, on 0333 240 1220 or visit www.upad.co.uk.