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Property prices reach new record rising another 1.6%: Rightmove

The price of property coming to market has hit a new record high for the third consecutive month, with an average monthly increase of 1.6% rising by £5,537, according to the latest data from Rightmove’s house price index.

The data showed that house prices have risen by £19,082 over the last three months, which is the largest three-month price increase that Rightmove has recorded, as high buyer demand has enabled sellers to ask and achieve higher prices.

With not enough property available on the market, sellers are able to find a buyer quicker than ever before, according to Rightmove, and twice as quickly as in the same period in the more normal market of 2019.

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Despite the growing economic headwinds, Rightmove forecasts that these headwinds will slow the pace of price rises as the year progresses.

With three new monthly price records in a row, Rightmove director of property data Tim Bannister comments: “2022 has started with price-rise momentum even greater than during the stamp-duty-holiday-fuelled market of last year.”

Bannister says: “While growing affordability constraints mean that this momentum is not sustainable for the longer term, the high demand from a large number of buyers chasing too few properties for sale has led to a spring price frenzy, a hat-trick of record price months, and the largest price increase for a three-month period Rightmove has ever recorded.”

“The strong momentum has carried over from last year and, combined with the impetus of the spring moving season, has delivered the quickest selling market we’ve ever seen. The high speed of the market and competition among buyers when making an onward move will be deterring some owners from putting their homes up for sale.”

Three months of price growth in the midst of rising inflation and interest rates, as well as the ongoing economic uncertainty, according to MT Finance director Tomer Aboody, “further highlights the lack of properties coming onto the market. This is creating huge competition among buyers, which is driving prices ever higher”.

Read about the UK Housing Market via our Specialist Residential & Buy to Let Division

Aboody comments: “While the chance of further interest rate rises is extremely high, buyers are taking advantage of low rates and fixing for as long as possible in order to manage their mortgage payments over the next few years.”

He highlights that a change in stamp duty is needed so that more sellers look to sell, increasing supply and stabilising house prices.

The index also showed that across Great Britain in Rightmove’s lower, middle, and upper market sectors, properties are at new record price levels, which is only the second time since 2007 that such an event has been recorded, with the previous ‘full house’ being earlier in this property frenzy in October of last year.

In 2019, the average time to sell was 67 days, the index’s latest data showed that it currently stands at an average of just 33 days before a property is marked as sold subject to contract on Rightmove.

With properties selling faster than ever, 53% of properties that sell are now selling at or over their final advertised asking price, the highest percentage the index has ever measured.

Rightmove says that properties are achieving 98.9% of the final advertised asking price on average, which is also the highest percentage since its records started.

However, it has been highlighted that the pace of price rises is beginning to tail off a little, with this month’s increase of 1.6% being lower than the 1.7% and 2.3% in the previous two months.

While it is normal to see modest seasonal price falls in several months of the second half of the year, with stock remaining at record lows and underlying strong demand, Rightmove says it does not expect the falls to be any more significant than usual this year.

Henry Dannell director Geoff Garrett comments: “While we don’t expect to see market activity evaporate completely, the growing cost of living will be a significant factor in the months to come and as household finances are stretched, it’s likely that prospective buyers will ease off on the sums they’re willing to offer. As a result, sellers will need to realign themselves with these changing market conditions and this will cause the rate of house price growth to cool.”

By Becky Bellamy

Source: Mortgage Finance Gazette

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New research suggests house prices could rise 17% in next decade

House prices in the UK are expected to rise by 17% in the next 10 years, according to data collected by Good Move.

The firm looked to the rise in property prices over the last 40 years to predict future prices.

According to data from the government website, average house prices in the UK rose from £19,273 in 1980 to £239,927 in 2020, representing a 1145% increase.

Looking to 2030, the data shows that average property prices are predicted to reach £279,641.

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Furthermore, Good Move expects average house prices to reach £392,301 in 2050.

Nima Ghasri, director at Good Move, said: “This year, house prices in the UK have increased at an unprecedented rate, increasing by 26% compared to 2015 and 7% compared to 2019.

“House prices have been a huge talking point in the industry this past year, and we wanted to see what we could come to expect if they continue to rise at the same rate as they have since 1980. That’s why we conducted this research.

Read about the UK Housing Market via our Specialist Residential & Buy to Let Division

“If our predictions are correct, we can expect house prices to soar in the future, nearly reaching an eyewatering £400,000 by 2025.

“However, many things impact house prices, and nobody can predict for certain what the economy and property market might look like in the future, so this doesn’t mean that our predictions are correct.

“Still, it’s interesting to see what we could expect in the UK if house prices follow in the footsteps of the past.”

By Jake Carter

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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House price inflation surges to 7.5% in October

House prices rose by 7.5% year-on-year in October due to strong demand for higher value homes, Halifax’s House Price Index has found.

Quarterly prices increased by a substantial 4.0%, bringing the average price to £250,457 across the UK.

However, month-on-month price growth slowed considerably, down to 0.3% compared to 1.5% in September.

Russell Galley, managing director, Halifax, said: “Overall we saw a broad continuation of recent trends with the market still predominantly being driven by home-mover demand for larger houses.

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“Since March flat prices are up by 2.0% compared to a 6.0% increase for a typical detached property. In cash terms that equates to a £2,883 increase for flats compared to a £27,371 rise for detached houses.

“This level of price inflation is underpinned by unusually high levels of demand, with latest industry figures showing home-buyer mortgage approvals at their highest level since 2007, as transaction levels continue to be supercharged by pent-up demand as a result of the spring/summer lockdown, as well as the Chancellor’s waiver on stamp duty for properties up to £500,000.

“While government support measures have undoubtedly helped to delay the expected downturn in the housing market, they will not continue indefinitely and, as we move through autumn and into winter, the macroeconomic landscape in the UK remains highly uncertain.

“Though the renewed lockdown is set to be less restrictive than earlier this year, it bears out that the country’s struggle with COVID-19 is far from over.

“With a number of clear headwinds facing the housing market, we expect to see greater downward pressure on house prices as we move into 2021.”

Jamie Johnson, chief executive of FJP Investment, said: “The property market is moving from strength to strength. Amidst the uncertainty, buyer demand for bricks and mortar is pushing prices to record highs.

Read about the UK Housing Market via our Specialist Residential & Buy to Let Division

“Yet with the country now in a second lockdown, is this momentum about to suddenly run out? I don’t believe so. After all, the stamp duty holiday is still in play and the government has confirmed buyers and renters can still move houses throughout November. Clearly, it understands the importance of the property market in supporting the economy.

“I anticipate the rate of house price growth to slow down in November, however it will no doubt continue to remain in positive territory. People are clearly looking to invest in safe and secure assets during in this uncertain climate, and real estate has a proven track record of being resilient and quickly recovering from period of market volatility.”

BY RYAN BEMBRIDGE

Source: Property Wire

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UK house price growth rises to highest rate in five years

UK house price growth jumped to the highest rate in five years this month, as the market continued to experience a post-lockdown bounce.

Annual UK house price growth rose to 5.8 per cent in October, the highest level since January 2015.

Property prices were up 0.8 per cent month-on-month compared to growth of 0.9 per cent in September, according to the latest Nationwide analysis.

Nationwide chief economist Robert Gardner said: “The outlook remains highly uncertain and will depend heavily on how the pandemic and the measures to contain it evolve as well as the efficacy of policy measures implemented to limit the damage to the wider economy.

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“Behavioural shifts as a result of Covid-19 may provide support for housing market activity, while the stamp duty holiday will continue to provide a near term boost by bringing purchases forward.

“However, activity is likely to slow in the coming quarters, perhaps sharply, if the labour market weakens as most analysts expect, especially once the stamp duty holiday expires at the end of March.”

Garrington Property finders chief executive Jonathan Hopper warned that the “momentum can not last forever”.

“The demand is real but it’s being underpinned by two finite, and probably fleeting, factors,” Hopper said.

“The first is that many buyers want to move for chiefly emotional rather than financial reasons – typically the desire for more space, and a better lifestyle, away from the big cities.

“The second is the Stamp Duty holiday. Like all holidays, it will come to an end. And with the tax break due to close at the end of March, we’re now seeing a stampede of buyers trying to get their purchases in train so they will complete in time.

Read about the UK Housing Market via our Specialist Residential & Buy to Let Division

London market remains “robust”

“The housing market has ploughed into the usually quieter autumn period and not even touched the brakes,” said Lucy Pendleton, property expert at estate agent James Pendleton.

“Rumoured trouble in the London market has not materialised. All the major indicators that started punching the top of the dial in late summer are still showing very strongly that a post-lockdown feast in demand is continuing.”

Lockdown sparks surge in home hunters

Dan Leather, real estate partner at law firm Gowling WLG, said:”This spike is undoubtedly supplemented by the stamp duty holiday, but is also symbolic of a more enduring lift in the market as the effects of lockdown come to bear on people’s long-term planning and increased demands on their living space.

“We already know that the house builders and developers are working really hard on design and delivery, to identify and serve the adjusted demands of the purchaser.

“This continues to transition and evolve at pace. This sure makes the new build housing product more attractive than ever before, serving as a further incentive to move and generating activities throughout the new and used housing market.”

By Jessica Clark

Source: City AM

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House Prices Set For Short-Term Hit

Coronavirus-hit buyer confidence will translate into short term house price falls of between 5 and 10 per cent, said researchers at international property agents Savills.

But such a drop would be smaller than the price falls experienced in the early 1990s recession or in the Global Financial Crisis, suggested authors of the firm’s May UK Housing Market Update, Ed Hampton and Chris Buckle.

The pace of recovery in prices after the initial falls will depend on the state of the wider economy, although the signs are not too encouraging. The May forecast from Oxford Economics anticipates the UK’s Gross Domestic Product 0.7 per cent lower by the end of 2024 than it expected in April, says the Update. ‘This will have a knock-on effect on household incomes’.

On the plus side, interest rates are also now expected to be lower for longer. ‘Our November forecast for 15 per cent UK house price growth over the five years to 2024 included an assumption that the Bank of England base rate would rise to 2 per cent by the end of that period. Oxford Economics’ current forecast is for it to be 1 per cent’, say Hampton and Buckle.

‘The trade-off between borrowing costs and income rises will determine the medium term outlook for house prices, once the initial crisis has passed’.

But at least the market is moving again. And ‘short term activity will be supported by a degree of pent up demand and some buyers may now have a greater inclination to move following lockdown. There is now particular emphasis on moving for more space, and to the countryside.

It is also possible that the new homes market may recover faster, due to it being easier to perform virtual and socially distanced viewings in new build homes.

‘While this bodes well for an increase in activity, it is starting from the exceptionally low levels observed during lockdown. Data from the main property search portals suggests that sales agreed and new listings were at around 10 to 20 per cent of the levels seen immediately before the lockdown, although buyer browsing levels have been higher’.

Low activity levels are also reflected in mortgage lending data. New mortgage approvals fell to their lowest level in March since early 2013. The drop was particularly sharp as it followed an exceptionally strong February, which had been the strongest month since early 2014, said Savills.

Source: Residential Landlord

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Will the coronavirus epidemic harm UK property prices?

With current turbulence in equity markets, some investors who sold out of stocks and currencies last week are looking around for alternatives. UK property, which has been severely depressed due to the uncertainties around Brexit last year, looks like it could be one of them. UK house price growth continued its upward trend in the months immediately succeeding the election – in January UK house prices were up 1.9% year on year.

This was the largest increase in 14 months and beat December’s number of 1.4%.

At London estate agent Benham & Reeves, there is notable new interest in the market. It reports a higher total number of transactions so far in Q1 than in the past 112 months, which represents a dramatic upswing in interest. It is a trend being seen elsewhere in the housing market.

“Investors should be looking at fixed-return and less risky alternative investment options,” says Yann Murciano, CEO at BLEND Network. “We have already seen investors liquidating their equity positions and looking for alternatives that provide steady yield.”

BLEND Network is a peer-to-peer property lending marketplace that connects lenders directly with borrowers and focuses on lending to established property developers. Lenders can lend from GBP 1000 to property-secured loans and earn up to 15% p.a.

Murciano thinks that the coronavirus will undoubtedly affect the London property sector, but says the worst of the impact will be restricted to the international buyer and luxury property market focused on Prime Central London real estate. Outside the capital, property prices are less volatile and he sees a growing pool of local, specialised developers who can deliver projects with strong investment potential.

There is still a shortage of housing supply in the UK

The UK continues to suffer from an under-supply of low cost housing and there are now a number of funds and platforms that are addressing the appetite from investors for strategic allocations into that sector.

But what sort of impact can we expect from coronavirus on the UK property sector?

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has polled surveyors in the UK, asking them about what they expect to see in terms of the effects of the virus. Activity in the housing

market was up in February, but much of the economic effects of the coronavirus have really only been felt since the beginning of March. It may be we see a delay of sellers putting houses onto the market at the same time as buyers and investors are looking for new opportunities.

The recent decision by the Bank of England to cut rates should not be discounted either. This will make mortgages cheaper and with the additional and very dramatic stimulus measures announced, will have a positive effect on the UK economy in the medium term. This could create a situation where we have more buyers than sellers in this market, with knock on consequences for house prices.

Another factor has been the introduction of stamp duty at 2% for overseas buyers of UK property, announced in the UK budget last week, which will apply from April 2021. This will apply in England and Northern Ireland and is intended to take some of heat out of UK property from foreign investment. That said, it means there is now a closing window of opportunity for foreign investors in UK property. This could create demand at a time when the property market would otherwise be running out of steam.

Source: The Armchair Trader

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ONS: Average UK house prices up 2.2%

The average UK house price rose by 2.2% to £235,000 in the year to December 2019, according to data collected by ONS.

Average house prices in England increased by 2.2% to £252,000.

Wales and Scotland both also recorded a 2.2% rise year-on-year, with average house prices increasing to £166,000 and £152,000 respectively.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland noted a 2.5% uplift, boosting average house prices to £140,000.

All regions saw a rise in average property prices in the year to December 2019; the South East of England recorded the lowest average increase, up 1.2%.

Average property prices in Yorkshire and Humber noted the greatest rise over the selected timeframe, growing by 3.9%.

Franz Doerr, founder and chief executive of flatfair, said: “The continued growth of rental prices is preventing renters from accessing the homes that they want.

“As the ‘Boris bounce’ has driven up house prices, we are seeing a continuing trend of tenants opting to rent for longer than ever before.

“However, rising rents, and the need to scrape together a large lump-sum deposit when moving are huge barriers that need addressing.

“With a growing number of landlords leaving the sector leading to a reduction in the available housing stock, action needs to be taken to make the rental market work better for tenants and landlords alike.”

Hedi Zidan, founder and chief executive of Nestify, added: “Today’s figures demonstrate that the UK rental market is resilient, and that demand remains strong.

“Our landlords are increasingly meeting tenants who are seeking a range of different accommodation solutions, durations and tenancy options.

“This means that in order to maximise the current UK housing stock, it’s vital landlords have access to a range of short, medium and long-term rental options.

“These figures demonstrate how integral professional landlords are to UK housing and it is our belief that they should be supported to provide the range of tenancies that the UK rental population so clearly crave.

Marc von Grundherr, director of lettings and sales agent Benham and Reeves, stated: “Much has been made of the ‘Boris Bounce’ and there is no doubting that it spurred a huge uplift in market activity.

“While today’s figures display a slightly more muted market landscape in terms of actual sales, it is important to remember that even the most enthusiastic of buyers and sellers would struggle to get a transaction completed in the few short weeks between the election result and the end of the year.

“All in all a resilient show from the UK property market, particularly given the backdrop of political turbulence that has been prevalent for much of the last 12 months, and a foundation that should now see a strong performance for the year ahead following on from December’s election results.”

Gráinne Gilmore, head of research at Zoopla, added: “The certainty provided by the definitive result of the General Election was a shot in the arm for the UK housing market.

“The annual level of growth for the UK according to the ONS is the highest recorded in 2019, with all regions seeing positive growth for the first time in nearly two years.

“The pick up in annual price growth reflects the trends seen in Zoopla’s UK Cities House Price Index, which recorded the highest level of house price inflation in two years for December 2019.

“Zoopla data shows an increase in buyer demand since late last year, a trend that is set to continue amid real wage growth and low interest rates.

“However, in some areas there is still a shortage of homes coming to market to meet this demand.

“The upcoming Budget is a prime opportunity for the new Chancellor to address some of the factors affecting the housing market at present.

“Any review of stamp duty charges to help the movement of homeowners up and down the property ladder would be welcome, but the extent and nature of any reform, which must be balanced against political exigencies, remains to be seen.”

By Jake Carter

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Asking prices for marketed properties in the UK increase 0.8% to near a record high

  • Asking prices for marketed properties in the UK increase 0.8% to near a record high.
  • National total sales that were finalized posted a 12.3% annual increase.
  • RIC announced the house prices to have increased at the fastest pace in January in almost 3 years.

Rightmove’s House Price Index (HPI) for the United Kingdom came out on Monday. According to the property website, asking prices for houses in the UK placed on sale in February saw an increase this month that was fueled by the market optimism after Prime Minister Boris Johnson won the general election on December 12th.

Monday’s report offered an insight into the marketed property between January 12th and February 8th. As per the data, asking prices for such properties saw a 0.8% monthly increase. While it was significantly lower than a 2.3% increase that was recorded last month, the jump was sufficient to bring the HPI (House Price Index) close to its record high.

National Total Sales Increased 12.3% Annually

In terms of national total sales that were finalized, Rightmove announced a 12.3% annual increase. The increase in sales agreed in London, on the other hand, was reported at a much higher 26.4% annually.

Rightmove’s director Miles Shipside commented on Monday’s data and highlighted that the seller confidence is starting to show signs of recovery for the first time in many years. Although, it is still distant to the increase reported in early-bird buyers.

Experts also accentuated on Monday that the UK’s housing market has also shown other signs of recovery following Conservative’s victory in the general election of December 12th. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, last week’s data on house prices suggested the fastest rate in January in almost three years.

Macroeconomics Continue To Be Uncertain For UK’s Market

Despite the optimism, however, the macroeconomic scenario continues to be uncertain for the United Kingdom. The UK is currently negotiating with the EU to strike a broader trade deal within the deadline of December 2020. Britain is also interested in defining its trade terms with other countries as an entity outside of the European Union following its departure from the EU on January 31st. Any friction between the EU and the UK regarding trade relations, as per the analysts, can be expected to cast a dramatic impact on financial indices including the HPI.

Rightmove’s House Price Index was unable to stir a significant movement in the forex market with the GBP/USD currency pair continuing to trade between 1.3044 and 1.3051 earlier on Monday. The next significant move in Cable is expected on Tuesday after the Office for National Statistics reveals its average earnings index.

By Michael Harris

Source: Invezz

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UK Property Prices Surge at Fastest Rate for 2 Years

Summary:

  • Annual property price growth in the UK rose to 4.1% in January 2020, the highest rate of growth recorded since February 2018
  • Prices in January increased by 0.4% month-on-month, with market commentators attributing the growth to a ‘Boris bounce’ following the UK’s general election and EU withdrawal
  • Increased activity in the market underlines the rising level of confidence amongst buyers and investors

It’s been a good start to the year for the UK’s property investors.

You may have heard some commentators referring to a ‘Boris bounce’. And it seems that ever since the outcome of December’s general election, which saw Boris Johnson’s Conservative party win a strong majority, there’s been a significant rise in activity in the UK property market.

Now Halifax has revealed its latest index figures for January 2020, revealing that average property prices increased 0.4% from December 2019.

It means that the UK’s annual rate of price growth has now reached a two-year high of 4.1%

This data followed similarly positive figures published by Nationwide at the end of January, which stated that price growth measured by its index is now at a 14-month high.

It seems that, with a new government decided and with the 31st January’s Brexit deadline passed, more buyers and investors are returning to the market. Furthermore, it also suggests that there was a high level of ‘pent up’ demand from those who were waiting to make their next move in the market at the end of 2019.

Russell Galley, Managing Director of Halifax, explained: “A number of important market indicators continue to show signs of improvement. We have seen a pick-up in transactions with more buyer and seller activity consistent with a reduction in uncertainty in the UK economy.”

“Looking ahead, we still expect a moderate rate of house price growth over the course of the year. Demand is likely to continue to exceed the supply of properties for sale across the UK, with the subdued pace of new building also adding to upwards price pressure.”

AUTHOR: GARETH MARSHALL

Source: Select Property

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UK property prices are in the doldrums

House prices barely rose in 2019. Good news, says Nicole Garcia Merida.

It’s been a sleepy year for the property market. The average house cost £211,966 in January and £215,734 in November, according to figures from Halifax. That’s a gain of just 1.8%. London, which during upswings often outperforms the rest of the country, is now underperforming it. By October the average cost of a house in the capital had slipped by 1.6% year-on-year to £472,232, says the Land Registry.

The market’s lacklustre performance in 2019 continues a trend observed in the past few years; prices have made small percentage gains or trod water. This is hardly scintillating material for dinner-party dissections of the property market, but as we like to point out regularly, it is good news in the long term.

The price rises of recent years, fuelled by loose credit and government tinkering such as Help to Buy, which artificially fuelled demand, have propelled the market to unaffordable levels. The house price-to-earnings ratio is steadily declining from record peaks of over seven – but the credit bubble pushed it far beyond the usual levels of below four seen in the 1980s and 1990s.

Flat prices in conjunction with regular increases in wages are a painless and steady way for the market to fall to affordable levels. It bodes well, then, that annual wage growth has strengthened in the past year and reached an 11-year high of 3.9% in June. The bigger picture is also encouraging for those keen for the market to cool. House prices in Great Britain rose by 34% on average in the past ten years.

But once the figures are adjusted for inflation, they have fallen 0.3%, according to a Savills report using Nationwide data. The subdued 2010s followed a 67.1% real-terms increase in the 2000s and a 13.9% slide in the 1990s.

The outlook for 2020

There has been widespread talk of a “Boris bounce” for the property market as well as for shares. There is now certainty over our departure from the EU and a clear majority in Parliament reduces political uncertainty. However, while Brexit-related uncertainty hampered the market in the past three years, its removal doesn’t necessarily mean that the market will rocket. As Emma Powell and Alex Newman point out in the Investors Chronicle, the housing market began to slow in 2015 before the referendum.

The main problem remains affordability, notes Callum Jones in The Times. The house price-to-earnings ratio was still 6.8 in the third quarter of 2019; along with mortgage loan-to-income restrictions, this makes it difficult for buyers to muster deposits and bolster overall prices.

Throw in dwindling support from Help to Buy and the upshot, reckons Capital Economics, is that house-price growth will “only pick up a little” next year.

Where to look on the Crossrail route

In recent years there have been plenty of breathless articles in the financial press highlighting the scope for house-price rises in certain areas owing to the arrival of Crossrail, or the Elizabeth Line. But it is always hard to gauge how much a local price rise owes to a specific project and how much to a wider market upswing.

In any case, a Savills study suggests that house-price growth has faltered close to two-thirds of the Crossrail stations, as Anna White points out in the Evening Standard. How much this has to do with the delay to Crossrail and how much with the wider London slowdown is a moot point, but those in the market for a new home with good transport links should consider some of these areas. In each case, general regeneration may give prices more pep, reckons White.

One to look at is Southall, where the Crossrail station and new houses are reviving a “tired high street”. The typical house costs £310,000. Slough, once Crossrail opens, will be almost half an hour closer to Canary Wharf, while multimillion pound investment will transform the town centre, says Renata Holland in the Evening Standard. The average house will set you back £243,000. Acton, meanwhile, was once regarded as “Ealing and Chiswick’s poor relation”, says Andrea Dean in Metro, but it is now on an “equal footing”. A house costs £443,000.

Investing in empty property

Buying an empty property may seem like a straightforward way of buying a house on the cheap. There are certainly plenty to choose from: in England alone, there are over 200,000 that have been empty for at least six months, the legal definition of a long-term vacancy. Owners struggle to sell or derive an income from them so they may be keen to offload them for a reasonable price. But be sure the sums add up.

Finding a vacant property can be as easy as going for a drive around the area you’re interested in and spotting one. Otherwise, it might be worth contacting estate agents keen to make a commission, or local councils as they will be keen to get the property back into use, says Chris Menon in Moneywise. Monitor auctions around the area, too. If empty properties don’t sell you can contact the real-estate agent to discuss a price. Once you find the property, a search on the HM Land Registry website gives you the name of the owner, property limits and the risk of flooding.

Once you’ve found an empty dwelling, the key issue to consider is how much work it needs and how much it will cost. Could the sum be so high that it negates the saving on the empty house compared with a previously inhabited house needing no work? Once you begin enquiring about the price, get a structural surveyor in to produce a full report.

Factor in potential financial assistance too. There are initiatives offered by several councils that are designed to enable landlords and homeowners to apply for and receive up to £25,000 to refurbish an empty house to then rent out or sell, says Angelique Ruzicka in This is Money. The loans schemes began as a solution to housing shortages and unoccupied properties that have posed a problem for those living close by. Council loans are repayable after three years of renting out the property or when the property is sold.

Do your research and ensure you qualify for an empty home scheme, but otherwise mortgages are an option, says Menon. However, “many lenders may only lend up to 80% to 95% of the current value of the property and may withhold some funds as a ‘retention’ until works are complete”. If the property is entirely uninhabitable, you will need a broker to find you a specialist provider.

By Nicole Garcia Merida

Source: Money Week