The key to a successful long-term buy-to-let investment is securing solid rental yields for income returns and the potential for capital growth from increasing property prices over time.
Buy-to-let landlords will be keen to improve their returns, to help offset additional stamp duty charges for acquiring properties and a squeeze on mortgage interest relief.
Fresh data from Aspen Woolf has identified the latest buy-to-let ‘hotspots’ which include Manchester, Cardiff, Leeds and Liverpool.
Oliver Ramsden, founder and director of Aspen Woolf, said: “The UK property market stayed strong in 2016 despite a turbulent year, with confidence remaining in the buy-to-let sector in particular.
“Rental growth increased but at a slower rate than 2015; this was to be expected however, notably due to the unexpected Brexit result stalling market movement for a short period.
“House prices should start to increase above the 3% mark again in 2017, especially in buy-to-let ‘hotspots’ which we have identified.”
At the other end of the spectrum, in comparison to the rest of the UK, London’s letting market weakened last year, with rents peaking in April 2016.
“We forecast this trend to continue, especially within prime central London hence have identified West Central London, or the WC postcode, as the top UK location to avoid in 2017,” said Ramsden.
Top 10 Best:
Postcode Area | Area | Average value of property | Number of sales in the last 12 months | Current average asking price | Current average rental price (pcm) | Buy to let yield (%) |
M | Manchester | £177,686 | 11625 | £202,484 | £1,339 | 7.94 |
CF | Cardiff | £187,337 | 12356 | £173,850 | £1,054 | 7.28 |
LS | Leeds | £225,551 | 10339 | £204,072 | £1,217 | 7.16 |
L | Liverpool | £164,590 | 6859 | £175,641 | £1,027 | 7.02 |
WS | Walsall | £195,383 | 4995 | £193,944 | £1,106 | 6.84 |
NE | Newcastle upon Tyne | £184,224 | 12850 | £173,666 | £873 | 6.03 |
S | Sheffield | £194,673 | 6693 | £180,126 | £888 | 5.92 |
G | Glasgow | £182,716 | 16454 | £165,046 | £786 | 5.71 |
B | Birmingham | £189,898 | 10396 | £203,990 | £921 | 5.42 |
SR | Sunderland | £134,891 | 2282 | £133,028 | £587 | 5.3 |
Top 10 Worst:
Postcode Area | Area | Average value of property | Number of sales in the last 12 months | Current average asking price | Current average rental price (pcm) | Buy to let yield (%) |
WC | Western Central London | £936,660 | Not available | £1,486,208 | £2,877 | 2.32 |
BR | Bromley | £547,661 | 4121 | £633,812 | £1,287 | 2.44 |
LD | Llandrindod Wells | £215,894 | 556 | £247,659 | £514 | 2.49 |
WD | Watford | £563,462 | 3147 | £678,837 | £1,452 | 2.57 |
SG | Stevenage | £414,561 | 5972 | £476,816 | £1,053 | 2.65 |
HR | Hereford | £267,871 | 2217 | £306,503 | £692 | 2.71 |
AL | St Albans | £595,386 | 3271 | £667,922 | £1,521 | 2.73 |
CB | Cambridge | £416,239 | 5322 | £446,454 | £1,020 | 2.74 |
EX | Exeter | £290,770 | 9139 | £315,125 | £736 | 2.8 |
WR | Worcester | £281,073 | 4254 | £288,729 | £674 | 2.8 |
