Buy-to-let bites back

Buy-to-let remains an attractive option for investors, with new research showing that current landlords are confident about the future of the market.

A total of 37 per cent of current investors believe that property prices outside of London will rise or remain the static over the next 12 months.

Those with investment properties in London are even more confident about the future of the market, with 82 per cent believing that prices will not fall in the next year.

Further to this, 54 per cent of investors plan to buy a new property in the capital within the next 12 months.

All of this comes despite recent press reports suggesting that the buy-to-let market is suffering as a result of the global credit crunch.

"Mark Twain famously said 'Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated'; the same can be said of the buy-to-let industry," commented Neil Young from Young Group, the firm behind the report.

"Young Index data shows that investor sentiment remains extremely healthy, particularly in the capital.

"As with any investment asset class, it's imperative to scrutinise each opportunity carefully and ensure that it is supported by sound fundamentals. In the case of buy-to-let, investors need to ensure that the balance between property supply and demand is in their favour," he added.