The landlord exodus is fuelling a rental crisis

The landlord exodus is fuelling a rental crisis

9:37 AM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago 10

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The UK’s private rented sector (PRS) is teetering on the brink of a full-blown crisis, with a surge in tenant demand and a dwindling supply of rental properties, one leading landlord says.

The Mistoria Group points to a recent survey involving more than 1,500 landlords, tenants and letting agents, which revealed that nearly half of tenants are in ‘rent poverty’.

The firm’s chief executive, Mish Liyanage, highlights the root cause of the problem: “The number of renters relying on the private rental sector has surged by 132% over the last three decades.

“While the tenant-to-property ratio has seen some improvement, more than two tenants are still vying for each available rental property.”

Incentivising landlord investment

He continued: “Homes are being rented almost as soon as they’re listed, driving up competition and prices. Instead of incentivising landlord investment, government measures appear to be pushing landlords away from the sector, exacerbating the supply crisis.”

Mr Liyanage, a landlord and property investor, says that government policies, such as changes to Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty, coupled with the impending Renters’ Rights Bill, have encouraged landlords to exit the market.

However, despite the challenges, buy to let investing remains a viable option for investors seeking stable, long-term returns.

He says that property investments have historically yielded annual returns of 8% to 10%, offering both rental income and potential capital appreciation.

Available rental properties

However, the current market dynamics paint a bleak picture for tenants as the ratio of private tenants to available rental properties is projected to reach 2.21 by the end of the year.

This means that competition for rental properties will intensify, driving rents higher and limiting tenant choice.

That coincides with landlords either selling their properties or downsizing their portfolios due to the changing regulatory landscape.

More than 56% of landlords cited upcoming legislation, particularly the abolition of Section 21, as the primary reason for their decision to sell.


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Ryan Stevens

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10:20 AM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

I'm a tax adviser, and I know of several clients who are either selling up, or not considering further investments, until the outcome of the Bill is known. It is a mess.

It might be an idea if Property 118 starts a petition to get 100k signatures to try and improve the landlords' rights.

northern landlord

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10:58 AM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

That landords are leaving the market seems to be a matter of divided opinion. That is opinion divided between all the various property professionals and landlords at the sharp end who support the idea and Mr Pennycook in Government who does not, saying there is no shortage of supply. No prizes for who I think is right!

Crouchender

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11:08 AM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

The word Exodus is dramatic and great for click bait. However, yes there is now a steady stream of LL sellers vs buyers. Remember CGT is as LOW as 24% for high tax payers so now is the best time to capitalise as the Labour government will soon shift it back to 28% or higher once they realise their budget was a damp squib for growth so need more tax revenue from those with big shoulders.

Ryan Stevens

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12:07 PM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

Long term interest rates are now ticking up, not down, due to the Labour Budget. Good for savers, bad for borrowers.

As a landlord, I am minded to sell my properties and avoid the hassle and uncertainty. It is much easier to do estate planning for my kids with cash, and I can get a better, hassle-free return, investing elsewhere.

Ryan Stevens

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12:23 PM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

"Exodus" is debatable - it takes time to sell, many landlords will be on mortgages with redemption penalties, many landlords will sit on the sidelines until the Bill is further down the road, etc.

Chepstow Landlord

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12:47 PM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

I have good tenants (quickly touches wood) and would not evict them however once they leave I will sell up. So I'm not part of a current "Exodus" but I am part of what I suspect is a very large number of "exiting" landlords. This will take a number of years to unwind however the rental market will continue to get tighter and tighter for the unfortunate tenants.
The increased stamp duty put in place deters new comers to the market whilst leaving CGT unchanged would suggest the door has been left open for those who wish to exit.
To me this would suggest a clear political objective of killing off the PRS and we can expect no assistance in any form from the Govt.

Peter Collard

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13:18 PM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

Governments of all hues , possibly excluding Reform UK, have messed up the housing market. By all means level the playing field with private buyers by not allowing tax relief. By all means force EPC of C as a minimum as renters are often low income . But the biggest driver of rental prices is risk. The more difficult and longer it takes to remove a non payer both dissuades new entrants and adds risk premium. Both of these force rentals up massively. It's not the landlords job to subsidise those who can't or won't pay.

Samir Patel

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18:03 PM, 21st November 2024, About a month ago

Reply to the comment left by Ryan Stevens at 21/11/2024 - 10:20
Will not happen, because the all landlords are portrayed as greedy villians with only money on their mind.

Yet there are cases of housing associations and councils who supply sub standard accomidation, yet never get pulled up for it.

Julie

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0:48 AM, 23rd November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

Reply to the comment left by Chepstow Landlord at 21/11/2024 - 12:47
I agree.. makes complete sense. We have sold one property in London, which paid down the mortgages of the others. With the massive hike in SDLT, ridiculous government meddling, I definitely will not be buying anymore rental properties. I put money into a high interest account and earned more/just as much as I get from one property and I do NOTHING for it!!! I LOVE IT!!! No more late night messages or hassle from tenants!

GlanACC

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8:07 AM, 23rd November 2024, About 4 weeks ago

When you walk round our housing estate you cannot fail to miss the forest (and I really do mean that) of for sale and sold signs on 2 bedroomed properties.

I personally know that most of the 2 beds properties were once rentals and surely not all of those sold will have been to landlords.

Yup, the exodus is certainly around here.

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