Any landlords planning to get out and stop investing in the UK?

I’m planning to quit. I’m hoping to do so when tenants leave but I don’t want to seek possession.

One has indicated that they will leave in the next year or two. The others are unlikely to ever leave so I may ‘nephews stuck with them’.

Rents are currently well below market rates (I only charge what I need to charge) but the rents will rise by more than inflation to bring them nearer market rates because of the RRB. This may encourage some of them to move to cheaper properties.

Yes, I've had enough ,sold two, section 21 for another leaving me 4. As and when tenants leave i will slowly sell and invest in shares or something else.

From a tax perspective investing overseas or even moving there doesn’t mean you are no longer affected by the UK tax system so please ensure you take professional tax advice.

I don’t think the RRB is clear on how it would handle existing S21 so probably best to make the decision sooner rather than later in case they try and block retrospectively.

I personally think most that haven’t sold yet will likely sell as their tenants leave (no relet) or it becomes a lower return and unviable.

Cyprus for me.... set up a LTD co even as a non dom, pay 12.5% Corporation tax, no dividend tax when you withdraw your profits, no CGT, no SDLT, no IHT plus strong capital growth. Bonus is the law is based on English law, drive on the left, low cost of living, 300 days of sunshine, lower cost of living and 3 euro's a pint.

Reply to the comment left by Ivor Tennant at 20/01/2025 - 13:14
Efes or Mythos? 🙂

I wont ever be renting out to anyone ever again. I have just sold one, and two more to go as soon as existing tenants leave. But they are long term, so it might take me a while. The Gov say's there is no exodus of landlords, but many are like me just being kind to tenants. I would not show up on any exodus statistic, but over time I will be gone, and CERTAINLY not ever increasing my business. Less homes available for renters, its inevitable now.

I'm out once my tenant leaves or beforehand if I want to sell. Another one looking for somewhere else to live.

You may have left it too late to issue Section 21s as it is likely any Section 21s in the pipeline will be cancelled, I cannot see the government allowing the backlog of cases to just continue.

I hope I am wrong but being old and cynical I am more often right than I want to be.

I will be selling up.
I am 33 years old. I have been fortunate ( or unfortunate ) enough to work my way up the corporate ladder and bag a decent wage, allowing me to purchase two btls for my pension.

I am VERY fair with my tenants. I act immediately when repairs are needed, I maintain my houses immaculately and I charge them absolute base rate rent (because why bother charging more to hand it to HMRC?)

I am in a position now where I feel I have no choice but to put two sets of families out of their home to sell the houses (as the rent would be so low and unattractive to other landlords). They are both epc D and without spending tens of thousands that I don't have on upgrades to save my tenants a hundred quid a year, I really am in a corner with it.

I cannot afford the 40% tax bill each year when I've only had them 3 years so my mortgages are high and only 20% of my interest is tax deductible. As a high tax payer I am SPENDING money to have two btls, only to be hammered by hmrc again on sale with capital gains tax.

Congratulations UK government and HMRC, another two wonderful affordable rentals lost and another individual not able to ensure they are self sufficient with a pension in old age.

This country is not set up to prosper and for millenialls and below it is designed to keep us down and mediocre. Round of applause for our government.

Asia for Me, sold most, one 6 Bed HMO 12% ROI will be listed soon. When I look at the Stock Market gains - thanks to Manish who pulled the data together, 2009 to now S&P performance plus a list of crashes, how long they lasted how much they wiped off - came out to 16% PA return. So Switching to ETF's and Options in a no tax environment on shares, capital gains, no IHT, low Corp and personal tax 16-17%, high allowances before tax is paid and sun all year round. If I'd reinvested where I was when I sold in Hong Kong I would have been much better off than UK. In Hong Kong there are no Letting Agents, dont need them, no stupid checks required, gas Co comes regularly checks for free. Personal safety is not an issue for women or children. Looked at Thailand - it's over priced. Sri Lanka is good value.