Buying-to-let in the UK needs extra care after appeal ruling

Monday 29th August 2011, 2:30PM BST.

LOCAL investors purchasing UK buy-to-let property need to take notice of a recent mainland court ruling, according to property lawyer Michael Morris.

The Collas Crill senior associate (pictured) said it showed how vital it was for investors to carry out investigations as to how easy it would be to rent the property and how much it would receive.

There is an assumption that buy-to-let investors are more sophisticated buyers, meaning the lender’s valuer does not owe them a duty of care.

‘The judge in this case even went as far as to say that “people who buy properties to let are, as a class, likely to be richer and more commercially astute than people who buy property to occupy,’ said Mr Morris.