Holiday let deals rise 72% as more lenders enter the market

This is largely as a result of more lenders entering the holiday let market. There are now 31 different brands, six more than in September 2021 and 11 more than in March 2020, the majority of which are currently building societies.

Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: “The demand for holiday let properties has been evident both from a landlord perspective and holiday makers, so it’s positive to see more lenders entering this niche arena and accommodating borrowers with more product choice. There are now over 300 mortgage deals available for landlords to choose from, with building societies dominating this space. In March 2020 amidst the pandemic, there were only 20 lenders catering for holiday let borrowers, but this has gradually risen to 31. Growing choice is good news for borrowers comparing deals with the most competitive package, and with interest rates rising, it has never been more important to compare the overall cost of a deal carefully and lock into a competitive rate for peace of mind.

“Holiday lets can be an enticing prospect for potential investors to earn some extra income, however, they will need to do their research to find the right property and location and perhaps use a listing service to get good exposure. Amid a cost of living crisis, holiday makers may forgo a trip abroad and instead pick a vacation closer to home to reduce their costs. As we witnessed during the pandemic, demand for UK vacations fuelled the holiday let sector, but this was largely due to consumers feeling discouraged or not able to fly abroad. UK holidays could then still be a profitable investment for landlords as consumers scrutinise their budgets and perhaps forego a trip abroad.

“Borrowers who are tempted to invest must consider the upfront costs to get a property to a high standard so they can stand out from the competition, but also prepare themselves to experience seasonal dips. There are notable Government measures coming into play next year that are likely to impact the holiday let market as homeowners will need to show evidence of their lettings and meet certain criteria to qualify for business rates relief. Holiday lets will need to be rented for a minimum of 70 days a year and available to be rented out for 140 days a year under new rules which are to come into force from April 2023. It is hoped the changes will protect legitimate holiday let investors and crack down on others but may also deter potential investors who have doubts over meeting the new rules.”