Invest in houses, not flats

Invest in houses, not flats to cash in on the highest capital returns and rental yields says leading property expert and author David Lawrenson, of lettingfocus.com.

In a series of thought provoking speeches at the Homebuyer Show (02 – 04 March, ExCeL London), David will reveal why currently, and in the longer term, there is more money to be made in buy to let houses.

Demographic changes and over-supply of flats have recently made houses the more lucrative buy to let investment across most of the UK. A rapidly increasing percentage of young families are choosing to rent because it suits how they live or they do not want the commitment of buying. Although many families would prefer to live in a house with a garden than in a flat, UK planning policy has led to the building of high density flats regardless of demand.

The high demand for family houses has meant that prices of houses are climbing at a higher rate than those of flats and rental yields are also consistently higher. Recent figures from Paragon, one of the UK’s largest specialist lenders, show that average rental yields on terraced and semi detached houses were 6.2% compared to a lower 5.5% for flats.

Mr Lawrenson comments: “It is not just young people and couples who rent. It seems that a whole new sector of tenants is coming through – working families who like the flexibility that renting offers. In today’s hire and fire culture, this desire for flexibility is as true for families as for professionals with no children. These are tenants who have chosen to rent because it suits their lifestyle, driving up the demand for buy to let houses. In addition, landlords often find that houses are more flexible than flats as they can accommodate sharers, families or students more easily than a typical flat.”

Mr Lawrenson continues: “In the future, Government planning policies may shift towards the provision of more family homes but anyone buying property should be aware that it will take many years before this impacts on prices or rents.”

Lawrenson believes that buy to let could grow strongly and has previously forecast that as much as half of all properties in the UK could be second homes or buy to let by 2026, taking us back to where we were 60 years ago.

In his seminars at the Homebuyer Show, David will expand on his theories for the future of the buy to let market and divulge the ten most important rules that successful property investors consistently follow. He will also be selling and signing a limited number of copies of his bestselling book, ‘Successful Property Letting – How to make money in buy-to-let’. You will be able to find David at the Property Investor News stand, number 980.

Nick Clark, Managing Director of the Homebuyer Show comments: “As the number of British households and the proportion of people choosing to rent continue to increase, the buy to let market is still offering landlords strong returns. However, it is the most successful professional investors are the ones that know which type of tenants to expect in their chosen area and the type of properties that will best suit them. By talking to industry experts such as David Lawrenson, investors at every level can learn the secrets of success.”