Buy-to-investors behaviour 'proving to be a bonus for the nation's housing problems'

Posted: 30 Jun 2008 13:48:35 GMT

As consumers are losing confidence in the housing market, latest research reveals that buy-to-let investors are committed and realistic about the amount of time they will have to hold onto a property for.

As consumers are losing confidence in the housing market, latest research reveals that buy-to-let investors are committed and realistic about the amount of time they will have to hold onto a property for.

The research from the latest Assocaition of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) Quarterly Survey of Landlords shows that investors expect to keep their properties for an average of 17.2 years in the current economic climate.

Current market conditions mean that just 1.3 per cent of investors expect to sell their property at the moment.

Ian Potter, ARLA's head of operations, said: "Buy-to-let landlords are confirmed as prudent investors for the long term. These investors understand the realities of the investment market they have chosen. This understanding would appear to be far greater than the understanding shown by investors in many other markets and is proving to be a bonus for the nation's housing problems."

There is sill a number of landlords looking to buy, despite falling property prices. When questioned, 7.3 per cent said they may alter their let portfolios and 40 per cent said they expected to increase their portfolio in the next 12 months.

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