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Buy-to-let choice recovers from market turmoil

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Rachel Springall, Press Officer
Rachel Springall, Press Officer / Finance Expert 01603 476210 Email Rachel
06/03/2023

Buy-to-let choice recovers from market turmoil

The buy-to-let sector has seen product choice rise to levels not seen since August 2022, according to the latest analysis by Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

Buy-to-let choice recovers from market turmoil

The buy-to-let sector has seen product choice rise to levels not seen since August 2022, according to the latest analysis by Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

  • Overall buy-to-let product availability (fixed and variable) has improved month-on-month, returning to levels not seen since August 2022 (2,375). There are now 2,400 options available, the highest count since July 2022 (2,746) which is an encouraging sign of recovery.
  • Average fixed rates have fallen month-on-month, both over a two-year or five-year fixed term. However, based on average rates, those coming off a five- or two-year fixed deal will find the latest rates are more than 2% higher.
  • Overall buy-to-let product availability (fixed and variable) has improved month-on-month, returning to levels not seen since August 2022 (2,375). There are now 2,400 options available, the highest count since July 2022 (2,746) which is an encouraging sign of recovery.
  • Average fixed rates have fallen month-on-month, both over a two-year or five-year fixed term. However, based on average rates, those coming off a five- or two-year fixed deal will find the latest rates are more than 2% higher.

Buy-to-let market analysis

Product numbers

Mar-18

Mar-21

Mar-22

Feb-23

Mar-23

BTL product count (fixed and variable)

1,872

2,333

3,332

2,246

2,400

Two-year fixed rate BTL all LTVs

564

767

1,062

539

632

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTVs

90

94

115

90

95

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTVs

246

313

453

271

313

Five-year fixed rate BTL all LTV’s

532

822

1,271

865

914

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTVs

87

102

124

103

107

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTVs

229

360

578

412

436

Average rates

Mar-18

Mar-21

Mar-22

Feb-23

Mar-23

Two-year fixed rate BTL all LTVs

2.96%

3.05%

3.05%

5.95%

5.81%

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTV

2.12%

2.14%

2.29%

5.55%

5.39%

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTV

3.11%

3.08%

3.00%

5.95%

5.78%

Five-year fixed rate BTL all LTVs

3.43%

3.41%

3.29%

5.85%

5.72%

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTV

2.74%

2.52%

2.54%

5.37%

5.22%

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTV

3.59%

3.49%

3.27%

5.95%

5.75%

Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk

 

Buy-to-let market analysis

Product numbers

Mar-18

Mar-21

Mar-22

Feb-23

Mar-23

BTL product count (fixed and variable)

1,872

2,333

3,332

2,246

2,400

Two-year fixed rate BTL all LTVs

564

767

1,062

539

632

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTVs

90

94

115

90

95

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTVs

246

313

453

271

313

Five-year fixed rate BTL all LTV’s

532

822

1,271

865

914

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTVs

87

102

124

103

107

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTVs

229

360

578

412

436

Average rates

Mar-18

Mar-21

Mar-22

Feb-23

Mar-23

Two-year fixed rate BTL all LTVs

2.96%

3.05%

3.05%

5.95%

5.81%

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTV

2.12%

2.14%

2.29%

5.55%

5.39%

Two-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTV

3.11%

3.08%

3.00%

5.95%

5.78%

Five-year fixed rate BTL all LTVs

3.43%

3.41%

3.29%

5.85%

5.72%

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 60% LTV

2.74%

2.52%

2.54%

5.37%

5.22%

Five-year fixed rate BTL at 75% LTV

3.59%

3.49%

3.27%

5.95%

5.75%

Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk

 

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said:

“It is encouraging to see buy-to-let product choice gradually recover from the shock surrounding the fiscal announcement. The choice of deals to landlords plummeted and both the average two and five-year fixed rates rose to 6% towards the tail end of 2022, but thankfully, both rates have slowly dipped below this level. There are now 2,400 deals for landlords to choose from, up from just 988 in October 2022, thanks to consecutive months of growth.

“The drop in average buy-to-let rates appear more subdued than seen within the residential mortgage sector, but lenders have made moves to entice new business despite some investors’ concerns surrounding rental income margins. As both the average two- and five-year fixed rates sit above 5%, compared to around 3% a year ago, it’s clear that landlords are likely to see their monthly repayments much higher than they perhaps anticipated. There may even be those looking to sell up this year because of the rise in interest rates, tax changes for holiday lets and CGT or even EPC requirements – all of which dampen profit margins or investment returns on sale of a property.

“Landlords may be waiting for fixed mortgage rates to come down further or indeed opt for a tracker mortgage to give them more flexibility to eventually switch their deal. However, interest rates are only part of the decision-making process when entering a buy-to-let investment. Whether that be for new or existing landlords, it is always wise to seek advice to ensure it is the right time to commit to a deal.”

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said:

“It is encouraging to see buy-to-let product choice gradually recover from the shock surrounding the fiscal announcement. The choice of deals to landlords plummeted and both the average two and five-year fixed rates rose to 6% towards the tail end of 2022, but thankfully, both rates have slowly dipped below this level. There are now 2,400 deals for landlords to choose from, up from just 988 in October 2022, thanks to consecutive months of growth.

“The drop in average buy-to-let rates appear more subdued than seen within the residential mortgage sector, but lenders have made moves to entice new business despite some investors’ concerns surrounding rental income margins. As both the average two- and five-year fixed rates sit above 5%, compared to around 3% a year ago, it’s clear that landlords are likely to see their monthly repayments much higher than they perhaps anticipated. There may even be those looking to sell up this year because of the rise in interest rates, tax changes for holiday lets and CGT or even EPC requirements – all of which dampen profit margins or investment returns on sale of a property.

“Landlords may be waiting for fixed mortgage rates to come down further or indeed opt for a tracker mortgage to give them more flexibility to eventually switch their deal. However, interest rates are only part of the decision-making process when entering a buy-to-let investment. Whether that be for new or existing landlords, it is always wise to seek advice to ensure it is the right time to commit to a deal.”

Notes to editors

Pioneering financial comparison technology for over 35 years.

Moneyfacts Group plc is the UK’s leading provider of retail financial product data. Used by virtually every bank and building society in the UK, and supplied to the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, HM Treasury, Prudential Regulatory Authority and UK Finance.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, business banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk is the financial product price comparison site, launched as Moneyfacts.co.uk in 2000 and rebranded to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2023, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk shows whole of market data regardless of commercial bias, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select.

We hope you find this press release insightful. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk if you decide to source this information.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

Broadcast

Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

 

Notes to editors

Pioneering financial comparison technology for over 35 years.

Moneyfacts Group plc is the UK’s leading provider of retail financial product data. Used by virtually every bank and building society in the UK, and supplied to the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, HM Treasury, Prudential Regulatory Authority and UK Finance.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, business banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk is the financial product price comparison site, launched as Moneyfacts.co.uk in 2000 and rebranded to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2023, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk shows whole of market data regardless of commercial bias, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select.

We hope you find this press release insightful. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk if you decide to source this information.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

Broadcast

Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

 

Contact Us If you're looking for extra comment, a chart or more information, then please give us a call. We are always more than happy to help.
Rachel Springall Press Officer / Finance Expert
Caitlyn Eastell Apprentice Press & PR Assistant