Since Halifax began tracking them in 1983, in real terms UK house prices have risen 101%, and 124% in London. Little wonder then that buy-to-let properties have become so attractive to investors. But in the grip of a housing crisis, why do they also benefit from generous tax breaks?
The country is suffering a serious housing shortage. And soaring rents, poor conditions and rising homelessness are the end result, according to housing charity Shelter. The problem is successive governments' failure to build enough homes. Instead, the buy-to-let (BTL) sector has exploded, making landlords fat profits. In the UK over the past 18 years, it has provided average returns that outstrip those of other major asset classes, according to BTL lender Landbay. Every £1,000 invested in an average buy-to-let property purchased with a 75% loan to value (LTV) mortgage in the fi...
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