BTL - long term winner?

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Most people know how tough it is for the majority of first time buyers in the housing market. Those who are unable or unwilling to raise a deposit for a house purchase increasingly turn to the private rent sector for home provision. As oft reported the BTL market is still booming and continues to offer a good investment for landlords.
Any changes on the horizon?

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fblm said:

Art0ir said:

House buyers under 30 (as a share of all house buyers) is at an all time low.

What do you think?

The UK has roughly 70% home ownership, compared to France around 60%, Germany 50% and Switzerland 40%... What is Brits problem with renting? Why are BTL's a problem and why are an increasing number of renters a problem? Doesn't seem to be an issue with the rest of the continent.

And in answer to Cranked... beats BARC or TSCO!

Edited by fblm on Tuesday 22 July 16:17

Nothing wrong in BTL nor complaints from me, although I resent the lazy landlords who do nothing to substandard properties and let tenants live in these type of houses.
Our lad is a landlord currently with a flat and a three bed house, returns are around 9%. A good investment toward his pension.
The U.K. has a property owning mindset developed over decades, even the Chinese and Russians can see the merit in buying property here.

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lamboman100 said:

BlackLabel said:

Oakey said:

98elise said:

Why do you assume BTL landlords are avoiding tax? Mine are all accounted for properly on my Tax return, and I pay tax on them. If HMRC knows of people avoiding taxes, it would act now and get the money now.

Income from BTL is taxed just like any other income.

I wouldn't be surprised if many BTL landlords weren't paying tax on their rental income, many don't even seem to be able to landlord properly so I haven't much faith they trouble themselves with trivial matters such as paying tax. After all, how many self proclaimed 'landlords' on this forum do you see posting stuff like "my tenant stopped paying his rent, can I throw his stuff out into the street and change the locks?", "my tenant damaged something, can I keep his deposit?", "my tenant is complaining his boiler doesn't work, am I obliged to get it repaired?".

HMRC claim that 1 million BTL and other private landlords are not declaring their income.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/15/landl...

If this figure is accurate then it would account for about 50% of all BTL landlords. The figure can't be that high can it?

Edited by BlackLabel on Tuesday 22 July 21:29

It would not be a surprise to see half of all UK BTLers not declaring their full revenues. It is the only way to make a profit. The reality is, the actual *net profit* from genuine BTL is nonexistent or tiny. The market is saturated and over-bureaucratic with high costs. Most BTLers are amateurs and kid themselves about the costs -- most overcount revenues and undercount costs in their formal or mental arithmetic. And many BTLers are simply vanity-purchases to brag to the neighbours. Sad but true.

Seems the major risk to invest into domestic property would be an outbreak of WW3. The long term capital appreciation of bricks and mortar seems to be set fair.
Vanity purchasers? unlikely I would suggest, nothing beats a sports car in the vanity stakes