A new survey of over 170 property investors shows that 56% of Shawbrook clients are planning to purchase a buy to let property within the next year.
The survey identified their top challenges and expectations for 2016.
With changes in tax approaching, Shawbrook reveal that 40% plan to set up a limited company for their properties to counter the impact of tax changes, whilst 33% plan to raise rents.
While the outlook for investors remains positive, new changes to tax relief and stamp duty have caused some investors to check their ambitions. Of the 44% who are not planning on purchasing a new BTL property this year, just over a third (37%) said it was due to the 20% cap on tax relief for BTL properties making the proposition unattractive, whilst almost a fifth (16%) said the 3% extra stamp duty levy on second homes and BTLs was putting them off.
The latest figures also revealed that almost half (49%) of clients said they considered regulation to be the biggest challenge facing property investors over the next 6 months, a significant increase on last year’s Barometer results, which found that regulation was something only 23% of investors considered to be the biggest challenge they faced.
Despite these challenges, 61% have a positive outlook for the upcoming 12 months, predicting either a large or small increase in property value. In total 43% of landlords saw an increase in tenant demand in 2015 and 61% saw an increase in their rental income. A further 44% are confident that their business will grow in 2016.
