The Rettie Blog

Welcome to the Autumn 2024 edition of Prestige Scotland, where we share with you our latest collection of some of the best luxury living Scotland has to offer. As ever we are delighted to showcase a number of beautiful properties, across Scotland, from our Sales, Lettings and New Homes teams.

No Matter Your EPC Rating, Claim Up to £2,000 for Green Home Improvements with Halifax.

According to an independent research report from Homes for Scotland (HFS) released this week, the proportion of housing delivered by SME home builders has fallen by half since 2017. The proportion of new homes sold by those building between 3 and 49 homes per annum has fallen from around 40 per cent in 2017 to 20 per cent in 2023.

Interest rates have risen 14 times in short order from 0.10% in March 2020 to 5.25% in August 2023 where they have remained. Higher interest rates mean different things for different people. An increase in mortgage cost for borrowers versus investment return opportunities for those with savings. In this piece, we partner Rettie Financial Services and Hamilton Financial to look at the interest rate outlook, the impact of interest rates on personal finances and consider several scenarios and what it could mean for both savers and borrowers.

Rettie’s Director of Research, Dr John Boyle, has featured in a set of podcasts in recent weeks in which he gives his latest take on market changes as well as the impact of new legislation and how to address Scotland’s housing problems. Each is summarised here with a link to the podcast itself.

Existing owners, who through a change in personal circumstances are renting their properties in today’s market, seem very comfortable with the new rent controls. For these circumstantial landlords, the prospect of 6% annual rent increases has been widely accepted as very reasonable and agreeable.

Are you a first time buyer who's been struggling to save up for a deposit on your dream home? Skipton Building Society may have the solution for you. They've launched a new mortgage product designed specifically for first time buyers who are currently renting. With this product, eligible applicants can borrow up to 100% LTV without needing a deposit, as long as they can demonstrate a track record of paying rent and household bills consistently for at least 12 months within the last 18 months.

As we head into 2024 and reflect on the previous year we have had, there have been numerous highlights that are worth celebrating.

From Spring 2023 through to Autumn, demand for rental properties across Edinburgh and Glasgow far exceeded supply, leading to steep competition between tenants and double digit rent inflation. With the 3% rent cap remaining, combined with the rise in interest rates, landlords with vacant properties increased their rents more than in previous years.

Earlier this week, Rettie released a report on the existing housing need in Scotland.

Background – A New Deal for Tenants … The Government are moving forward with rent control proposals, this includes controlling rents in between tenancies so properties will never be able to revert to the market rate.

The Edinburgh housing market is witnessing unprecedented levels of demand for rental accommodation and, most worryingly, an unprecedented shortage of supply.