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Mortgage Application Fraud Rises in the UK

By Blog, Development Finance

Whilst mortgage application approvals have recently increased, benefiting both customers and the economy more widely, unfortunately, alongside this has been a rise in mortgage application fraud.

 

The Bank of England reports that both mortgage approvals as well as lending figures overall rose during the month of June – approvals relating to house purchases in particular rising from the record-low figure in May of 9,300 to 40,000.

 

The central bank stated throughout their Money and Credit report that “The mortgage market showed some signs of recovery in June, but remained relatively weak in comparison to pre-Covid. On net, households borrowed an additional £1.9 billion secured on their homes.”

 

Post-covid, the UK government has offered two rounds of mortgage holidays, both three-months, to offer help to homeowners. This scheme was reportedly taken up by 1.9 million households in the UK.

 

The report further claimed that whilst this was indeed higher than May’s £1.3 billion, it was still “weak compared to an average of £4.1 billion in the six months to February 2020.”

 

Furthermore, the Money and Credit report explained that “The number of mortgages approved also increased in June. The number of mortgage approvals for house purchase increased strongly, to 40,000 up from 9,300 in May” however, “approvals were 46 percent below the February level of 73,700.”

 

Whilst reports of this rise, albeit comparatively low to pre-COVID months, is welcome news to the sector during this turbulent period, SmartSearch, an anti-money laundering service, has revealed that the UK is also experiencing a rise in mortgage application fraud – up 5% during last year with a concerning 13% of adult Brits thinking exaggerating their income on an application was “reasonable”

 

SmartSearch CEO John Dobson, reported by the Express, claimed that “Applying for a mortgage can be an exciting and also daunting task, with many first-time buyers unsure of what to expect during the rigorous application process.”

 

“It is important to remember that a mortgage is a significant financial commitment, and making exaggerations or withholding any changes in circumstances may result in you being investigated for money laundering and fraud, making it more difficult to secure a mortgage or other financial products in the future.”

 

What Is Mortgage Application Fraud and How Do I Avoid It?

 

With mortgage application fraud, individuals will provide false evidence to support their application for a mortgage. SmartSearch have suggested some of the following considerations to take into account during the mortgage application process, all of which should be handled with care to prevent red, money-laundering-related flags:

 

  • Register on the electoral roll so that you can prove your identity to lenders – “If you’re not registered on the electoral roll it is just about impossible to secure a mortgage” SmartSearch claims.

 

  • Disassociate from ex-partners you could still be financially linked to via the credit reference agencies.

 

  • Explain and provide evidence of where the source of your deposit has come from (particularly important when the deposit has been gifted to you, or is from inheritance).
building-construction-site

UK Construction Sees Sharpest Rise in Nearly 5 Years

By Blog, Development Finance

The building industry shows promising signs of a strong recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, as UK builders report to have experienced the sharpest rise in monthly activity in nearly five years. This rise came during July this year, residential building reported to be the main driver for this significant boost in activity.

 

The rise comes as excellent news for the UK government, who are reported to be relying on this particular sector to help be a driving force in the country’s economic recovery – PM Johnson himself using the slogan “build, build, build” whilst describing the intentions for the post-lockdown economy’s revival.  New and upcoming “once in a generation” reforms have recently been announced to the country that will help to ease certain building restrictions.

 

However, even with these promising results, as concerns surrounding the economy still remain significantly high, the sector has experienced a decline in workers. IHS Markit’s economics director Tim Moore told the Financial Times:

 

“Concerns about the pipeline of new work across the construction sector and intense pressure on margins go a long way to explain the sharp and accelerated fall in employment numbers reported during July”

 

The Government’s Plans for Construction Post-Lockdown

 

Despite this reported decline raising concerns, the UK government has predicted that this drive in construction will create many more jobs throughout the sector, further helping to push for economic recovery following the COVID-related lockdown measures.

 

On the 21st July 2020, Parliament laid out new laws that will enable homes to be built where unused buildings currently stand, without the need for full planning applications. Alongside this, retail and commercial properties will be able to be repurposed quickly in a bid to revive town centres and high streets.

 

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has commented the following on the matter, stating that:

 

“We are reforming the planning system and cutting out unnecessary bureaucracy to give small business owners the freedom they need to adapt and evolve, and to renew our town centres with new enterprises and more housing.”

 

“These changes will help transform boarded up, unused buildings safely into high quality homes at the heart of their communities. It will mean that families can add up to 2 storeys to their home, providing much needed additional space for children or elderly relatives as their household grows.”

 

These new rules, set to apply from September, follow on from other measures recently announced to help support home building throughout the country, of which include the addition of £450 million to the Home Building Fund, whilst a new £12 billion programme for affordable homes will help to provide up to 180,000 brand new properties.

ashley-ilsen

Opinion: Why lenders need to look to the past to successfully traverse the future

By Blog, Development Finance, Opinion

One thing I often discuss with colleagues is the use of the term ‘old school’. I like it. I take it as a compliment. I see it as a nod to having learnt and taken heed from past experiences. Most of my colleagues at Magnet Capital, like me, were trained at a previous lender that had been successfully lending money for several decades. Our schooling was in the fundamentals of lending; being measured, being considered and being the tortoise and not the hare. If you can balance this with an unparalleled service and a commitment to lend whether the sun is shining or not, then you have the makings of a very successful lending business.

 

However, over the last decade I’ve closely admired the transition of the specialist finance industry from ‘old school’ to ‘new school’. There have been many changes in how things are done and don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge advocate of innovation and finding new ways of doing things. Innovation is one of the key areas that will determine which business will be successful in the coming years, but perhaps as we move into testing times, with undoubtedly choppy waters ahead, we can navigate our way through as an industry by looking to the past.

 

Lending fundamentals are now going to be more important than ever. Cutting corners and taking unwarranted punts on the asset in question is probably the most common fools’ folly I’ve seen in recent years. As lenders we are all keen to grow our loan books and beat the competition. However, I’ve seen many recent cases where we’ve been asked to push our normal lending parameters to win a deal. Whilst we’re undoubtedly committed to servicing our broker partners, it’s this sense of needing to ‘chase the market’ that can really hurt lenders. Looking back at the 2008 financial crisis, the worst hit finance businesses were the ones that were happy to take on too much risk and cut too many corners when the sun was shining. This is even more true in the development finance sector which is inherently a higher risk style of loan.

 

There’s also the factor of top down pressure which can lead to lending errors. Some lenders have large instances of non-utilisation fees. This coupled with high business overheads can put the lender under pressure to make risk-based decisions that they wouldn’t normally do. Turning down business because it’s perceived as too high risk, or an unflattering return for the business is always a hard decision to make. My fear at the moment is there are still lenders lending money on behalf of private investors or institutions making decisions that aren’t feasible in the current economic climate.

 

One of the only ways to judge the future is by looking to the past. Property markets are intrinsically linked to the economy. The economy as we know moves in cycles, and we’re undoubtedly entering a period of great uncertainty and potentially huge economic difficulty. Unfortunately, even the so-called experts are unable to make accurate predictions. So, as lenders, we need to continue to back our brokers and the consumer. If this means giving up business and taking less risk, then so be it, but as I’ve said before now more than ever is it important to be consistent. There’s a great saying that I learnt during my time living in China and that’s ‘crossing the river by feeling the stones’. This idiom about moving forward whilst being cautious couldn’t be more pertinent to the specialist finance industry today.

ground-rent

FCA Confirms Second Round of Mortgage Payment Holidays During Covid

By Blog, Development Finance

The FCA has confirmed that they will offer a second round of mortgage payment holidays, continuing to help those homeowners who may have been financially implicated during covid-19.

 

Around 1.8 million households used a mortgage payment holiday for three months from the start of thelockdown period, as a way of offsetting any financial uncertainty or loss of income due to unemployment.

 

In total, around 20% of the UK’s population benefitted from the mortgage holiday scheme, giving the average household a saving of £755. The FCA also introduced a similar scheme for other kinds of credit and financial products including personal loans, credit cards, car loans and an interest-free overdraft facility.

 

Residential homeowners and those who offer buy-to-let have until 31st October 2020 to apply through their bank or mortgage provider. The process is usually completely online, streamlined and fast-tracked, offering almost instant approval, with no evidence of financial hardship needed or affordability checks.The Financial Conduct Authority’s interim chief executive, Christopher Woolard said upon issuing a further three-month scheme:

 

christoper-woolard

Christopher Woolard explains that the three-month mortgage holiday is necessary to address the ongoing situation surrounding covid

 

“Clearly, if there are further restrictions that need to be placed for health reasons; if the situation becomes
more complicated in some way, then we’ll have to think about how we adjust to those circumstances.”

 

However, Woolard expressed his belief that half of the people who used the initial mortgage payment
holiday from March to May were now able to pay.

 

“About half of that group are people who perhaps thought they were going to lose a job or have some other kind of impact, and in fact they’re in a position where they could still afford to pay now that that ninety-day period is coming to an end.”

 

Woolard emphasised that while lenders suffered the burden in the short-term, borrowers will feel the effects when it catches up in the longer term through extended mortgages and rolled-up interest.

 

“It’s everyone’s best interest to actually get back towards payment wherever that is possible or even partial payment, but we have to recognise that there’s an ongoing situation here,” he said.

 

Homeowners get access to a three-month mortgage holiday, whereby payments are deferred until a later today or carried onto the end of the mortgage term. Applying or using a mortgage holiday through the Government’s scheme will not impact your credit score or ability to access finance from elsewhere.

 

During the coronavirus period, the Government and FCA have also confirmed that no repossessions by mortgage lenders or banks will take place, giving property owners breathing space if they need it.

 

sam-howard-magnet-capital

Opinion: The New Normal in the Development Finance World

By Blog, Development Finance, Opinion

It felt like the chains had been unshackled, as I stepped out of my car, in bright sunshine, at one of Magnet Capital’s development sites last Monday morning. For the first time in over eleven weeks, I was able to do what I enjoy most; visit our projects, see how they have progressed and chat with our developers and their team.

 

Except it wasn’t normal, I was sweltering in a mask and gloves, despite being on an open-air site, with the two bungalows at wall plate stage. I took my position a good two metres away from the developer, whilst the rest of his team were mostly at home, except for two labourers distancing in a corner of the site. Despite all this, the client was delighted to be back on site having lost a good six weeks due to lockdown, closed suppliers and scarcity of labourers. Thankfully roof trusses and windows were soon to be delivered, so that the site could continue with no delays. Roof tiles from Spain were causing an issue but he had a work around and frankly he is one of the lucky ones.

 

Across our extensive range of development sites at Magnet Capital, we have heard of difficulties for developers in getting bricks, block and beams and specifically those building materials, which require bespoke factory settings, such as windows and roof trusses. Factories are starting to open up but there is a backlog of orders. To comply with social distancing developers are faced with having only a skeleton crew on sites, which will be magnified when the properties are watertight and are working on internals. Hand sanitiser, cleaning of surfaces, face masks will all be necessary. Delays and rising costs are a reality for all our developers. As a development finance lender we have to be realistic that our clients projects will overrun their loan period and we need to help them either to extend their loans or source developer exit products.

 

The new normal is also opaque as to what will happen to the property market in terms of house prices and the mechanics of selling new build properties. There will undoubtedly be far-reaching economic ramifications but at the moment there is plenty of pent up demand. The Government’s lockdown measures resulted in an estimated £82 billion of house purchases placed on hold. Some early indications suggest that the market is springing back into life, with Rightmove stating 40,000 new sales having been agreed since 13 May and it saw its ten busiest days ever in May and June.

 

We are all going to be spending more time in our homes and spacious properties with gardens and nice views should be in demand, whereas flats in high rise blocks, requiring lifts and in urban areas with little outdoor space, might struggle. This could be accentuated by people increasingly working from home, with less need to be in urban areas, close to their place of work. The commute will become less of a burden on the psyche and the pocket, if people are working from home a couple of days a week, meaning that more living space, further out of the city centre, becomes much more desirable.

 

Agents will need to find ways to cleverly market their properties, offering virtual imaging cameras to create accurate floor plans and 3D simulations of properties, or filming short video tours inside. Potentially the new build market will outperform the second hand market, as the risks are lower visiting a vacant rather than occupied dwelling. The mechanics of buying and selling is further complicated by the difficulty in the current climate of getting valuations, surveys, searches, and dealing with the Land Registry. Sellers need to get all their paperwork ready and buyers need to ensure that they have a decent solicitor that is not stymied by working from home and surveyors that are willing and able to attend the property.

 

Last week felt like the mist was lifting and a sense of normality is returning, However, all we can do is take each day as it comes, as looking too far into the future of the property market is unwise in the best of times and especially in current times.

sam-howard-magnet-capital

Opinion: Stargazing in the development finance market

By Blog, Development Finance, Opinion

As I sit working from home with the news on a constant loop, the picture is forming of a dystopian world where  from a corporate perspective there will be few thrivers, aside for big tech, and the rest will be competing to be survivors.

Undoubtedly, the world is facing a crisis like we have not seen for probably a 100 years, and the impact on people’s lives has and will continue to be unprecedented in the short term. Reports are suggesting there will be a wave of soured UK commercial property loans, owing to the slump in retail property. Indeed, from the development finance perspective, restrictions on movement, the closing of building suppliers, the effective shut down of the residential property market for sales and rental has and will lead to serious delays. With regards to residential property, I believe this is overly bleak and once a vaccine and suitable drugs have been discovered, the UK’s passion for property will return.

However, whilst running a development business from my home office, in between Zoom calls, reviewing drone footage and photos of our sites, I wanted to do a bit of stargazing to see what changes for the better or worse might affect our industry. Clearly, I have no crystal ball but just a deep interest in the development finance industry.

An argument that is raging at the moment is whether Covid-19 will lead to a rise of nationalism over globalism. Given that the UK imports significant amounts of building materials, with one fifth coming from China, should the UK be focusing on ramping up domestic production? Whether it is electrical wiring, softwood timber, clay tiles, there is an argument that the UK should be fully self-sufficient. My guess is that there will be a significant move to on-shoring capabilities where possible, although of course some countries are better endowed with natural resources than others and we will still import where there is little alternative.

We are all starting to use technology more in our day to day roles, whether that is utilising: valuation software, drones for building inspections, or zoom sign up meetings. Therefore, shifting the belief that development finance underwriting can’t be automated and that the borrowers need to be met in person and the sites visited. With regards to the surveying profession, whilst physical valuations will still be necessary for the majority of development schemes,  we will see a degree of change , with more virtual monitoring inspections. However, this is likely owing to the rise of modular housing that will reduce the need for so many physical monitoring inspections, rather than Covid 19.

From a lender’s perspective no matter how much a system can be automated, you still need a human to make decisions and review the due diligence that the computer programmes produce. Face to face sign up meetings with the borrowers are crucial to assessing the risk of a development project. Yes ,you are also looking at the valuation information, the site details, cashflow, business plans etc but ultimately you are backing the individual/individuals. At Magnet Capital, we will be reinstating this, of course adhering to social distancing rules, as soon we can. So, don’t get rid of those meeting rooms just yet.

Which leads me on to the question of working from home. It is one that the industry has struggled with for many years. The mantra of management has always been, that you need to have your employees in the same physical space, to create the optimal working environment. The reality is that with modern technology it is possible to work efficiently and productively, without being in physical proximity.

Whether using slack, zoom, dropbox, xero, alongside a business’s existing databases, the ability to work remotely is, if not seamless then close to it. Avoiding the daily commute, not being crammed into a hot desk environment with little natural light, and having the ability to work flexibly is attractive. Now, I am not suggesting that office space is no longer needed but I think there will be a realisation that big expensive offices might need another look. It is of course about having the right systems in place and yes it is easier with a small team such as Magnet Capital’s who have all worked together for many years rather than a giant multinational.

The modern office will be reshaped, with perhaps meeting rooms and desks for those who need to be in rather than paying for a space for hundreds of people. And just a thought – perhaps from a residential development finance perspective, there might be opportunity for developers to turn the unused office space into flats.

To borrow a well worn but largely derided phrase in the financial markets that “this time is different” but I think in some ways it possibly could be.

 

ashley-ilsen

Opinion: Ashley Ilsen Discusses The Latest EY Report

By Blog, Development Finance, Opinion

It says a lot about the rapidly changing face of our market that the data produced by Ernst & Young,
changes significantly year on year. Now in its third year, the annual EY Bridging Market Study is one
of the widest data samples that we have for the short-term lending industry. It is also unfortunate
that the survey was conducted just before the Coronavirus pandemic started to hit the UK and I’d
implore the good people at EY to perform a follow-up study on their short-term findings later this
summer.

We have undoubtedly entered a period of short-term uncertainty and the true impact of
the Coronavirus on our market will not become completely apparent for some time. We can,
however, look at their long-term results with great interest and we can also look back at what
lenders and brokers have reported about 2019. Here are two key areas:

A crowded space

Interestingly, 67% of those surveyed reported that they have found competition increased in the
bridging market in 2019. Similarly, an increase in competition was cited by lenders as the biggest
challenge ahead for 2020. At Magnet Capital we have also seen a proliferation of lenders moving
into development finance, which I suspect is an overflow from what is now a very crowded bridging
sector.

From my own experience I’ve noticed from conversations I’ve had with other lenders that an
overcrowded space has been on everyone’s minds for some years now, and yet every year we seem
to be adding new entrants. A growing market should allow for more capital deployed (not
necessarily more lenders) but considering the effects of Coronavirus, surely we’ve now reached a
point where lenders will either need to exit or merge?

I did also spot a brave new face entering the bridging market just earlier in April 2020 and my hats off to them! Competition has historically pushed lenders to lower rates and higher up the risk curve. Respondents confirmed that average monthly interest rates were lower in 2019 than in the previous year, and LTVs were higher. Having reached the peak it will be interesting to see on what other battlefronts lenders will compete. For me there is one clear area that stands out.

Are we bit old fashioned?

One of the biggest trends seen from last year’s survey is the continued prominence of technology in
our sector. Some 39% of respondents now believe that open banking would significantly improve the
obtention of new business, and this is in addition to the use of AVMs and further automating of the
underwriting process. It’s somewhat apt that in the current crisis use of technology is now a
necessity rather than a luxury and I expect the pandemic to accelerate the need for lenders to invest
in their tech.

At Magnet Capital we focus heavily on our internal technology in order to streamline
the underwriting process and this has been a primary source of focus since our inception.
Conversely, I’ve always been a big champion of old fashioned lending practices and there is
ultimately no replacement for face-to-face to meetings with clients and a first-hand inspection of a
project or a property (no matter how much we’re all enjoying Zoom conference calls at this time).

This is also taking into account that 52% of lenders noted refurbishments as being the primary use
for bridging loans. This inherently raises the challenge of bridging lenders needing to be even more
hands on in a business environment that is still learning how to remain socially distant.

ashley-ilsen

Opinion: Why development finance might not be the same again

By Blog, Development Finance, Opinion

They say the construction industry is the first to enter a recession and the last to exit. I use the ‘R-word’ reticently in that we are nowhere near understanding the true implications of the current Covid-19 Crisis, on values and on the wider property market.  The last few weeks has seen various lenders pull product ranges, with development finance being one of the hardest hit sectors. However, as of today government guidelines do not prohibit construction or activity on construction sites, as long as public health guidance is being followed. In fact, across many of Magnet Capital’s development schemes that we are funding, progress is still excellent.

 

We are seeing a hard-nosed resilience that was perhaps born out of the destitution of what many builders and construction firms went through after the 2008 crash. In fact, just today I conducted a wonderful virtual inspection of a large site we are funding in Kent which was full of activity, with an appropriate number of tradesmen on site that are respecting the social distancing guidelines. Naturally, we do have a handful of clients that have closed their sites and in many cases this has predominantly been down to our clients need to protect vulnerable relatives at home. We have also seen many complaints about supply chain which the government is yet to sufficiently address and could cause further disruption beyond the Coronavirus crisis.

 

Beyond all the usual struggles for SME builders and developers, access to appropriate development finance will now become a serious issue. I say appropriate because for every quality development finance lender, there seems to be a handful trying to cut corners in our market. The landscape for development finance has changed dramatically in recent weeks but the one thing the development finance sector needs now more than ever is consistency. Having what I call a ‘Hokey Cokey’ approach to financing, where lenders decide to be in one minute and out the next, can be hugely detrimental to our sector and damaging to reputations. Consistency is key because it breeds confidence, which in turn trickles down from our brokers to the consumer.

 

The development finance sector has come a long way since the 2008 crash and indeed since I joined the market in 2012. It’s a small world and I really enjoy sharing thoughts with competing lenders and being able to speak candidly with our broker partners. One thing I think we can agree on is that this is very much a pull-up-your-socks moment for the development finance industry.

 

At Magnet Capital we have always been known as being a cautious lender and years of being conservative in our lending means that we are currently in a very strong position to serve our brokers and our clients. Having a sudden nose-dive in liquidity in the sector will undoubtedly cause serious problems for the wider property market far beyond the Coronavirus Crisis. Let’s keep doing what we’ve doing for years and continue to back the construction sector; they’re going to need it.

new-property-checks

What checks do you need to carry out on a new property?

By Blog, Development Finance

When purchasing a new property, there are many things you need to consider. Forgetting to carry out necessary steps before you decide to buy a house and continue with moving in could cause you problems in the future. For example, undiagnosed issues with the house could run you up an expensive bill or affect the value of the property.

Here is some advice to guide you through the property buying process and the things you need to check with regards to a new property.

  • Checking the electrics
  • Check the gas
  • Water and drainage search
  • Spot signs of damp
  • Look for rot
  • Age of roof
  • Consider the plumbing

 

Checking the electrics

Making sure the electrics are in good condition is vitally important. A survey on your house will not look at the state of these so it is well worth getting an Electrical Installation Condition report. This report will carry out the necessary checks to make sure any electrical parts in your property are safe. An electrics report could help you save thousands of pounds, as rewiring can be expensive.

Check the gas

When buying a new property, get a gas safety record (also known as a gas safety certificate) for your new home. Asking the current owners for this record on all appliances in the property is vitally important for your safety.

Appliances that are unsafe to use could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, gas leaks, and even explosions. Do not make the assumption that all gas appliances in your new house will be safe to use – always check.

If it has been over 12 months since the last gas safety record has been done, or the current owners are unable to provide a record, obtain one yourself. Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer prior to you moving in.

 

Water and draining search

Do not overlook the importance of checking water and sewage before buying a house. This is important, as it means you will not encounter unforeseen difficulties after you have purchased the property.

A Drainage and Water Search is typically carried out as part of the conveyancing process. Your conveyancing solicitor will contact the water company supplier for your home to check for things such as:

  • Whether there is a water meter
  • Where does the water supply come from
  • Are there sewers or water mains at the house
  • Are there any problems with water pressure
  • Who is responsible for drainage at the property

Does it have subsidence?

Subsidence can have a huge impact on a property’s structural safety as well as its overall value. Therefore, making sure it is detected before buying is key.

Subsidence is when the ground underneath your property sinks, over time this may cause your property’s foundations to become misaligned.

Signs of subsidence in your property include:

A crack in a property caused by subsidence will usually:

  • Have a width larger than 3mm
  • Be located close to a door or window
  • A diagonal crack wider at the top than at the bottom
  • Visibility is both on the inside and outside of the property

If you want to purchase a house that you suspected has subsidence issues, get a full buildings survey carried out.

 

Spot signs of damp

Damp can cause significant damage to your home, can be costly to fix and can also trigger health problems such as respiratory issues or allergic reactions.

 

crack-damp

 

As a result, checking for damp before buying a new property is well worth doing. Here are some ways you can spot the signs of damp:

  • Damp patches on walls and plastering
  • Water streaming down windows
  • Peeling wallpaper
  • Damaged plaster
  • Damaged skirting boards
  • Springy floorboards
  • Wall discolouration

 

Look for rot

Rot is caused when the timber has been exposed to wet conditions, and this can lead to a number of property problems. It is highly recommended you check for rot in the home-buying process. The signs of wet rot include the following:

  • Springy or bouncy floors – rot can affect floor joists or floorboards
  • Darkened timber – discoloration is caused by wet rot
  • Damp smell – rot can be a leading cause of this
  • Flaking paint or peeling wallpaper
  • Fungal growth – this is usually white, black or yellow in colour
  • Crack timber – usually linear
  • Spongy timber – when pressed

 

What is the age of the roof?

Checking how old the roof is on a property you want to purchase is another thing to consider. Replacing roofs can be costly, and newer roofs typically only last for 15-20 years in total.

 

Consider the plumbing

When viewing a property, ask if the pipes are lead and run the taps to see what the water pressure is like. You should also check if the boiler and radiators work in the building and how old these are.

bank-of-england

What does base rate cut mean for the UK property market?

By Blog, Development Finance

The Bank of England (BoE) has just announced a base rate cut of 0.5 percent following the outbreak of Coronavirus across Europe.  This represents the biggest cut since the financial crisis back in 2008. This emergency interest cut from 0.75 percent to 0.25 percent has been done by BoE to ease a possible recession and an overall slowdown in the economy if coronavirus spreads further into the UK.

What will be the expected impact for the property market following this base rate cut? Here is what is anticipated to happen.

  • Better mortgage rates
  • Will not apply to fixed-rate mortgages
  • Good news for landlords
  • Those applying for a mortgage will benefit
  • Positive news for property investors

Better mortgage rates

A historically low base rate will likely mean good news for those with mortgages. This is because a reduced base rate will likely then make interest rates on standard variable rate and tracker mortgages lower. This is down to the fact that the base rate is the interest charged by the BoE to borrow money, which is then reflected in the interest rates people in the UK pay.

The total amount that can be saved for a tracker mortgage will be dependent on if your mortgage is interest-only or not.

Unlikely to apply for fixed-rate mortgages

Unfortunately, if you have a fixed-rate mortgage (approximately 92.4% of all approved mortgages were fixed-rate in the final quarter of 2019) then the rate cut will not be passed on. This is because this mortgage term applies for between two and five years.

The only way you could potentially benefit is if you decided to remortgage your property. Think carefully if it is worth doing so, taking into account things such as cancellation fees.

 

Good news for buy-to-let mortgages

The base rate cut is good news for landlords, as almost all of the buy-to-let mortgages are provided on an interest-only basis. That means if interest-rates are reduced, it can only be advantageous for those with buy-to-lets.

 

Those looking to get a mortgage will benefit

If you are currently in the process of looking to buy a property and require a mortgage, now is the time to take advantage of mortgages being at historically low levels.

For example, the current base rate means this is a great opportunity to benefit from a low fixed-rate deal. A fixed-rate deal will mean that you can lock in a deal and if the base rate increases later on, you will not be impacted for the duration of the term.

 

Positive for property investors

Reduced interest rates are also better for property investors, as it helps to reduce the cost of borrowing for property development finance. It also increases the opportunity to boost profits in the longer term, thanks to the lower rate of interest.