Something significant is happening in Britain's property market… And it's being driven by investors who actually know what they're doing. Let me share some numbers with you.
In the first quarter of 2025, 38,510 buy-to-let mortgages were secured by borrowers aged 55 and over. That's a 33.5 per cent jump on last year. These experienced investors have committed over £6.1 billion - up 42.6 per cent year-on-year.
And these aren't panic buys. They're calculated moves. What's driving this shift?
While younger investors get tangled up in affordability tests and deposit requirements, the over 55s are quietly getting on with it.
Think about it. What are the alternatives? Stocks and shares have been a rollercoaster ride.
But property? That's something you can actually understand. You can walk around it. You can fix it. You can rent it out.
For investors who've spent decades building wealth the old-fashioned way, bricks and mortar is common sense.
Some are topping up pension income. Others are sorting out the kids' inheritance. Yet more are financing the Bank of Mum and Dad. Many just recognise what the rest of us should have worked out by now: property delivers.
For investors who've spent decades building wealth the old-fashioned way, bricks and mortar is common sense
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Jonathan Rolande shared his analysisJonathan Rolande
Older borrowers now account for over 21 per cent of all BTL lending: one in five mortgages.
The new players in the market are mortgage-free, equity-rich, and actually experienced.
They understand risk because they've lived through market crashes. They've got the financial stability that makes lenders confident. They're not in a rush. They know that time in the market counts.
This demographic doesn't want flashy marketing or get-rich-quick promises. They want solid returns from decent properties.
In today's lending environment, where every application gets the third degree, these mature investors could well become the backbone of buy-to-let.
Right now, the over-55s are driving the UK property market. And it shows no sign of changing anytime soon.
Jonathan Rolande is the founder of House Buy Fast. For more free advice and information, visit www.jonathanrolande.co.uk
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