Our recent research, in partnership with BVA BDRC states that landlords are feeling more optimistic than they were a year ago, with the percentage of landlords feeling “good” or “very good” about their prospects being higher than they were in 2021.
From 2025, under the current proposals all newly rented properties will be required to have an EPC rating of C or above. Currently, properties only require an EPC rating of ‘E’ or above for us to lend at Foundation Home Loans. Existing tenancies will have until 2028 to comply with the new rule changes.
HMOs continue to be a strong option for professional landlords who are experienced in dealing with this property type or who have a support network in place to manage their extra demands.
One of the biggest questions landlords have been asking themselves in recent times is, to incorporate or not to incorporate. As ever, the answer lies within the circumstances of each and every landlord and their portfolios.
The long-term stability and resilience shown by the UK housing market over the years continues to attract strong interest amongst a range of borrowers...
There’s no doubting that information on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), their increasing importance, and what that specifically means for landlords and their properties, has grown in recent weeks and months.
Our latest BVA BDRC Landlord Panel research for Q4 2021 discovered that around 4 in 10 rental properties currently have an EPC rating of ‘D’ or lower.
Just over half of landlords are now looking to purchase their next BTL property within a limited company structure, up 9% from Q3 2021...
In the latest iteration of our research in partnership with BVA BDRC, it was motivating to see landlord confidence increasing Year-on-Year across all the key metrics with - unsurprisingly in light of rampant house price growth - the largest uplift in confidence being capital gains, a rise of 18% Y-o-Y.
Every quarter, we review current yields and costs of common and specialist property types within the buy to let market for mortgage intermediaries.
Semi-detached properties overtake terraced houses as the most attractive purchase this quarter. The quarterly report on what a ‘typical’ portfolio looks like and how landlords are reacting to current market conditions.
Of those leveraged landlords who plan to remortgage in 2022, over half (55%) suggest they are likely to opt for a five-year fixed-rate mortgage and…
In our market, rates and product pricing are always going to be a major discussion area and a constant point of attention, not just in terms of what is happening in the here and now but importantly, what happens over a number of time horizons.
The Government’s Levelling Up White Paper focused heavily on the housing market, specifically looking at what it might do to turn, in its words, ‘Generation Rent’ into Generation Buy’. Here’s how we are part of that movement to increase the number of first-time buyers in every region of the country.
2021 was an extremely busy year for the industry and for Foundation Home Loans. It saw a host of new challenges emerge for borrowers and opportunities present themselves across the intermediary market. As a result, we, like many other lenders have broadened our criteria to create something of a new landscape for intermediaries as we enter 2022.
According to our most recent owner-occupier survey, 67% of all homeowners, or those who want to become homeowners, would consider a lower mortgage rate based on their property’s Energy Performance rating an appealing element when looking at product features.
According to our research, four out of five renters want to own a property in the future however cite a number of financial barriers as potentially stopping them from meeting this goal.
The question of whether to borrow through a limited company structure is one which all landlords have faced and continue to face.
In recent times, we’ve seen landlords take many different approaches to their portfolios but one constant is the search for greater yield.
A softening of criteria amongst lenders is reported to have seen brokers challenged with a rush of newly self employed applicants with just one year’s worth of accounts.
Despite self employed landlords being hardest hit by the pandemic, only 1% of landlords expect to lose their business as a result of Covid-19, according to our new research.
Our latest research show that almost two thirds of self employed individuals believe it is more difficult for them to secure a mortgage.
On the back of such an uncertain period for many people, it’s vital for lenders to establish a real understanding of how people view their homes (whether rented or owned), how/why any views may have shifted and how people have adapted. Not to mention, future property objectives and their perceptions of the current mortgage market.
Many questions have been asked of employed and self-employed people over the course of the pandemic and, as a lender and as an industry, we are constantly evaluating how to better service their borrowing needs.
The return to studying without Covid restrictions represents great news for students and landlords alike as towns with large student populations have long proved attractive investment opportunities, as shown by our continued landlord interest in mortgages for HMOs.
All lenders have been forced to modify their approach as a result of the pandemic.
The buy to let sector has experienced many ups and downs over the years but it has always come out the other end stronger.
A growing number of landlords and homeowners are becoming more environmentally conscious when it comes to their homes and investments... but is it enough?
For portfolio landlords, the quest to maximise yield (price versus income) is a constant one, and several UK regions are currently fitting this agenda.
We are seeing sustained interest from landlords who are looking to both diversify and expand their portfolios.
What does the future hold? Robots are now a critical part of what we do but the need for human assessment of clients’ complex situations is where Specialist Lenders lead. Mark Whitear, Head of Commercial Development, explains all.
The importance attached to the advice process in sourcing appropriate and responsible solutions to combat the challenges of homebuying has never been more apparent, yet some potential borrowers continue to go it alone.
It will come as little surprise that the effects of the last 18 months are now resulting in rising demand for flexible underwriting for complex income residential cases; and this is true for both employed and self employed borrowers.
As a lender, we are always striving to assess landlord profiles, what they are looking for from a lender, what a ‘typical’ portfolio might look like and how various landlords are reacting to current market conditions.
Like many lenders, we’re currently experiencing a surge in interest from landlords who are looking to diversify their portfolios.
Every quarter, in conjunction with BVA BDRC, we ask around 900 landlords for their insight on every aspect of the buy to let market, including portfolio sizes, borrowing intentions and view of the current markets.
The residential sector is becoming increasingly complex for many types of potential borrowers.
Here at Foundation Home Loans, we’re experiencing a surge in interest from landlords who are looking to diversify their portfolios.
I’m sure we can all appreciate the highs and lows experienced across the self-employed community over the past 12 months and some of the existing shortfalls when it comes to their mortgage requirements.
With further lockdown restrictions set to be lifted, we can look forward to raised spirits and increased activity.
Green mortgage options are expected to be a growing option for landlords and owner-occupiers over this next decade and we are pleased to be among the trail blazers with our ‘Green Reward’ remortgages.
With Q1 2021 now behind us, it seems like a good time to take stock of what has happened during those first three months, and what the rest of the year might bring.
As some lockdown restrictions are lifted, the scale of the impact on household finances and its likely consequences on the UK economy remain to be seen.
With the majority of 2020 and the early part of 2021 having a significant impact on many individuals’ income and financial situations, we anticipate that the self-employed particularly will require specialist residential finance going forward, whose propensity for complex income structures often throws them out of mainstream lending criteria.
An important trend is that interest from new investors, ‘first time landlords’ continues to grow.
With the majority of 2020 and the early part of 2021 having a significant impact on many individuals’ income and financial situations, we anticipate that an increased number of cases will require specialist residential finance going forward.
Green mortgages and green finance are areas which represent huge potential for lenders, intermediaries and borrowers.
What’s the difference between a limited company portfolio landlord, compared to a portfolio held by an individual or group of individuals?
Covid-19 has changed the financial landscape for businesses and individuals across the country.
We believe that the move to improve carbon emissions in the property sector remains critical in 2021. Here are 6 reasons to speak to us about a green mortgage for your landlord clients in 2021.
We continue to develop our product proposition to service the specific needs of the modern landlord in the modern mortgage market. Whether through the addition of lower-value properties, HMOs or multi-unit blocks.
We may still be in Q1 but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that landlords will remain active over the course of 2021 as shown in our latest research carried out by BDRC.
Despite shifting market dynamics and lingering economic uncertainty, the fundamental principles underpinning the UK private rented sector remain strong.
No extension of the current stamp duty reduced rates period has been announced, and we have to work on the basis that it won’t be forthcoming.
Just because the stamp duty deadline has been shunted back 3 months, we must all still plan for the impact it will have on our new business pipelines.
Back in November, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak further extended the furlough scheme to provide additional support for a variety of businesses and individuals.
The response to the ‘reopening’ of the housing market after the first lockdown in 2020, especially from a specialist lending perspective, was incredible.
The housing and mortgage markets have been buoyant during the 3rd Quarter and into Q4, fuelled largely by the SDLT temporary reduced rates for house purchases completing before 31st March 2021.
It’s testament to the UK’s continued appetite for homeownership, government intervention and sustained commitment from lenders that we're in this quite remarkable position at the end of 2020.
The impact of the second national lockdown was far less severe than the initial lockdown period on the property and mortgage markets.
Recent mortgage data from CACI suggests there is likely to be significant number of product maturities in December - valued at £33.18bn - while 2021 could see the total maturity figure hitting £250bn.
Our latest research via BVA BDRC landlord survey for Q3 shows that HMO properties outrank all other property types by quite some way.
The landscape has been rocky for property investors for the last three years.
We're here to support those extra-ordinary clients with unsual income sources or those recently self-employed who may now no longer be fitting the criteria of mainstream lenders.
As our lives continue to adapt, we lenders are constantly listening and evolving how best to interact with our adviser partners and their clients/our customers.
As the property and mortgage markets change, so do the needs of your clients and the types of expertise you must offer.
The residential lending landscape has changed immeasurably, particularly in the specialist sector.
Rightmove reported a 1.9% increase in asking prices in June compared to March.
We can’t dress things up, this is a crisis. One that has been extremely sharp.
2020 vision is often referred to as having hindsight. Lots of people are probably thinking, ‘If only’?
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