𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥

In this three-minute read, we look at how landlords can avoid getting a bad insurance deal

If you’re a landlord looking to take out insurance or renew a current policy, there are a few things you should know.

The insurance market is “hardening”, or in other words, insurers are tightening their belts.

The rising costs of claims due to extreme weather events such as last year’s Storm Dennis and low interest rates (meaning insurance firms make less on their investments) have hit the industry hard.

As a result, insurers are upping the cost of premiums and employing other – less obvious – tactics to increase their bottom line.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫

Landlords need specific insurance; a standard home and contents policy will not suffice. Landlord insurance is usually a condition of a buy-to-let mortgage, but even if you’re debt-free, it’s worth getting. (You hope the worst won’t happen, but if it does, you’ll be covered.)

Standard policies include buildings and liability cover, although you can also opt to include things like legal costs, accidental damage, or loss of rent.

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥:

- If you already have a policy, read it thoroughly before you start your research. It might not be the most exciting few hours of your life, but your diligence could save you time and money in the long run.

- Note in your diary when your policy is due to expire and leave yourself enough time to shop around. You won’t get the best deal if you’re in a last-minute panic.

- Look at what the premium covers. Is there a gaping omission that could leave you exposed? If it’s an existing policy, has your coverage been reduced?

- Check the standard excess (excess rates have been creeping up). The policy premium might be appealingly low, but if the excess is high, you could wind up paying more in the long run.

- Be aware that some types of claims have a higher excess. For example, escape of water (which covers leaks and burst pipes) has a higher excess as it’s a more common occurrence.

- Check the rules around vacancy as some policies become void if the property is empty. As there could be a rise in tenant turnover when furlough ends later this year, ensure your policy gives you a bit of leeway on vacancy periods.

- Have your paperwork to hand when talking to insurers. They’ll want to know (and see proof of) the age of the property, state of repair, and claims history.

- Some policies only cover certain types of tenants – for example, professionals – who are viewed as low risk. It may pay to include other tenant groups, such as students, in your policy to give you more flexibility.

For more advice about protecting your rental property, get in touch with us here at Belvoir.

COPYRIGHT Belvoir Southampton 2021

Are You Ready for Life after Lockdown in Southampton?

In this two-minute read, we look at how to get ready for the changes that lie ahead as restrictions continue to ease.

With the end to our arduous Covid hibernation in sight, it’s time to prepare for life in the “new normal”.

While the prospect of restrictions easing is exciting – we can’t wait to eat at Jehangir’s Restaurant and drink at The Dancing Man Pub – it will also take a little getting used to.

That’s because many of us have grown used to lockdown living; we now work from home, live in tracksuit bottoms, and tell ourselves that cutting our own hair is a good idea.

But after a year of adapting to a host of unfortunate circumstances, it’s time to adapt again – only for happier reasons. Here are a few ways to prepare for life after lockdown.

Spring clean your wardrobe

If you’ve spent the past year in leggings, jeggings, slankets, and onesies – anything with a forgiving waistline basically – now is the time to dig out your “good” clothes. Try them on and decide if you still like them and if they still fit you. Donate unwanted items to a charity shop and make any necessary purchases. You don’t have to ditch all your comfy stuff, but you will need a few pieces that will look smart in a work meeting or at a catch-up with friends.

Revamp your fitness routine

Many people kicked off the first lockdown in 2020 with a flurry of physical activity that tapered off as the pandemic dragged on and on. They’re now – understandably as it’s been a tough year – carrying a few extra pounds. If you want to shift a little weight, take your time. Start slowly and progress steadily to avoid injury. Also, focus on activities that you enjoy – they will be good for your mental health, and you’re more likely to continue with them long term.

Acknowledge stress

It may seem that with lockdown lifting, all our troubles will be over. But it’s important to be realistic with our expectations. Some of the activities that we’ve avoided over the past year such as long commutes, mingling at parties, making small talk in the work canteen – may make a return and prove stressful. If things you once took for granted now feel challenging, don’t give yourself a hard time. Talk to someone about it (lots of people will be in the same boat), and remember that we’re still navigating our way through a deadly pandemic. Be kind to other people – and yourself.

From all of us here at Belvoir, take care and stay cheerful.

COPYRIGHT BELVOIR SOUTHAMPTON 2021

Southampton Property Market: 2011-2021

A look back at the Southampton housing market over the last decade

With all of us completing the Census, a couple of weeks ago, it made me realise profoundly that mine and my family’s life, which from our own point of view seems unique and delightful, makes us all into a series of statistics for the Census gatherers to pore over. To digest and regurgitate facts, figures and trends for those who are interested in the ever- changing social circumstances of these islands.

 

However, the information from the Census is vital to improving our lives - Governments can plan the future with the information it provides and we in turn can wonder about the lives of our past generations with the information provided therein historically if we so wish. 

 

Whilst the information from this Census won’t be published until March 2023, let us have a look at what has been happening in the Southampton property market since the last time we completed the Census, in 2011.

 

Just to remind you, 2011 saw the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Mr Cameron was the PM, there was the last flight of the Space Shuttle and Game of Thrones premiered.

 Whilst in the Southampton property market …

 

·       The average price paid for a Southampton detached home in the last 12 months has been £446,000. The average value of a Southampton detached home has risen by 36.5% in the last 10 years or £125,000

 

·         The average price paid for a Southampton semi-detached home in the last 12 months has been £293,200. The average value of a Southampton semi-detached home has risen by 39.0% in the last 10 years or £95,100

 

·         The average price paid for a Southampton town house/terraced home in the last 12 months has been £238,900. The average value of a Southampton town house/terraced home has risen by 34.8% in the last 10 years or £76,200

 

·         The average price paid for a Southampton apartment/flat in the last 12 months has been £174,300. The average value of a Southampton apartment/flat has risen by 31.7% in the last 10 years or £55,500

 

Irrespective of any dip in Southampton house prices or transactions when the Stamp Duty Holiday ends in the autumn, this is a trend that looks set to continue, with no sign that supply of new homes is anywhere near to keeping pace with demand for households.

 

There have only been 6,385 new properties built in Southampton in the last 10 years, that’s just over 53 a month. That means the population in Southampton has risen by 2.62 people for every new home built over

that decade.

 

Nationally, the Country has only built just over 180k homes a year over the last decade, 120k less than the national target of 300k. In the meantime, the population has grown by more than 4 million.

 

When looking locally at the size of new build property in Southampton, the average property is just over 850 sq. ft., which is 20% smaller than a decade ago.

 

Rents in Southampton …

 

Whether you are a winner or loser in terms of rental values depends on whether you are a Southampton landlord or a Southampton tenant.

 

The average rent for a property in Southampton currently stands at £1,228 per month, whilst a decade ago, it was £998 per month

 

This means private rents have increased by £1.91 a month for the past ten years.  Interesting, when compared to the national average of 98p a month whilst in London, rents have grown by a massive £4.64 a month.

 

 

So what’s in store for the next 10 years of the Southampton Property Market…

 

Well the next ten years will also be just as fascinating. To try and predict would be a fool’s game.

 

For example, who would have believed what the Southampton property market has done in the last 12 months since the start of Lockdown 1.0. The number of transactions (i.e. people moving) in turn with UK house prices having risen so much in the last year ... all during a worldwide pandemic and at a time of such mayhem and havoc in the UK and world economy, is nothing short of remarkable … the question is – is it sustainable?

 

Read these articles in the coming months and years and I will share with you what is happening to the value of your Southampton property, be you a Southampton homeowner or Southampton landlord.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR SOUTHAMPTON PROPERTY IS WORTH

 If you would like to pick my brains on the Southampton Property Market – Just drop me a line on social media or email me @ brian.linehan@belvoir.co.uk you can also call me on 023 8001 8222.

 

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, then contact me to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property.

 

 

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Southampton Property News.

 

Blog, http://southamptonproperty.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/belvoirsouthampton/

 

Twitter, https://twitter.com/sotonbelvoir

 

LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianlinehan

 

Website, https://www.belvoir.co.uk/offices/southampton

 

Southampton Property Market Improved by 28.7% Over Pre-pandemic Levels

Has there ever been a better time for Southampton home sellers?

 

The Southampton property market, for people looking to sell, is at its sturdiest for at least the last five years with home buyers jumping onto the Southampton property ladder with abandon.

Southampton house prices are anticipated to rise throughout 2021 after the Stamp Duty cut (and subsequent extension until the autumn) and the newly revealed 95% mortgages for Southampton first-time buyers (and Southampton homeowners with minimal equity).

In addition, the continued low interest rates and the demand for larger homes because of lockdown means the Southampton property market should remain bullish for a while. There is a surge in potential buyers putting themselves on mailing lists with Southampton estate agents, making the biggest disparity between supply and demand for Southampton property for many years.

Fears of a cliff edge for the Southampton housing market at the end of March have dispersed, somewhat due to the Stamp Duty tax deadline extensions, but also because of the elevated level of buyer demand caused by the three lockdowns which has continued to swell since the start of 2021, meaning that today …

 

66% of Southampton properties on the market are Sold (STC)

Interesting, when utilising data from theadvisory.co.uk website, the Southampton average for the last five years has only been 51%, meaning there has been an uplift of 28.7% in the proportion of Southampton properties sold (stc) compared to that five-year average.

  

Yet what can’t be forgotten is that 45% of Southampton house sellers are also house buyers, so whilst they do indeed achieve a higher price for their Southampton property, they also have to pay more for the Southampton property they want to buy.

So, how much will Southampton house prices rise by?

Like all things in life, it’s all about supply and demand. I have discussed the demand, yet what about the supply of properties for sale? Well…..

 

There are 5% more Southampton properties for sale today compared to 6 years ago

Nationally, in most UK towns and cities, the number of properties that are for sale today compared to same pre-Easter property markets of 2015 to 2019 are lower by around 10% to 20%, yet in Southampton the opposite is true. With the easing of lockdown started and the faster rollout of the vaccine, this has persuaded more Southampton homeowners (especially those older Southampton homeowners who have had their jabs) to start making the first steps towards moving home in 2021 and placing their property on the market for sale.

This will mean there will be more Southampton properties available for sale in the conventionally busier post Easter market in the coming weeks and months which should cause more equilibrium and help keep Southampton property prices in check.

These are interesting times for the Southampton property market. If you are a Southampton homeowner or Southampton landlord looking to buy or let your Southampton property in the coming weeks or months, don’t hesitate to drop me a line to discuss what all the points raised in article mean to you.

 CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR SOUTHAMPTON PROPERTY IS WORTH

If you would like to pick my brains on the Southampton Property Market – Just drop me a line on social media or email me @ brian.linehan@belvoir.co.uk you can also call me on 023 8001 8222.

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, then contact me to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property.

 

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Southampton Property News.

 

Blog, http://southamptonproperty.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/belvoirsouthampton/

 

Twitter, https://twitter.com/sotonbelvoir

 

LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianlinehan

 

Website, https://www.belvoir.co.uk/offices/southampton

 

Southampton First-time Buyers Can Now Buy Using the Government's 5% Deposit Mortgages

Yet higher mortgage rates could see Southampton buyers paying

a lot more each month for the privilege

Being a Southampton first-time buyer in the last 12 months has not been an easy thing. Just before lockdown there were 400 ‘5% deposit mortgage’ deals and first-time buyers were able to shop around to get the best deal. When the first lockdown hit, 5% deposit mortgages disappeared meaning that many Southampton would-be first-time buyers had the rug pulled from under their feet.

Today, you can count on two hands the number of mortgage deals which allow a 5% deposit. Even worse, the number of hoops one has to jump through to get a 5% deposit mortgage is very high (plus you have to pay handsomely for the privilege, with mortgage rates of at least 4.15%).

In putting down a 5% deposit, you borrow the remaining 95% as a mortgage. These 95% mortgages (or Loan to Value) were very popular with Southampton first-time buyers before the Credit Crunch. Nearly 1 in 6 mortgages were 90% to 95%+ Loan to Value mortgages in 2007 (15.5%), yet as the Global Financial Crisis hit in 2008/9 that dropped to only 1 in 63 mortgages being in 90% to 95%+ range in 2010 – meaning many Southampton first-time buyers were unable to buy their first Southampton home between 2010 and 2015.

 

Yet in the recent Budget, Rishi Sunak has vowed to back the building societies and banks so that they can offer more of these higher 95% Loan to Value mortgage deals.

Many people have said, this will mean there will be a Southampton house price boom – especially as the Stamp Duty holiday is extended until September

This scheme is nothing new as a practically identical scheme was launched by George Osborne in the 2013 Budget with his Help to Buy Scheme. Nearly one in five houses sold in the year after that budget used this scheme, yet Osborne’s was only for first-time buyers and it was only for brand new homes (not second-hand homes). Whilst there is no doubt this caused an increase in house purchases, many commentators said it was a backdoor method to keep the country’s new homes builders afloat.

The big difference with this new 2021 scheme is that it is available for Southampton second-hand homes as well and is open to all Southampton owner occupiers moving home

But the big question is, what interest rate will the banks’ charge?

Although no building societies or banks have yet publicised the mortgage rates they will charge, all the High Street lenders including NatWest, Santander, HSBC, Virgin Money, Barclays and Lloyds have stated they intend to offer these 95% LTV mortgages.

Under the Government’s mortgage guarantee to the Banks, Westminster will guarantee 20% of any mortgage offered at 95% Loan to Value. In principle, that means that building societies/banks should be able to offer the low mortgage rates as those available to people wanting to borrow 75% Loan to Value.

At the moment the average five-year fixed rate mortgage is 3.6%with a 10% deposit but if you have a 25% deposit, you can fix forfive years at 1.63%

However, don’t forget though that the banks will be charged a ‘still to be decided’ amount to use the Government guarantee. On the last Help to Buy Scheme, it was rumoured they were charged 0.9% of the mortgage borrowed, so this cost would have to be passed on to the first-time buyer. I would suspect the eventual rates Southampton first-time buyers will have to pay will be somewhere in the region of 3%.

This new 95% mortgage/5% deposit scheme is only going to work if the banks and building societies have sensible mortgage rates as it needs to help those Southampton first-time buyers it was intended to benefit, who are finding it hard work to get on the first rung of the Southampton housing ladder.

It all comes down to how anxious the banks and building societies feel about the true long-term effect of the pandemic once the furlough scheme ends in the autumn. Only time will tell.

Yet, to give you an idea of the difference the mortgage rates scheme will make on a typical Southampton terraced/town house …

the average price paid for a Southampton terraced inthe last 12 months was £238,900

Assuming a 35-year repayment mortgage and borrowing that amount on each scenario:

1. At the current best 95% LTV mortgage rate (i.e. 5% deposit) of 4.15% mentioned at the start of the article, that would cost £1,079 per month in mortgage payment
2. At the current average 90% LTV mortgage rate (i.e. 10% deposit) of 3.6% mentioned in the middle of the article, that would cost £1,001 per month in mortgage payment
3. At the best 75% LTV mortgage rate (i.e. 25% deposit) of 1.63% mentioned at the start of the article, that would cost £747 per month in mortgage payments

As you can see, quite a difference.

 I have to applaud Rishi Sunak for this initiative, yet will it be ‘fields of clover forever’ for the Southampton property market with the new scheme? Well no, it won’t be!

It will be a good boost to the Southampton (and UK as a whole) property market. Whilst the mortgage guarantee offers a small portion of security for the lenders, it does focus on the riskiest part of the housing market. Many lenders still have cold shivers of the Northern Rock 125% mortgage debacle from a decade ago and those memories still ring true today.

The fact is these types of mortgages will be a higher risk, even if the Government are underwriting them with their smaller deposits, which will come through in bank’s and building societies higher pricing for these mortgages. Also, the lenders are already at near full capacity trying to get hundreds of thousands of existing property sales and purchase deals through because of the Stamp Duty rush over the last 9 months. I await the rates in early April and will make comment again.

If you are a Southampton homeowner, potential Southampton first-time buyer or anyone involved in the Southampton property market and you would like to chat about anything I’ve covered in this article or any of my other articles on the Southampton property market, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line.

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Southampton Property News.

 

Blog, http://southamptonproperty.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/belvoirsouthampton/

 

Twitter, https://twitter.com/sotonbelvoir

 

LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianlinehan

 

Website, https://www.belvoir.co.uk/offices/southampton

Southampton Home Buyers £12,250,554 Windfall as Stamp Duty Holiday Stretched to September...

... and new 5% deposit mortgages for

Southampton first-time buyers

   CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR SOUTHAMPTON PROPERTY IS WORTH

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced two initiatives to keep the Southampton property market firing on all cylinders into 2021. 

Firstly, the £500,000 zero-rate Stamp Duty band has been extended to the 30th June 2021. After then it will phase down to £250,000 for an additional three months, returning to the pre-pandemic levels on the 1st October 2021. Secondly, Mr Sunak announced a scheme that will allow Southampton first-time buyers to buy their Southampton home with a 5% deposit from this April. Let me look at what each initiative means to the Southampton property market.

1. Stamp Duty Holiday extension for Southampton home buyers

Coming out of the first lockdown in the early summer of 2020, there was a lot of apprehension that the British property market would flounder. Therefore, when the Stamp Duty Holiday was announced back in July 2020 to boost the property market, the deadline was set at the 31st March 2021.  Little did anyone know of the snowball effect of people wanting to move because of the initial lockdown in the spring of 2020, the pent-up demand following the conclusion of the EU negotiations with the subsequent ‘Boris Bounce’ and then the Stamp Duty Holiday which made the perfect storm for what has been the busiest property market in Southampton since 2001/2.

The average stamp duty paid by a

Southampton homebuyer is £5,373

The reason the Stamp Duty extension is important is that many estate agents and solicitors have been warning for the last couple of months that home buyers would pull out of property deals or renegotiate if they could not complete their sale in time before the Stamp Duty Holiday ended.

So, by phasing down the Stamp Duty Holiday, this will allow some breathing space for burdened solicitors and mortgage lenders, thus decreasing the number of buyers pulling out of their property purchase because they unexpectedly have to find up to an extra £15,000 in Stamp Duty when property sales do not complete on time.

There are currently 2,280 properties that are sold STC in Southampton alone and the vast majority of those will save money on their stamp duty because of this extension

So, what does the Stamp Duty extension mean for Southampton house prices?

The extension has heightened confidence in the Southampton property market. The Government watchdog ‘The Office for Budget Responsibility’, has predicted that house prices in 4 years’ time will be just over 13% higher, compared to the pre-Christmas predicted figure  of 11% growth (over the same time frame).

2. 5% deposit mortgages for Southampton first-time buyers

From next month, Southampton first-time buyers will be able to buy Southampton homes worth up to £600,000 with a 5% deposit and a Government-backed mortgage with a fixed rate of up to 5 years.

Rishi Sunak wants to turn the millennial ‘Generation Renters’ into ‘Generation Buyers’ and believes this initiative should be able to help two million people get on the property ladder. When we look at what that would mean for Southampton, I estimate …

8,167 Southampton people could be helped onto the

Southampton property ladder with these 5% deposit mortgages

The Government backed scheme will be open to Southampton first-time buyers for 21 months (until the end of 2022) and available from lenders including NatWest, Lloyds and HSBC (plus others to be announced soon). It will be available on all Southampton homes new or second hand (previous schemes applied to new homes only).

5% deposit mortgages were all but withdrawn from the market at the start of the pandemic in spring 2020 with an almost default minimum deposit of 10% (even as high as 15% in the autumn just gone) putting homeownership out of reach for all but the wealthiest Southampton first-time buyers.

I must admit I found it a scandal that homeownership among the 25 to 34 year olds plummeted from 69% in 1981 to 36% by 2014, although with certain Government incentives and low interest rates since then, that had risen to 41% by last year, but it’s not enough

With so many young families paying huge sums in rent, who could effortlessly afford to make mortgage repayments on the same property, they haven’t been able to save enough for a 10% initial mortgage deposit, let alone 15%.

Yet now with these new 5% deposit mortgages, many Southampton first-time buyers will be able to afford to buy their first home in Southampton. Banks will typically lend between four and a half and five times the gross annual income – this means with a modest 5% deposit; many Southampton 20 and 30 somethings will now be able to buy their first home. Just before I finish this topic, the 5% deposit mortgages will also be available to current Southampton homeowners who don’t have the equity built up in their existing home – thus helping second or third (or more) time Southampton buyers as well.

How do both these changes effect Southampton buy-to-let landlords?

I know many of you Southampton landlords are adding to your Southampton rental portfolio because of the Stamp Duty Holiday and with the extension, you too will save some money from it. The issue of first-time buyer mortgages does mean the demand for private rented accommodation in Southampton might not be as strong in the coming decade. 

Don’t get me wrong, tenant demand will continue to outstrip supply of Southampton rental properties for the foreseeable future, yet the tenant/landlord balance could alter slightly in the medium term. Southampton landlords need to take a long hard look at their properties and ascertain if they are fit for purpose both now and into the 2030’s. Tenants are becoming a lot more demanding of what their rental property offers. Wood chip wallpaper, avocado green bathroom suites and kitchens fitted in the 1990’s (or before) simply won’t cut the mustard in the next decade. 

The demand from Southampton tenants for properties with larger gardens, or the ability to keep pets or an extra reception room garden/office to allow them to enjoy their rented home more and also being able to work from home will ensure greater demand for your rental property … and the best bit, they will pay handsomely for that in higher rent.

If you are a Southampton homeowner, buyer, tenant or landlord and you want to discuss your options on selling, buying or renting a property in Southampton and the surrounding area, do not hesitate to contact me personally.

   CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH YOUR SOUTHAMPTON PROPERTY IS WORTH

 

If you would like to pick my brains on the Southampton Property Market – Just drop me a line on social media or email me @ brian.linehan@belvoir.co.uk you can also call me on 023 8001 8222.

 

If you are looking for an agent that is well established, professional and communicative, then contact me to find out how we can get the best out of your investment property.

 

 

Don't forget to visit the links below to view back dated deals and Southampton Property News.

 

Blog, http://southamptonproperty.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/belvoirsouthampton/

 

Twitter, https://twitter.com/sotonbelvoir

 

LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianlinehan

 

Website, https://www.belvoir.co.uk/offices/southampton