Findings published by Moneyfacts showed that compared to five years ago when there were 434 buy-to-let products on the market available to first-time landlords, accounting for 83% of all buy-to-let loans, there are 813 for aspiring landlords today. But Moneyfacts said that this now only accounts for 75% of all available deals, allowing first-time landlords access to a record low proportion of the buy-to-let mortgage market.
Charlotte Nelson, finance expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said first-time landlords have been missing out on the boost in product numbers to the market.
“As first-time landlords don’t have a proven track record in managing rental properties, offering them a buy-to-let mortgage poses a greater risk to the lender, and it’s this risk that is making the number of first-time landlord deals remain relatively static,” she said.
“The additional regulation in the buy-to-let market and the added economic uncertainty following the Brexit vote means even more lenders may reconsider whether first-time landlords are a ‘safe bet’. As a result, would-be landlords are likely to face more probing questions about their finances than their more experienced counterparts.”
