Investor interest in UK rental property slumps ahead of tax change - Rightmove

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LONDON, April 13 (Reuters) - Investor (LSE: 0NC5.L - news) interest in British rental property declined by more than a quarter last month compared with a year ago, dampened by new tax changes aimed at cooling the booming buy-to-let market, according to survey results on Wednesday.

Online property listings company Rightmove (LSE: RMV.L - news) said the number of investors planning to purchase a property for rent dropped by 27 percent year-on-year, following a surge between December and February as buyers rushed to avoid the new tax.

As of April 1, buy-to-let investors and second homeowners must pay an additional 3 percent stamp duty on new purchases compared with first-time buyers.

"This waning of interest definitely seems to predict a slowdown in the buy-to-let market, but what's not yet clear is if this will only turn out to be a short-term pause," Sam Mitchell, Rightmove's head of lettings, said.

Britain's government has been keen to boost individual home ownership and is raising taxes on the rental sector, while the Bank of England last month said it would tighten credit checks on landlords.

"It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) could be that some investors are waiting until the tax changes have some time to bed in before they review their business and continue to make purchases," said Mitchell.

The Rightmove survey is based on data from properties advertised on its website rather than a survey of opinions. (Reporting by Bethany Rielly; Editing by Andy Bruce/Mark Heinrich)