It’s changes in the rental market which will have the biggest effect on property prices in the next year or two. An obvious one is the rise in interest rates. Around half of landlords have a mortgage one at least one of their let properties, and those who only own one are most likely to owe money on it. If their payments more than double, they will either have to hike rents (if they can) or sell (again, if they can find a buyer). Less obvious is the need to upgrade their properties’ Energy Performance Certificate. Rental homes must have a rating of C or above by 2025; currently only 30% have, and the other 70% will have to spend, in many cases big bucks to bring them up to the new standards. Most of those I’ve asked have only a vague understanding of this, the average estimated cost is £10,260 and the deadline is looming. Many are likely to bail out.
“John Lewis foray into BTR could result in losses of £57m”
I did predict a while ago that Waitrose Homes rather than Waitrose Home Deliveries could be the future. John Lewis were probably the most benign big business to decide to go into the housing rental market, a move which could swing things away from the unpredictability of the mass of private landlords who dominate the sector.
