Jump in landlords facing serious mortgage arrears

The number of landlords who are seriously behind with their mortgage payments has jumped by 20%, according to UK Finance.

There were 1,200 buy-to-let mortgages in "significant arrears" in the last quarter of 2017, a fifth higher than in the same quarter in 2016.

Significant arrears means they owe more than 10% of the outstanding balance.

The figures suggest some landlords may be beginning to struggle financially, following a series of tax changes.

There were 5,100 buy-to-let mortgages in less serious arrears of 2.5%. This was a 2% rise on 2016, UK Finance said.

"Landlords are facing burden after burden placed on them by the government, which is significantly increasing financial compliance requirements," said David Cox, chief executive of the Association of Residential Landlords (Arla) Propertymark.

"This is, in turn, causing landlords to fall into financial difficulties."

Arla said one of the biggest factors was the length of time it takes to get a tenant evicted if they stop paying their rent.

Typically that can take up to ten months.

During that time, the landlord has to continue paying his or her mortgage, but may receive no rent.

However, the government is planning to introduce new specialist housing courts, to try and speed up this process.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has already warned that landlords are pulling out of the market as a result of the problems. It said rents may rise as a result.

David Cox agreed. "Rents will inevitably have to go up," he told the BBC.

Among the tax changes facing landlords have been a 3% surcharge on Stamp Duty for any property they buy, and a gradual reduction in the amount they are able to claim in tax relief.

Compliance costs have also increased.

The UK Finance figures also show that 600 buy-to-let properties were re-possessed by banks in the last quarter of 2017. That was the same number as in 2016.

By contrast the number of homeowners with significant arrears fell by 1% over the period, as mortgage rates remained at low levels.

The number of homeowners with arrears of more than 2.5% fell by 7%.

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