It has been a volatile time in the mortgage market since the economic chaos caused by the September mini-Budget.
The buy-to-let (BTL) sector was far from immune to the hikes in both product rates and rental stress tests.
If the mainstream media are to be believed, this is causing scores of landlords to pack it all in.
That may be true in some instances but, speaking to brokers on the ground, the majority of portfolio landlords are scaling the challenges and adapting as needed.
For those who listen to the advice of a good mortgage broker, there are still plenty of opportunities to be had
The market is changing and, to survive, many professional landlords are changing with it, choosing to incorporate, for example, as tax costs peak.
Of course, there is also the hurdle of the proposed new energy performance certificate requirements. It will require costly changes for many landlords to bring their properties up to a rating of C or above by 2025, as stipulated by the new rules.
The tenant market is shifting too, with renters looking to downsize and move to more energy-efficient properties to save on bills, so there are opportunities to be had for landlords who are aware of these trends. And, for those who are willing to stick it out, rewards are available in the form of green BTL mortgages.
The majority of portfolio landlords are scaling the challenges and adapting as needed
Overall, there is no denying times are tricky in the BTL market, but it has been through many challenging periods before. For those who listen to the advice of a good mortgage broker, there are still plenty of opportunities to be had.
