The buy to let sector has been one of fastest growing areas of the UK property market in recent years.

Both large and small investors have made good returns by investing in properties to rent out to tenants. Steadily increasing property prices and shortages of affordable housing, particularly in London and South East England, have encouraged a buoyant buy to let market. As a result of this surge of interest in buy to let property, many financial institutions that were not previously represented have entered the buy to let mortgage market.

Investment in the Buy to Let Market

The growth in the buy to let market has been driven by a combination of factors.

Changes in employment patterns and companies altering the way that they administer their pension schemes have resulted in an increasing number of individuals discovering that their pension income projections for retirement are considerably lower than was originally anticipated. Increases in property values, over previous decades, have also encouraged many individuals with a potential pension shortfall to invest in buy to let property in order to generate income to bridge the gap.

However, for the rental property sector to remain healthy, tenants are required to occupy the buy to let properties.

Tenants in the Buy to Let Market

In recent years, the demand has been stimulated by a number of demographic changes in the UK which, in turn, have increased the demand for rental property.

The steady rise in property prices has resulted in many first-time buyers being priced out of the property market. As a result, many of these people have ended up renting property as an alternative. Increasing numbers of divorces and relationship breakdowns have also increased the number of households in the UK and, therefore, the demand for rental property.

Increased levels of immigration, principally from the newer EU member countries of Eastern Europe, have also had a significant impact on the rental property sector, most notably at the cheaper end of the market.

Ironically, the increased demand in this sector is having a knock-on effect on another part of the buy to let market, the student letting sector. In some towns and cities with relatively large student populations, competition between students and immigrants has led to a shortage of lower cost rental property, resulting in rents rising significantly - potentially good news for the buy to let investor.

Future of the Buy to Let Market

The current uncertainties in the financial markets are affecting the UK property sector as a whole and the buy to let area is bound to be affected, particularly if property prices fall to any significant extent.

Some commentators are predicting meltdown. But the most likely scenario is that buy to let mortgage providers will become increasingly fussy about how much they will lend and to whom. Inevitably, these lenders will insist on stricter terms and conditions in order to safeguard their financial interests.

The long-term future of the buy to let market is inextricably linked with the rest of the UK property market and until the outstanding issues in the global market have been addressed, accurate predictions from a UK perspective are difficult to make.