Over three-quarters (77%) of buy-to-let (BTL) landlords are concerned that potential tax increases in the Budget, such as changes to capital gains tax, could adversely affect their investments, Butterfield Mortgages has revealed.

The London mortgage provider found in a survey of 501 UK landlords that 70% are apprehensive of the Government’s plans to abolish section 21 no-fault evictions and its possible impact on their ability to manage their tenants effectively.

The research found that 71% are also worried about the potential introduction of higher energy efficiency standards for rental properties by 2030.

Ahead of the Budget, Butterfield found that landlords are seeking more assistance from lenders and brokers to refer them to tax and regulatory professional to understand new reforms and policies.

When given a list of qualities that they look for in a lender, 49% of UK BTL landlords chose the ‘expertise around tax and regulation concerning my purchases’ option, making it the most popular choice.

The same was said of brokers, with 38% of landlords wanting this expertise from a broker, placing it ahead of the range of financial products they have access to.

Chief executive officer at Butterfield Mortgages, Alpa Bhakta, said: "With the Autumn Budget just around the corner, it is clear that landlords are keenly waiting to see what the Chancellor announces. There has been a significant amount of tax and regulatory change in the BTL market over the past decade, and there’s plenty of speculation that more is coming – landlords are understandably wary of the implications.

"The Budget will provide much-needed clarity, but our research underlines that lenders and brokers, and third-party experts, have a vital role to play in the weeks and months to come. Landlords evidently value tax and regulatory expertise particularly when facing potential widespread policy changes. Great financial products are not enough – the support, access to relevant experts and customer services must be exceptional, too."

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