The number of foreign-owned buy to let companies in the UK is growing, according to specialist lender Together.
New industry research shows that a fifth of new BTL companies have been set up by foreigners this year, up to August.
This is up from 13% in 2016.
The shift towards South Asian and African investors is also considerable, with Indians making up the most prominent nationality, founding 684 new companies, and Nigerians the second most prominent with 647 new corporations.
This comes as Together’s latest update on lending figures shows an equally high volume of loans granted to foreign nationals over the last year.
| Total lent | £16,554,841 |
| Average sum lent per month | £1,378,737 |
| Average value of loan | £139,032 |
However, Together warns that international interest in the BTL sector may be seriously impacted by the upcoming Autumn Statement, which is rumoured to herald the introduction of a number of taxes affecting the property sector. Among these include a potential introduction of national insurance for rental income, for which landlords are currently exempt.
Ryan Etchells, chief commercial officer at Together, comments: “Non-UK nationals now account for one in five newly established rental property companies in the UK, a notable increase from 13% in 2016. This really highlights growing international confidence in the UK’s buy-to-let market, despite successive changes in tax and regulation, and economic turbulence.
“Foreign investors provide a much-needed injection of capital at a time when UK domestic investment is constrained, helping to ease pressure on the private rental market and support housing supply. Considering that the UK is still falling short of its annual homebuilding targets, this funding can play a key role in addressing rental demand.
“Over the past year, Together has lent between £1 million and £1.5 million a month to foreign investors, enabling them to grow their portfolios here. London has traditionally been seen as the best city for foreign investment, yet in recent years we have seen dramatic growth around the rest of the country. For example, in the East and West Midlands and in Scotland, foreign ownership has more than doubled since 2016.
“This diversification benefits communities nationwide, spreading economic activity beyond the capital, supporting local jobs and providing homes. Ultimately, foreign investment is not just about property ownership, it shows there is confidence in the UK’s legal and financial systems, and can be a real benefit to our struggling rental market.”
