Back in the Spring there was a surge in Locks Heath Landlords buying buy to let property in Locks Heath as they tried to beat George Osborne’s new stamp duty changes which kicked in on the 1^st April 2016.  To give you an idea of the sort of numbers we are talking about, below are the property statistics for sales either side of the deadline in SO31.

Jan 2016 – 59 properties sold

Feb 2016 – 54 properties sold

March 2016 – 115 properties sold

April 2016 – 33 properties sold

May 2016 – 52 properties sold

Normally, the number of sales in the Spring months is very similar, irrespective of the month.  However, as you can see, this year was a completely different picture as Landlords moved their purchases forward to beat the stamp duty increase.  You would think that even with a basic knowledge of supply and demand economics, rents would be affected in a downwards direction?

However, there appears to be no apparent effect on the levels of rent being asked in Locks Heath, and more importantly achieved, and this direction of rents is not likely to reverse any time soon.  Particularly as legislation planned for 2017 might reduce rental stock and push property values ever upward.  The decline of buy to let mortgage interest tax relief will make some properties lossmaking, forcing Landlords to pass on costs to Tenants in the form of higher rents just to stay afloat.  Even those who can still operate may be deterred from making further investments, reducing rental stock at a time of severe property shortage.

… But it’s not all bad news for Tenants. Whilst average rents in Locks Heath since 2005 have increased by 22.6%, inflation has been 38.5% over the same time frame, meaning Locks Heath Tenants are 15.9% better off in real terms when it comes to their rent (which is a sizeable chunk of most people’s monthly household budgets).

I found it particularly interesting looking at the rent rises over the last five years in Locks Heath, as it was five years ago we started to see the very early green shoots of growth of the Locks Heath economy.  As a whole, following the Credit crunch (2011), rents in Locks Heath have risen by an average of 2.4% a year – fascinating don’t you think?

The view I am trying to portray is that while renting is often portrayed as the unfavorable alternative to home ownership, many young Locks Heath professionals like renting as it gives them adaptability with their life.  Rents will continue to rise which is good news for Landlords as buy to let is an investment but, as can be seen from the statistics, Tenants have also had a good deal with below-inflation increases in rents in the past.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone although, on another note, it’s imperative in the future that Tenants are not thwarted from saving for a deposit by excessive rental hikes – there has to be a balance.

For more thoughts and opinions on the Locks Heath Property Market, if you are a Locks Heath Homeowner or Locks Heath Landlord, please visit the The Locks Heath Property Blog.