Property investment portfolios in the UK rise as landlords are more confident about the outlook for the lettings sector

Written by Ray Clancy

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 12:00

The general improvement in UK house prices is reflected in the value of residential property investors’ portfolios with the average value jumping 6.1% to £1.52 million in the first three months of the year.

The rate of growth in portfolio values accelerated during the first quarter of 2010 and was up from the 4.2% growth recorded during the final quarter of 2009, research from Paragon Mortgages shows.

The figure takes into account both changes to property values and sales and acquisitions, which suggests that landlords have been adding property to their portfolios or replacing existing stock with properties of higher value.

This is the first time that portfolio values have increased for two quarters in succession since the first half of 2008, a period when house prices were starting to slip but buy-to-let mortgages were still widely available and landlords were able to finance purchases.

Looking forward, landlords expect the average value of their portfolios to be 1.2% higher at the end of the first quarter next year than at the end of the equivalent period this year, the research also shows.

The majority of landlords, some 73%, believe that values will be stable over the period, but of those forecasting movement, 19% believe values will rise compared to 8% who forecast a fall.

‘Confidence amongst the landlord community has grown in recent months and that is reflected in portfolio valuations. According to the National Landlords Association, landlord confidence is at its highest since 2007,’ said John Heron, Paragon Mortgages' managing director.

‘On the whole, house prices have been rising since the middle of last year and we know that landlords have taken advantage of a more fluid housing market to add properties to their portfolios,’ he explained.

‘Looking forward, more landlords believe that portfolio values will rise than fall, but the vast majority are unclear about which way house prices will move. There are a number of variables that will influence house price movement, but access to mortgage finance for the market as a whole will be key,’ he added.