A mortgage firm that works with landlords claims an increasing number of them prioritise energy efficiency when assessing properties to buy. 

Some 25% of landlords are prioritising energy efficiency overtly when adding to their investment portfolio, according to research from The Mortgage Lender. 

This comes despite the government’s rollback on energy efficiency targets for buy to let properties last year, which meant landlords would not get prosecuted if they failed to upgrade their properties.

Landlords who are considering purchasing an investment property are also prioritising monetary aspects such as price (48%), expected yield (29%) and long-term investment potential (23%). Other aspects weighing on their choice include an attractive location (29%), moderate council tax banding (17%), the property being move-in ready (16%), and its internal layout (16%). 

The research also asked how BTL landlords will buy their next rental property. 

Almost a quarter (24%) said they would buy as an individual investor with a mortgage, and a further fifth (22%) said they would buy as an individual with cash. In contrast, 10% said they will buy their next property as a limited company with a mortgage, while 11% plan to buy as a joint investor with a mortgage.

In a similar vein, mortgages continue to be a key priority for landlords amid a tumultuous year for rates. As such, more than three out of four (77%) of landlords said that the rate of the mortgage available was an important factor for them when buying a property with a mortgage. 

Other factors landlords felt to be important included wanting greater fluidity from lenders such as in the amount they could borrow (76%), the discount on fees (72%), flexibility on criteria (72%), and the support offered by the lender (70%). 

“It’s encouraging to see that BTL landlords are continuing to adapt and shift their priorities, even though the Government postponed the planned introduction of Energy Efficiency standards for properties in the Private Rental Sector. It shows just how committed many landlords are to staying ahead of the curve and anticipating tenant expectations” explains Chris Kirby, a spokesperson for The Mortgage Lender. 

“As lenders, we similarly want to offer greater flexibility in order to best support BTL landlords, whether this comes in the form of extending our product range or working with brokers to offer the best options for their customer base.”