BTL - how does it make money?

BTL - how does it make money?

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Discussion

Puzzles

1,852 posts

112 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
nikaiyo2 said:
I looked at a couple of potential new BTLs at the weekend.

There is literally no sense at all, I recon it would take about 3 years to repay the SDLT, assuming no voids or extra expenses.

Why bother ?
In the areas I know you'll make a loss but the landlords are banking on capital growth and future rental increases.

LooneyTunes

6,884 posts

159 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
nikaiyo2 said:
I looked at a couple of potential new BTLs at the weekend.

There is literally no sense at all, I recon it would take about 3 years to repay the SDLT, assuming no voids or extra expenses.

Why bother ?
Three years? I work on the basis that a new property makes me no money in year one, in which time it's paying off SDLT and legal fees (and probably leaving a surplus that covers some initial freshening up).

As for why bother, a regular return that's not directly correlated to the equity markets combined with a degree of inbuilt indexation/inflation protection can be attractive if you're looking at long-term investment.

Blakeatron

2,516 posts

174 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
Just looking into this - purchase price of 100k, monthly rental of £700, full service letting agent asking for 10%, mortgage is 250.

So approx 300 nett, not great but im expecting a big price rise over the next 5 years.

I can afford 2, possibly 3.

Just something I have never done before, will also need to set up a ltd as we are both higher rate payers already

Puzzles

1,852 posts

112 months

Tuesday 11th April 2023
quotequote all
thats a very good yield, is that an area where you'd need to factor in a refurb every tenancy?

Blakeatron

2,516 posts

174 months

Wednesday 12th April 2023
quotequote all
Puzzles said:
thats a very good yield, is that an area where you'd need to factor in a refurb every tenancy?
The area isn’t amazing, but housing starts from £60k - so for 80-100 I am looking in the nicer areas.
There is also major money sidelined over the next 3-10years for massive redevelopment so possible future option of converting to holiday let.

I imagine refurbs will be required, but I own a building/joinery firm so can do everything in house very quickly so I’m not worried that way.

nikaiyo2

4,756 posts

196 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
quotequote all
LooneyTunes said:
Three years? I work on the basis that a new property makes me no money in year one, in which time it's paying off SDLT and legal fees (and probably leaving a surplus that covers some initial freshening up).

As for why bother, a regular return that's not directly correlated to the equity markets combined with a degree of inbuilt indexation/inflation protection can be attractive if you're looking at long-term investment.
That has always been my assumption, 12 months rent will cover costs of purchase...

I used the numbers spread sheet on my ipad over the bank holiday as I could not get excel to work at home... and managed to add /2 into my formula :P so its only 18 months lol

Blakeatron said:
The area isn’t amazing, but housing starts from £60k - so for 80-100 I am looking in the nicer areas.
There is also major money sidelined over the next 3-10years for massive redevelopment so possible future option of converting to holiday let.

I imagine refurbs will be required, but I own a building/joinery firm so can do everything in house very quickly so I’m not worried that way.
Would you be prepared to share the location ?

98elise

26,679 posts

162 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
quotequote all
nikaiyo2 said:
LooneyTunes said:
Three years? I work on the basis that a new property makes me no money in year one, in which time it's paying off SDLT and legal fees (and probably leaving a surplus that covers some initial freshening up).

As for why bother, a regular return that's not directly correlated to the equity markets combined with a degree of inbuilt indexation/inflation protection can be attractive if you're looking at long-term investment.
That has always been my assumption, 12 months rent will cover costs of purchase...

I used the numbers spread sheet on my ipad over the bank holiday as I could not get excel to work at home... and managed to add /2 into my formula :P so its only 18 months lol

Blakeatron said:
The area isn’t amazing, but housing starts from £60k - so for 80-100 I am looking in the nicer areas.
There is also major money sidelined over the next 3-10years for massive redevelopment so possible future option of converting to holiday let.

I imagine refurbs will be required, but I own a building/joinery firm so can do everything in house very quickly so I’m not worried that way.
Would you be prepared to share the location ?
I'd also be interested. I'm currently looking in the North East, and South Wales. Needs a good yield to be viable these days.

Portia5

565 posts

24 months

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

14 months

Thursday 13th April 2023
quotequote all
Blakeatron said:
So approx 300 nett, not great but im expecting a big price rise over the next 5 years.
Where are these properties? In one of the BRICS nations? biggrin



Portia5

565 posts

24 months

Friday 14th April 2023
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Just made highest offer (£51250) on 1 bed flat which will cost £55k inc legals and ADS etc.

My agent advising rent should be £550pcm although £650 could be possible.

smile

nickfrog

21,210 posts

218 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
Portia5 said:
Just made highest offer (£51250) on 1 bed flat which will cost £55k inc legals and ADS etc.

My agent advising rent should be £550pcm although £650 could be possible.

smile

Sounds like a solid gross yield.

Minus tax, minus agent fees if any, minus unoccupied periods, minus CGT, minus maintenance/repairs, minus ground rent, insurance, leasehold shared costs if any, minus your time, etc etc

What's the projected net yield?

Portia5

565 posts

24 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
nickfrog said:

Sounds like a solid gross yield.

Minus tax, minus agent fees if any, minus unoccupied periods, minus CGT, minus maintenance/repairs, minus ground rent, insurance, leasehold shared costs if any, minus your time, etc etc

What's the projected net yield?
Leasehold share costs? N/A

Insurance £150pa via HA

Ground rent N/A

CGT. Why would there be CGT?

Unoccupied periods : Virtually zero

My time: You mean the 15 mins speaking to agents and solicitor? Don't think HMRC would swallow that one

Letting agent? 6% inc vat

Building management (local HA): £600pa including BI

Maintenance/repairs? could be anything. From pics I'd say very little.

Guess net relevant (pre-tax): £5- 5.5k.






nickfrog

21,210 posts

218 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
Portia5 said:
nickfrog said:

Sounds like a solid gross yield.

Minus tax, minus agent fees if any, minus unoccupied periods, minus CGT, minus maintenance/repairs, minus ground rent, insurance, leasehold shared costs if any, minus your time, etc etc

What's the projected net yield?
Leasehold share costs? N/A

Insurance £150pa via HA

Ground rent N/A

CGT. Why would there be CGT?

Unoccupied periods : Virtually zero

My time: You mean the 15 mins speaking to agents and solicitor? Don't think HMRC would swallow that one

Letting agent? 6% inc vat

Building management (local HA): £600pa including BI

Maintenance/repairs? could be anything. From pics I'd say very little.

Guess net relevant (pre-tax): £5- 5.5k.
You're very lucky with some of those costs, certainly not the norm, particularly the agent fees if he/she does ALL the work and you do none. But still that sounds like 5.5% to 6% net after 40% tax. Not bad but not particularly appealing unless one has exhausted yearly pension tax relief and ISA allowances.
I guess if you know you're never going to sell then yes no CGT. Unless of course there is no gain which is also a possibility.
I find that all property require maintenance and repair if they are kept for a long time

Portia5

565 posts

24 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
Yes the longer I do this the luckier I get! biglaugh

(especially the tax strategy)

98elise

26,679 posts

162 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
Portia5 said:
Just made highest offer (£51250) on 1 bed flat which will cost £55k inc legals and ADS etc.

My agent advising rent should be £550pcm although £650 could be possible.

smile
Where are you getting yields like that?

Portia5

565 posts

24 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
98elise said:
Where are you getting yields like that?
As others have said, it's really not uncommon for many parts of the UK. This one came from Rightmove, which is about as open market as you can get.

Portia5

565 posts

24 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
But still that sounds like 5.5% to 6% net after 40% tax. Not bad but not particularly appealing unless one has exhausted yearly pension tax relief and ISA allowances.
Funny you should mention that. I stuck £20k in an IM ISA in Sept.21. It's produced zero income for me and is worth £20352.

At the same time (09/21) the wife stuck £20k in a Vanguard ISA. It's done slightly better. Zero income and worth £20675.

That's a grand out of 40 in 18 months.

Our premium bonds have done better.



nickfrog

21,210 posts

218 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
Portia5 said:
Funny you should mention that. I stuck £20k in an IM ISA in Sept.21. It's produced zero income for me and is worth £20352.

At the same time (09/21) the wife stuck £20k in a Vanguard ISA. It's done slightly better. Zero income and worth £20675.

That's a grand out of 40 in 18 months.

Our premium bonds have done better.
Sure. Mine have done a little better than that over that period but not much. Overall BTL for us over the past 12 years couldn't match investments particularly as the brunt of it came with a 40% HMRC uplift. But we never found an agent doing all the work for 6% nor properties that didn't require maintenance or the buildings not needing repairs nor could avoid CGT.

But if you can get all that while not doing any work towards your portfolio then all credit to you!

Portia5

565 posts

24 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
nickfrog said:
Sure. Mine have done a little better than that over that period but not much. Overall BTL for us over the past 12 years couldn't match investments particularly as the brunt of it came with a 40% HMRC uplift. But we never found an agent doing all the work for 6% nor properties that didn't require maintenance or the buildings not needing repairs nor could avoid CGT.

But if you can get all that while not doing any work towards your portfolio then all credit to you!
Well people who CAN'T make it pay exit the market, don't they? To all accounts there don't seem to be very many of them, and it seems their properties are mostly being bought by other landlords.

Maybe we're all just idiots! wink

nickfrog

21,210 posts

218 months

Friday 14th April 2023
quotequote all
Portia5 said:
Well people who CAN'T make it pay exit the market, don't they? To all accounts there don't seem to be very many of them, and it seems their properties are mostly being bought by other landlords.

Maybe we're all just idiots! wink
No we could make it. Just didn't make much sense against other investments, particularly fiscally, as your latest example highlights. But it was good for diversification once all other fiscally efficient avenues were exhausted.

On the other hand it would seem that other landlords are not buying as there is a scarcity of rentals, at least in London. Which ironically pushes rent up so not too bad for surviving LL.

But as I said, if you don't have to dedicate any time to it, it's pretty good although I remember you saying you have to run it as a business (maybe it was someone else) which implies that you do have to dedicate some time to it over the 15mn needed for that latest transaction.

If not, you're certainly not an idiot convincing an agent to do all the work for 6%.