After years of calm – not to mention generous returns for property investors – the buy to let property market hit choppy waters in 2016 when ex-Chancellor George Osborne made it harder for investors to profit from multiple properties via a series of taxes.
The short, sharp shock included a stamp duty tax surcharge on additional properties and the scrapping of tax relief on mortgage interest payments. Four years later and following a recent announcement by the current Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, on 8 July, buy to let mortgages are back in the spotlight.
As a mortgage broker in Guildford, we’ve seen a surge in buy to let mortgage enquiries in only the last few days since the Chancellor announced a stamp duty tax holiday on properties up to the value of £500,000.
Although the 3% stamp duty surcharge is still in play for property investors and second homeowners, there will be no further duty on the first £500,000 of the property’s value.
So, if you’re a property investor that’s about to purchase a £500,000 property, then the duty payable will be £15,000 instead of what would have been £30,000. Equally, if you’re looking to buy a property for £250,000, then instead of paying 3% on the first £125,000 and then 5% on the remainder, which amounts to £10,000, you’ll now only pay £7,500.
An eight-month window
Although there is great uncertainty around the economy, there is certainty as to when the stamp duty tax holiday will end given how the Chancellor has announced that it will come to a close on 31 March 2021.
Our view is that if you’ve been thinking about getting a buy to let mortgage – or have been sitting on the fence about whether or not to apply for a buy to let mortgage – then last week’s news provides a golden opportunity to save money in tandem with making your next investment.
And not only are there still a number of competitive buy to let mortgage deals on the market, but also Complete Mortgages has ready access to them, too.
The buy to let market is back. Take advantage of it while you can.
If you’re looking for award-winning buy to let mortgage advice or would like to find out what buy to let mortgages are available to you, then contact our buy to let mortgage team on 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk.
By Mark Finnegan at Complete Mortgages
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