New syndicated research for Precise Mortgages reveals landlords’ acquisition plans for the year ahead, with the North West expected to be the busiest region.

The study by BDRC found more than one in five landlords (22%) plan to buy in the North West followed by the South East and Yorkshire & The Humber, which 16% of landlords are targeting for new properties. Regions reporting a higher proportion of buyers than sellers in the next 12 months included the East and West Midlands plus the South West and North East.

More than two out of three (68%) buyers plan to fund their next purchase with a buy to let mortgage while just 18% will release equity from existing properties. Demand for mortgages is similar across all portfolio sizes, although 23% of landlords with 11-plus properties will release equity.

Alan Cleary, managing director at Precise Mortgages, said: “Increasing professionalisation of the buy to let market means landlords are becoming more focused and selective in where they buy properties and how they fund their purchases. Recent rate cuts across the buy to let market are highlighting the opportunities to increase portfolios and profitability.”