Mortgage Interest Tax Relief must be reinstated - agency boss speaks out

The chief executive of Winkworth estate agency chain says this week’s Autumn Statement must see the reinstatement of Mortgage Interest Tax Relief for investors.

Dominic Agace says there has been much attention on inheritance tax and stamp duty as possible fiscal changes next week, but he believes those are electioneering slogans. Instead he wants help for landlords.

He says: “The Autumn Statement should tackle the problem which is causing landlords to sell – the cost of finance again. With costs going up, landlords are underwater with their investments and that hasn’t been offset by rent increases, although there have been dramatic rent increases. 

“The loss of mortgage interest rate relief effectively reduces that income further. Where there’s more debt, there is more of a challenge, as we are seeing in London.  A return to mortgage interest relief for landlords would be hugely positive, increasing supply and reducing rent pressures.” 

In a podcast for his agency, he comments: “Economically, we are at peak stress in terms of interest rates at the top of the cycle. With inflation predicted to go below five per cent, we can now see the other side. It’s important that things aren’t changed for political gain to alter that trajectory. We have done some of the hard yards now and we don’t want to see tax cuts that might be inflationary – that will just feed back into higher interest rates, which is where the pain in the property market is coming from.  

“Certain income tax cuts and VAT cuts would be inflationary and that is self-defeating. Inheritance tax and stamp duty are being focused on but I feel these are being used as electioneering  promises. Families in London are being penalised by aggressive dialling up of the stamp duty tax at a certain level but in terms of next year, I can’t see stamp duty changes boosting the market. 

“The real challenge is the cost of finance, which is an income or cash flow challenge rather than a transactional challenge.  The best thing is to push on with policies that ensure inflation gets down to a target and interest rates can start to move down. The banks and mortgage providers can follow that lead and reduce costs going forward.” 

Agace says the outlook for 2024 is looking more positive, especially in the second half of the year. 

“The market is faring far better than predicted. There has been a dramatic slowdown [in sale prices] from 12  per cent increases year on year until last August and then four per cent declines since then in flat prices but not in house prices. 

“This comes back to the mortgage market and stress testing which has gone on since 2015. At the moment, prices are reducing but it’s a transactional challenge rather than a dramatic price change.  We haven’t seen a price reduction in the past six months. On the buying side, we saw real wage growth above inflation wage growth, which is a positive. 

“Looking forward, we are looking at interest rate cuts towards the second half of next year and mortgage rates moving down to around 4.5 per cent … The property market is aligned with employment – the two critical factors in a successful, stable property market. The property market doesn’t stay in limited activity mode forever. Two years is a long time if you look at historic trends.  Next year and certainly towards the second half, we will see a more positive impetus in the property market.”