Financial tech platform Twenty7tec has reported record numbers of remortgage searches, with a 22.9% month-on-month rise in buy-to-let mortgage searches leading to the highest seven-day totals ever recorded by the company.
The searches for mortgages in the £150,000–£250,000 bracket were significantly higher than the 6.4% growth in residential enquiries, with 18th March being the company’s busiest day on record for buy-to-let mortgages – ‘double the volume of the previous day’.
While SLDT changes have been cited by many as triggering market upsets, Twenty7tec believes the record spike it has seen in mortgage search activity is more closely linked to landlords remortgaging to future-proof their portfolios ahead of regulatory shifts.
‘The data comes amid growing concern from landlords about affordability, tax burdens and increased regulation – particularly the end of fixed-term tenancies and changes to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions under the Renters’ Rights Bill, expected to come into force in the second half of 2025’, the company said.
Director Nathan Reilly explained:
“As new changes appear on the horizon, we are noticing that landlords are acting more decisively when it comes to their next steps, and we’re seeing a significant increase in buy-to-let remortgages as property investors look to future-proof their portfolios.
“The spike in searches for properties between £150,000 and £250,000 is particularly telling. That price band is seeing the greatest change in activity, and it’s BTL, not residential, that’s driving it.
“In addition to this, we are seeing record levels of products available, with 25,218 total products by the end of March. This is 128 more than February – up 0.51%. There’s more choice than ever for buy-to-let landlords, but with external pressures mounting, the next few months will be telling as to whether landlords stay the course, adapt their strategies – or begin to exit the market altogether.”
